Child Car Seats

Key points to remember about car seats

• properly using a car seat is one of the most important things you can do to keep your baby or child safe
• New Zealand law says all children in vehicles must be correctly secured in an approved car seat (restraint) until their 7th birthday 
• to be safest, children need to be in booster seats until they are 148cm tall - this is usually when they are somewhere between 10 and 12 years old
• keep your baby in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old

All of NZTA's car seat videos are also available in te reo Māori.

What should I look for when buying a car seat?

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) website has tips on buying a car seat at their website. Their videos talk you through the legal requirements for using car seats in New Zealand.

Where should I put the car seat in my car?

Watch this NZTA video to find out the best place to install your car seat in your car.

How do I install my child's car seat?

Watch NZTA's introduction to fitting guide video, then answer the questions at the bottom of the page, and the site will point you to a video showing you how to install your type of car seat.

Where can I find more tips on installing car seats?

The NZTA site has a series of short videos with further helpful tips on installing and maintaining your child's car seat.

What if I have more questions about my child's car seat?

Watch these short NZTA videos for answers to frequently asked questions about car seats.

How can I find a car seat technician in my area?

See the NZTA website for a list of qualified car seat technicians across the country.