What are Car seat laws for children in Germany?

Does my child need a car seat in Germany?

In Germany, every child under 12 years of age who is shorter than 150 cm(4’11”) must sit in a child car seat and a child under 15 months must sit in a rear facing car seat

Now you know if you child needs a car seat or not. If your child is taller than 150 cm… there is no longer any reason to keep reading this post, but if your child is younger than 12 and shorter than 150 cm… the rest of this post will help answer any more questions and give some tips to help you find the right car seat.

iSize: the official German Car seat law

As of September of 2023, only the car seats that fulfill the ‚i-Size‘ (UN ECE Reg. 129) requirements may be sold from stores in Germany. Car seat laws vary from country to country in Europe but this post will help you get all the info you need about German car seat laws.

• A child must sit in a rear facing carseat until 15 months of age.
• Children up until 12 years of age or shorter than 150cm must ride in a car seat.
• Car seat sizing is based on a child’s height(formerly by weight)
• ISOFIX is required on all car seats
• Car seats must pass ‚side impact‘ testing 

The type of car seat your child needs will also cary on the size and age of the child. Here is all the information you need to know so that you can get the car seat you need.

Types of Car seat in Germany: 3 size categories for car seats

There are 3 general categories that car seats will be broken into; Infant seat(Babyschale), Toddler seat(kleinkindsitz), Child seat(Kindersitz). Ultimately the right car seat for you is based on the height of your child and not the age or weight. Some car seats are like mini transformers that will ‚grow with your child‘ and are rated to handle newborns to kids up to 105cm!

1. Infant & Baby Car seats(Babyschale)

From the drive home from the Hospital to their 1st birthday, this is the car seat for newborns and babies. These seats will always need to be rear-facing  and require a base station in order to be installed via ISO-fix.

2. Small Child Car seats(Kleinkindersitz)

Small child or toddler car seats are the second category of car seats that accommodate for a range of different sized children. These are the types of seats with a 5 point harness buckling system and will be the seat that a child will use until they are big enough to use a booster type seat and the car‘s 3 point buckle.

Choosing a seat in this category generates the biggest headache, because of the wide range of options. These types of seats provide great protection…so of course you want your child to use it as long as possible! On the other hand these seats are also big, bulky, and take a lot of space in your backseat. If you are buying a carseat for a child younger than 15 months, consider going for a seat that can be installed both forward and rear facing.

3. Child Car seats(Kindersitz)

The Hopefully last car seat your child will ever need. These seats no longer have their own buckling system but use the 3 point buckling system in your car.  These seats can be as simple as a booster type seat or a seat that offers adjustable head and neck support.

Addition rules for Children driving in Germany

“Can a child sit in the front passenger seat of a car in Germany?”

Yes, a child may ride in the front seat of a car in Germany so long as they are still in the appropriate carseat:

• Rear facing Carseats: Passenger airbag must be deactivated when refacing car seats are riding in the passenger seat.
• Forward facing carseats: Not recommended, but allowed. 

“Buying a used car seat: What about pre i-size car seats sold before 2023?”

If you are buying a used car seat, there is a chance it was sold under the ‘pre-iSize’ regulations. The good news is that you can keep using without any problem. Finding the right size of carseat was based on weight as apposed to the newer iSize standard which is based on height.

Here are the size charts for the ‘pre-iSize’ standard:

“Do I need a car seat in a taxi?”

Yes,  all the same cars seat laws apply to while riding in a taxi.

“How much is a fine for not using a car seat in Germany?”

• If your child is not in a car seat and not buckled up?
  • The fine is: €60 + 1 point on your German driving record 
• Is your child buckled up but not in the proper seat?
  • The fine is: €30