Child car seats in France: up to what age, which standard?
The short answer
Up to age 10: in France a child restraint suited to age, height and weight is mandatory from birth to 10; after that the child wears the seat belt. Two standards coexist: R129 (i-Size), which classifies seats by height, and R44, by weight, whose seats can no longer be sold since 1 September 2024 but may still be used.
In a taxi, article R412-2 exempts children from the seat rule; the text does not mention chauffeur-driven private hire cars, and we draw no interpretation from it.
Texts read on 18 October 2026. Sources: French Road Safety, carrying a child by car and Légifrance, article R412-2 of the Highway Code.
Age and height, in three stages
French Road Safety sets out three stages: birth to 15 months and 83 cm; beyond 15 months and 83 cm; then, not before 1 metre, up to age 10. Under R129 the child travels rear-facing at least until 15 months and 83 cm. The approved height range is marked on each seat.
Over age 10, the child wears the seat belt like other passengers. The driver must in any case make sure every passenger under 18 is restrained, by an approved seat or by the belt. Breaking these rules is a 4th-class offence.
R129 (i-Size) and R44: the two standards
A seat must be approved to be sold in the European Union. R129 adds a side-impact test and strengthens the frontal-impact test; it makes Isofix fixing standard, and Isofix anchor points have been mandatory on new vehicles since 2011. The former R44 standard grouped seats by weight.
| R129 (i-Size) | R44 | |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | By the child's height | By weight: group 0 (under 10 kg), 0+ (under 13 kg), I (9 to 18 kg), II (15 to 25 kg), III (22 to 36 kg) |
| Sale in 2026 | Allowed | Banned since 1 September 2024 |
| Use in 2026 | Allowed | Allowed for seats already owned |
Taxi, chauffeur-driven car: what the text says
Article R412-2 exempts children carried in a taxi or on public transport from the child-seat rule; the text does not mention chauffeur-driven private hire cars. No official source we read addresses the private hire case: we state the text, not an interpretation, and we send you back to what each service provides.
As for the front of the car, a child under 10 does not ride in front, except in three cases: a rear-facing seat with the airbag off, a vehicle without rear seats or rear belts, or rear seats unusable or already taken by restrained children under 10.
What this means for a family on the move
One seat, one person: each seat may be occupied by one person only, which rules out the child on a lap. With two or three children of different ages you need one seat per child, of the right size. Each child's exact age is therefore the first thing to give when you book a ride.
That is why we ask for each child's age in the price request: the driver brings a suitable seat and fits it, at no extra cost: a suitable seat for each child named in your request, up to the number of seats in the vehicle. The seats used meet the current standard: approved seats, Isofix or booster depending on age.
The child seat is included in the price
At Precelya the seat suited to the child's age is included in every price on the list. Here are the two airport transfers, which also include tolls, parking and 60 minutes of free waiting. Find the details for families on the page private driver for families in Paris.
| Service | E-Class sedanup to 3 passengers · 3 bags | V-Class van (guaranteed)up to 7 passengers · 7 bags | S-Classup to 3 passengers · 3 bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDG ↔ Paris | €105 | €125 | €165 |
| Orly ↔ Paris | €95 | €115 | €150 |
Price per vehicle, not per passenger, taxes included · 10% VAT included · Prices checked on .
A suitable seat for every child
Give us each child's age: the driver brings the right seat and fits it.