As of: February 24, 2024, 5:23 p.m
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
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In Germany it is compulsory to have a child seat in the car.
But: how long is it valid?
And: What fines are there if you don't comply?
Everyone wants to own a safe car - but even an expensive car is of little help if you don't take a few things into account yourself.
You should definitely take the time to adjust the vehicle seats correctly.
Drivers should avoid three seating positions in particular - otherwise there is a risk of serious injury in the event of an accident, for example because you are too close to the airbag or the belt is not fitted correctly.
However, children are particularly at risk in the car - they need special protection, which is primarily guaranteed by a good child seat.
In Germany there is a child seat requirement.
If you don't stick to it, you risk a fine.
(Symbolic image) © Pond5 Images/Imago
Choosing the child seat: There must always be the right model on board
In Germany, child seats are mandatory from birth.
There are different restraint systems depending on age, weight and size: the little ones go in the baby seat, followed later by the “normal” child seat.
Some models can also be converted: installation against the direction of travel is often recommended, especially for small children.
Older children then ride facing the direction of travel again - later a booster seat may be sufficient.
It is extremely important, especially for children, that the belt fits correctly - you should therefore definitely not wear thick winter jackets while driving.
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Compulsory child seat in the car: Under what conditions does it no longer apply
The child seat is required by the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO): it can be dispensed with either from the child's 12th birthday or when the child has reached a height of 1.50 meters, as stated in Section 21 of the StVO.
This paragraph also states that transporting people on the loading area or in the trunk is prohibited.
According to
ADAC
, three child seat standards are currently approved: UN ECE Reg. 44/03, UN ECE Reg. 44/04 and UN ECE Reg. 129. You should inform yourself very thoroughly before buying: the most current standard (UN ECE Reg. 129 ), for example, is based on body size, whereas seats according to the UN ECE Reg. 44 standard are divided according to body weight classes.
Which child seat is good?
Recommendation from ADAC and Stiftung Warentest
ADAC and Stiftung Warentest have tested over 200 child seats in the past.
Both institutions agree on one model.
The Sirona z2 i-size child seat from Cybex
(promotional link)
is rated “Very Good” and “Good” and meets all the important criteria.
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Children not properly secured in the car: What fines are involved?
According to bussgeldkatalog.org
, anyone who does not secure children correctly in the car must
expect the following fines:
Not properly secured (i.e. wearing a seatbelt, but without a suitable child seat): 30 euros
... for more than one child: 35 euros
Transported completely unsecured: 60 euros plus one point in Flensburg
...more than one child: 70 euros plus one point in Flensburg
More safety and easy installation: Isofix has been mandatory in new cars since 2014
A significant advance in child safety technology was the introduction of the Isofix system.
This allows the child seat to be easily and securely attached to the car by connecting it directly to the vehicle's anchoring points.
Compared to traditional belt fastening, Isofix provides a more stable and reliable connection, minimizing the risk of errors during installation.
Since 2014, new cars in Germany must be equipped with Isofix.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.