Rules for transporting children in the car
Created by Lucas Luís at Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Transporting children in the car requires compliance with specific rules to ensure that they are safe. However, there are still many doubts about the rules in force for the use of child seats. In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know about Portuguese legislation and the importance of using these devices properly.
What does Portuguese law say?
In Portugal, current legislation states that all children under 12 years of age and less than 135 cm tall must be transported using an approved restraint system, the so-called ‘car seat’, appropriate to their weight and size. These rules apply to all cars fitted with seat belts.
The law also provides for certain exceptions for the carriage of children in the front seat, namely in the following cases:
Vehicles without rear seats or without seat belts in the rear seats;
Children under 3 years old, provided they are using a rear-facing restraint system and the passenger airbag is deactivated.
Failure to comply with these rules can result in high fines and the seizure of the vehicle's driving licence.
What kind of chairs are there?
Child restraint systems are categorised into groups according to the child's weight:
Group 0 and 0+: Newborns up to 13kg (approximately up to 12 months);
Group I: Children between 9 and 18kg (around 9 months to 4 years);
Group II: Children between 15 and 25kg (around 3 to 7 years old);
Group III: Children between 22 and 36 kg (around 6 to 12 years old).
To ensure maximum safety, it is recommended that children use approved child seats in accordance with European standards ECE R44/04 or ECE R129 (i-Size).
The importance of using child seats correctly
The use of child seats significantly reduces the risk of serious injury in the event of an accident. According to road safety statistics:
The correct use of child seats can reduce the risk of death by up to 71 per cent in road accidents;
Approximately 30 per cent of children injured in accidents were not properly restrained;
Most accidents occur on short journeys, so you should never neglect to use a child seat, even on short journeys.
Compliance with the rules on child transport is essential to ensure the safety of the little ones. Choosing a seat that is suitable for the child's weight and height and ensuring that it is correctly installed can make all the difference in the event of an accident.
For more information on road safety and cars, keep following our articles.
Translated with DeepL.com
