Child Seats and Boosters for Chauffeur Journeys

Get the requirement settled before the booking is confirmed

Child restraints are the most common cause of difficulty on family bookings, and almost all of it is avoidable. The information needed is simple: how many children, their ages, their approximate weights and heights, and whether you are bringing your own seats. With that, the right seats and the right vehicle can be arranged before the day.

Without it, the alternatives at the kerb are all poor. A chauffeur cannot conjure a suitable seat at a terminal, and travelling a child in an unsuitable restraint is not something any responsible driver will do. Ten minutes at booking removes the whole problem. Families who send the details with the booking almost never have a problem at the kerb.

The categories in general terms

Broadly, infants travel in a rear-facing seat, younger children in a forward-facing seat with an integral harness, and older children on a high-backed booster that positions the adult seatbelt correctly across the body. The transition points between these depend on the child's height and weight rather than age alone.

The precise legal requirements in the UK, including which seats are approved and when a child may use an adult belt, are set out by the Government and do change. Please confirm the current rules with an official source before travelling rather than relying on a general description here, and tell us what your child needs so the right seat is arranged.

• Rear-facing for infants, with the seat installed before you arrive
• Forward-facing with harness for younger children
• High-backed booster to position the adult belt for older children
• Requirements depend on height and weight, so confirm current rules

Bringing your own seat versus asking for one

Many families prefer to travel with their own seat. It is familiar to the child, correctly adjusted, and removes any doubt about suitability. The trade-off is carrying it, and the fact that it has to go somewhere on the outbound leg if the child is not returning by car.

Where a seat is provided as part of the booking, tell us the child's age, weight and height so an appropriate one is fitted. Fitting takes several minutes and is done before collection rather than at the kerb, so the request needs to be in place at booking rather than raised on the day.

Practical points that catch families out

A child seat occupies a full seat position and often more, because a rear-facing seat pushes the seat in front forward. Two child seats plus an adult across a saloon rear bench is frequently impossible, and that is a vehicle question rather than a seat question.

Airport returns are the other pinch point. If a family flies out with their own seat, it comes back on the carousel and needs collecting before the transfer, which affects timing. If it is being left at home instead, a seat must be arranged for the inbound journey and confirmed in advance.

Making the journey easy for the child

Beyond the restraint, small things make long journeys work: a seat position where the child can see out, cool air they are not sitting directly under, a stop planned into a long run, and something to occupy them. Chauffeurs are entirely used to family travel and will plan a break on a long route if asked.

Motion sickness is common in children and worse when they cannot see the horizon. A higher vehicle helps, as does sitting forward-facing rather than in a rear-facing conference seat. Say if a child is prone to it and the seating and route can take account of it.

Plan your chauffeur journey

London Chauffeurs provides itinerary-led private travel for airport transfers, executive travel, private aviation, events and long-distance UK journeys. Availability and pricing are confirmed for the requested itinerary.

Frequently asked questions