I will be traveling to Italy with my 2 children (ages 3 & 6) in August. They are both in 5 point restraint cars seat at home because they are under 40lbs. I have no problem bringing the seats with me, but I want to make sure that the cars have latch and tethers. The seats I have require both for installation. Any information is appreciated. Thank You.
Welcome Claire - Our kids are long gone, but we rent cars frequently in Italy and every company we have used offers the option of fitting a child's car seat. I don't know about what type they are, but it seems very preferable to me to rent them in Italy rather than lugging them with you and worrying about whether or not they will fit. A call to the rental companies should give you all the info you need.
Definitely take your car seats with. For some reason there seems to be a dirth of car seats available at rental agencies. Our first trip to Italy it was the one thing we mentioned to each other. That nobody was strapping their kids in. That was 1998 - years after it was mandatory here in US. Since then it has improved considerably but I don't think it is mandatory in Italy. Hence rental companies only carry one or two car seats.
I don't travel with children, so I don't have any experience of this: is it mandatory in Italy for children under a certain age or weight to be in a car seat? Where do you find the regulations, if there are?
Posts: 236 | Location: New Jersey, USA | Registered: 16 September 2007
April2Cats Car seats are mandatory for children under 4 in Italy. I don't need to restrain my 6 y/o in Italy, but I'd prefer to do so. I'd feel more comfortable with my kids in car seats.
Welcome! We too are traveling this August to Italy with our two children, ages 7 and 5 years! From everything that I have been told, car seats are mandatory throughout the EU, including Italy. Here is what I found:
Child Seats If you are traveling with children under the age of 3 years they must sit in the back seat of the vehicle and in a proper child safety seat. Children between the ages of 4 and 12 can only travel in the front seat of the vehicle if in a child seat suitable for their age and weight.
Where in Italy will you be staying? We will be in Rome August 15th, which is Ferrogosto, a big national Holiday. Then on to Umbria and the then the beach. Do our dates match yours by any luck? I am sure that our children would very much like to find other children to play with!
The rules in Italy are pretty much the same as in the U.s. Under 12 they MUST be in the rear seat unless they are under 1 year snd in a rear facing seat. To be in a front facing seat they must weigh 9 kilos €9+ be at least 1 year. until 20 kilos AND at least 4 years they have to be in a full restraint car seat. Up until 150 cm. They have to be in a booster. Besides the law, safety first. It is better to do more than less.
yes there are people who do not obey the law but just because they do does not mean that we should. My oldest is 10 and is 148 cm and she happily sits in the back in her booster.
Hi Claire, We also brought our car seat when driving in Italy. For 2 kids it can be bulky, but you may want to buy a vest for one of children or even 2 vests. If you google on car vests you will find approved models. Other than that the oldest at least could use a portable booster seat?
I would not rely on renting them because not all agencies would have them, then they seemed smaller than the one in N/A. Secondly, it will cost you the same price to rent as to buy new ones and take them with you.
