Guide
Florida car seat laws
Florida's child restraint rule is short, and it catches visiting families out at exactly one moment: the taxi rank at the airport.
What the law says
Florida Statute 316.613 requires that children aged 3 and under be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. Children aged 4 and 5 must be secured in a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a booster seat.
From age 6 the child restraint statute no longer applies and the standard seat belt law takes over. Safety guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics goes further than the statute and recommends rear-facing as long as the seat allows, and a booster until the adult belt fits properly — usually around 4 feet 9 inches tall.
This page summarises the law as an aid to trip planning. Read the statute itself, or ask a certified child passenger safety technician, before relying on it for anything consequential.
It applies to Uber, Lyft and taxis
Florida gives no rideshare exemption for the child restraint requirement, and drivers do not carry seats. A family landing at MCO without one has no legal way to leave the airport by car with a toddler.
Practically, this is the single most common reason we get a call from the baggage claim floor.
Rental car counters are not a reliable plan
- Counter seats cost roughly $14 to $16 per day, uncapped on many contracts — more than our 21-day rate inside a fortnight
- You cannot reserve a specific model, and stock runs out on holiday weekends
- Condition and expiry date vary; crash history is rarely documented
- You still have to install it yourself in the garage
What we check before a seat goes out
- Manufacturer expiry date — expired seats are retired, never rented
- Documented crash-free history; we do not buy used seats
- Harness, buckle and LATCH function tested
- Cleaned between every rental
Questions
What age can a child stop using a car seat in Florida?
The restraint statute applies through age 5. From age 6 the standard seat belt law applies, though safety guidance recommends a booster until the adult belt fits properly.
Do I need a car seat in an Uber in Florida?
Yes. There is no rideshare exemption from the child restraint requirement, and drivers do not provide seats.
Is renting a car seat cheaper than the rental car counter?
Usually. Counter rates run about $14 to $16 per day; our all-in-one starts at $50 for three days with delivery included.
Gear waiting when you land
Pick your gear, pick your dates, tell us where you are staying. We deliver clean, inspected equipment and collect it when you leave.