Child car seats in Poland: the 150 cm rule, front seat and fines
Short answer: In Poland a child under 150 cm must ride in a suitable child seat, whatever their age. A rear-facing seat can't be used on a front seat with an active airbag.
Driving children around Poland, whether in your own car or a friend's, comes with clear rules about car seats. They apply to residents and visitors alike. This guide follows the Road Traffic Act as quoted by the Polish Police, a regional Police page on the child seat rules, the Warsaw Police magazine guide of 15 September 2023 and the official traffic fines tariff on gov.pl, as checked on 17 October 2026.
The core rule: under 150 cm
The Police FAQ quotes article 39 of the Road Traffic Act on the older age-12 wording. A regional Police page explains the later change: since an amendment of 9 April 2015 (Dz.U. 2015 item 591), the age criterion disappeared and only height remains. A child shorter than 150 cm must travel in a child seat or other child restraint in a vehicle that has seat belts, even if the child is over 12.
The restraint must be suitable for the child's weight and height, meet the technical conditions of EU rules or UN ECE regulations, and be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. The Police page says that failing any of these duties is punishable by a fine.
The Warsaw Police magazine adds practical advice: choose by height and weight first and age second, and check the seat has the relevant EU or UN approval.
Front seat rules
According to the Police FAQ, quoting article 45 paragraph 2 of the Act:
- A rear-facing child seat must not be used on a front seat with an active passenger airbag. The Police explain that a deploying airbag could seriously injure or kill a small child.
- A child under 150 cm may not ride in the front seat outside a child seat or other restraint.
The exceptions
The regional Police page and the gov.pl tariff list the exceptions. In a car (categories M1, N1 and the heavier trucks as listed) with seat belts:
- A child at least 135 cm tall may sit on the back seat held by the vehicle seat belt, when it is not possible to provide a suitable seat because of the child's weight and height. The Police page says in practice this means a child whose body weight exceeds 36 kg, the maximum weight for a child restraint. This exception does not apply to the front seat.
- A third child aged at least 3 may be held by the seat belt on the back seat when two children are in child seats installed on the back seats and a third seat cannot be fitted (this applies to M1 and N1 vehicles).
The Warsaw Police guide also notes that article 39 sets exclusions such as taxis and police vehicles. Check the act for the full list.
* Photos: car seats, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 / public domain (illustrative, not taken in Poland).
Children under 3 in vehicles without belts
The tariff table lists a separate offence for carrying a child under 3 in a vehicle that has no seat belts and no child seat, or no belts and no restraint.
Fines
The traffic fines tariff on gov.pl (undated document titled "Wybrane przepisy ruchu drogowego - taryfikator") lists these amounts for the ticket (mandat) under article 97 of the Code of Petty Offences:
- 300 zloty for carrying a child in the front seat of a car outside a child seat, when under 150 cm.
- 300 zloty for a rear-facing seat on a front seat with an active airbag.
- 300 zloty for a child restraint installed against the manufacturer's instructions.
- 100 zloty for not using a seat belt while driving.
An older version of the tariff table on gov.pl lists a lower amount, 150 zloty, with penalty points for some of the same child-seat offences. Because the documents are undated, treat the figures as indicative and ask the Police or check the current regulation for the amount in force.
Used seats
The Warsaw Police magazine advises against buying a used child seat, because you cannot know its history or whether its structure was damaged in a crash.
What the sources do not cover
We did not find official guidance in the pages above on seats for foreign visitors with seats approved outside the EU, or on rental car seats. If you rent a car or use a taxi, ask the company about its child seat arrangements before the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Until what age must a child use a car seat in Poland?
There is no age limit in the current rules. According to the Police, the criterion is height: children under 150 cm must travel in a child seat or other suitable restraint.
Can a child sit in the front seat?
Only in a proper child seat or restraint if they are under 150 cm, according to article 45 of the Road Traffic Act as quoted by the Police. A rear-facing seat must not be used where the passenger airbag is active.
What is the fine for no child seat?
The gov.pl tariff lists 300 zloty for some of these offences, but an older version shows 150 zloty. The documents are undated, so confirm the current amount.
