Booster/car seats for children

Question

Hey everyone, travelling to Orlando in the summer as a family of 5. We will have a 2 and 4 year old with us, just wondering do we need to being booster/car seats for them to use the likes of uber or taxi services? Any time I've brought them away in Europe it is standard the taxi's have their own so I'm not sure what to expect. We won't be using them a lot as we are staying in disney, so really don't want to put myself to the expense of buying them if I don't need them.

Answer

In Florida, child passenger safety laws are quite strict compared to many parts of Europe. For children under 5, you are required to use a federally approved car seat or booster seat appropriate for their age, weight, and height. This applies to all vehicles, including taxis and ride-share services like Uber or Lyft.

For your specific situation with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old:

The 2-year-old should be in a rear-facing or convertible car seat, depending on the child’s weight and height (rear-facing preferred until at least age 2).
The 4-year-old can be in a forward-facing car seat with a harness or a booster, again depending on their size.
Uber and other ride-share services in Orlando generally do not provide car seats for children. Uber does have an option called "Uber Car Seat," but availability is limited and usually only provides one rear-facing seat per vehicle.

For taxis, most do not provide car seats, so you would need to bring your own if you plan to use them. Rental cars are required by law to allow children to use their own car seats, and most rental companies provide options to rent car seats for an extra fee.

Practical tips for your trip:

If you’ll mostly be staying at Disney resorts, you might not need to use taxis frequently, since Disney transportation is child-friendly and free (buses, monorails, boats) and car seats are not required there.
For occasional trips outside Disney property using ride-shares, it may be simpler to bring your own convertible car seat that can switch from rear-facing to forward-facing.
Some parents also use travel car seats that are lightweight and foldable for ease of transport while flying.

Bottom line: yes, for the 2 and 4-year-old you will need car seats if using Uber, Lyft, or taxis, as these services do not automatically provide them. Planning to bring your own or rent them is the safest and most compliant way to travel in Florida with young children.

Booster/car seats for children

More Orlando Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions