Guide · Car seats
Thailand's car seat law: who it covers, the fine, and why taxis are exempt
In Thailand, children aged 6 or under must ride in a child safety seat in a private car, and everyone in the car must wear a seatbelt; the fine is up to 2,000 baht. Taxis and public transport are exempt from the child-seat part, so if you want a seat in a hired car, you have to ask for one.
Updated · Checked against the law's published text and Thai news reports
What does Thailand's car seat law say?
Section 123 of the Land Traffic Act sets three rules for people in cars. The 2022 amendment is what added the child seat:
- Seatbelts for everyone. The driver and all passengers, in the front and every other row, must wear a seatbelt.
- A child seat up to age 6. Children aged 6 or under must ride in a child safety seat or a special child seat.
- Restraint up to 135 cm. Passengers 135 cm tall or shorter must be belted or restrained in whichever row they sit.
People with a health reason can be excused from the seatbelt rule but must use some other form of protection. The penalty for breaking section 123 is a fine of up to 2,000 baht, and the driver is the main person responsible for making sure passengers comply.
When did the car seat rule start?
The law took effect on 5 September 2022, but the child-seat part could only be enforced once the police had defined the details. That happened with a Royal Thai Police announcement effective 17 August 2023, which set standards for child seats and listed who is exempt.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 7 May 2022 | Land Traffic Act (No. 13) B.E. 2565 published in the Royal Gazette |
| 5 Sep 2022 | Amended section 123 in force: seatbelts for all, child seats for children aged 6 or under |
| 17 Aug 2023 | Royal Thai Police announcement takes effect: seat standards, alternatives and exemptions (taxis, public transport) |
| Sep 2026 | No later change found |
Does the car seat law apply to taxis, Grab and private transfers?
Not to taxis. The 2023 police announcement exempts for-hire vehicles, meaning taxis, and public transport from the child-seat requirement. For app-booked ride-hailing cars and privately registered transfer cars, we could not find an official answer, so we do not claim one either way. The seatbelt rule covers everyone in a car.
| Vehicle | Child-seat rule (age 6 or under) | What we suggest |
|---|---|---|
| Your own or a borrowed private car | Applies | Use a seat that fits the child |
| Self-drive rental car | Applies, on our reading: you are driving a private car | Reserve a seat with the rental or bring your own |
| Meter taxi | Exempt | Bring your own seat, or pre-book a car with one |
| Bus, train, public transport | Exempt | Keep small children on a lap or seat, away from aisles |
| Ride-hailing car (app) | Not confirmed | Bring your own seat |
| Pre-booked private transfer | Not confirmed | Request a seat when you book |
An exemption is a legal point, not a safety one. A crash at city speed is just as dangerous in a taxi as in a family car, which is why most parents treat the child seat as non-negotiable for airport runs and long drives, whatever the law says about the vehicle.
What if a private car has no child seat?
The police announcement accepts alternatives when a private car has no child seat. They are the legal minimum, not a safe substitute:
- The child sits in the rear seat, or in the front seat of a pickup truck, never in the open bed.
- An adult looks after the child, or the child wears a seatbelt.
- The driver drives carefully and keeps to the left lane.
Never ride with a child in a pickup bed or on a lap in the front seat. An adult's arms cannot hold a child in a sudden stop, and a front airbag can injure a small child.
What does the law mean on a family trip?
In practice, the rule matters most in three situations: the ride from the airport, long drives between destinations, and self-drive rentals.
| Situation | Legal position | Safest simple option |
|---|---|---|
| Arriving at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang | Airport meter taxis are exempt | Pre-booked transfer with a seat; 60 minutes' free waiting on the Smile network |
| Day trip, for example Ayutthaya or the floating market | Depends on the car; hired cars are unclear | Book the same car both ways with a seat, or message for a round-trip price |
| Road trip between regions | Same as above | Keep children in seats on every leg, and stop every two hours |
| Self-drive rental | You are the driver responsible | Seat reserved with the car, checked before you leave the lot |
| Island songthaews and tuk-tuks | No belts to fit a seat | Short rides only, holding small children securely |
How can you use a child seat without bringing one?
Pre-book your car rides with a seat included. Every transfer site in the Smile Taxi Service network takes child-seat requests when you book; on the regional booking sites the fee is 100 THB per seat, shown when you book. There is no promise of a particular seat type, so:
- Give each child's age, weight and height in the booking.
- Ask for the seat to be confirmed in writing (WhatsApp, LINE or email).
- Book a big enough car: a sedan takes up to 3 passengers, an SUV 5 and a van 7, and each child counts.
- Check the seat is firmly fitted and the harness or belt is snug before the car moves.
The car seat taxi directory lists every network site by region, with the airports and routes each covers. If you would rather bring your own seat, a light one that installs with an ordinary seatbelt is the most flexible choice.
The 2023 announcement also sets standards for child seats. We have not found a public list of approved models, so we cannot say how a seat brought from abroad is assessed.
Transparency: Smile Taxi Service and its regional transfer sites are affiliated with Thailand 4 Kids. Everything we say about them comes from the operator's published terms.
Frequently asked questions
Is a car seat mandatory in Thailand?
Yes, for children aged 6 or under in private cars, under section 123 of the Land Traffic Act, in force since 5 September 2022 and enforceable since 17 August 2023. Taxis and public transport are exempt from the child-seat part.
What is the fine for not using a car seat in Thailand?
Up to 2,000 baht. The driver is the main person liable, which is why the rule matters most if you rent a car and drive yourself.
Do children over 6 need a booster seat in Thailand?
The law does not name booster seats. It says passengers 135 cm tall or shorter must be belted or restrained in whichever row they sit, and everyone must wear a seatbelt. Many parents keep a booster until the adult belt fits properly, whatever the age.
Can my baby sit on my lap in a Thai taxi?
It is not illegal in a taxi, because taxis are exempt from the child-seat rule, but it is not safe: in a sudden stop an adult cannot hold a baby. Pre-book a car with a seat or bring your own.
Is the law enforced on tourists?
The rule applies to everyone driving or riding in a private car in Thailand, and the fine falls mainly on the driver. We have no reliable data on how often it is enforced, so plan as if it is.
Do Grab drivers have to provide a car seat?
Not as far as we can tell. Whether ride-hailing cars count as exempt for-hire vehicles has not been confirmed, and we found no way to request a child seat through the apps in Thailand. Bring your own seat if you plan to use them.
Related: Family health and safety in Thailand covers seatbelts, motorbikes and other road risks, and Thailand with a baby covers the airport arrival with an infant.
Sources
- Royal Gazette publishes the child car seat rule: text of the amended section 123 — The Standard (Thai), 9 May 2022, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Children aged 6 and under must use car seats; for-hire and public vehicles exempt — Thai PBS (Thai), 18 Aug 2023, checked 27 Sep 2026
- Fasten up: Car seats for kids are now mandatory in Thailand — The Nation, 19 Aug 2023, checked 27 Sep 2026