Victoria

Understanding road laws

Safe car travel Road rules Taxi travel Rideshare FAQs

Safe car travel

Safe and comfortable car travel is important for everyone.

Car seats, booster seats and seatbelts help protect passengers if a vehicle stops suddenly or is involved in a crash. Using the right restraint for a person’s size and needs can reduce the risk of serious injury or death.

Victorian road rules

If a person with disability or a medical condition can travel safely in a standard Australian child restraint, booster seat or vehicle seatbelt, the table below shows the minimum legal requirements and best practice recommendations for safer travel.

Age	Road rule	Best practice recommendation
Under 6 months	Rearward-facing child restraint	Rearward-facing child restraint
6 months to under 4 years	Rearward-facing or forward-facing child restraint	Rearward-facing child restraint for as long as the child fits, then a forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness
4 to under 7 years	Forward-facing child restraint or booster seat	Forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness for as long as the child fits, then a booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt
7 to under 16 years	Booster seat or vehicle seatbelt	Booster seat until the child fits a vehicle seatbelt properly. Use the five-step test to check when they are ready to use a seatbelt.
16 years and over	Vehicle seatbelt	Vehicle seatbelt

Alternative restraints and methods of travel

Some people with disability or a medical condition cannot travel safely using a standard child restraint or vehicle seatbelt. If an alternative restraint or method of travel is needed, a medical certificate must be carried in the vehicle.

Examples:

special purpose car seat
modified child restraint or vehicle seatbelt
specialty harness/vest
buckle cover
extra recline or positioning support
travelling in the front row of a vehicle when the person is under 7 years of age.

Taxi travel

In Victoria, taxi drivers are not required to provide child restraints or booster seats, but passengers can bring their own. Taxis must have at least one anchorage point that can be used to install a child restraint or booster seat.

If a suitable child restraint or booster seat is available, it must be used. If one is not available, the road rules below apply.

If a person with disability or a medical condition uses an alternative restraint or method of travel, it can also be used when travelling in a taxi.

Under 1 year old

Best practice: travel in a child restraint

Road rules:

Must travel in the back seat

Must be carried on an adult’s lap

Must not share the vehicle seatbelt with the adult

1 year old and over

Best practice: use a restraint that is appropriate for the person's age and size.

Road rules:

Must travel in their own seat

Must use the vehicle seatbelt

Rideshare travel

In Victoria, the road rules for rideshare vehicles (such as Uber) and hire cars are the same as for private vehicles.

FAQs

Are the road laws the same in all states and territories?

Why aren’t the road laws for transporting children with disabilities and medical conditions the same in each state and territory?

Model Australian Road Rules were first introduced in 1999 and form the basis of the road rules in each state and territory.

The National Transport Commission is responsible for maintaining the Australian Road Rules. Many jurisdictions copy the model law, however some don't.

To improve consistency, MACA is participating in the current review of the Australian child restraint road rules which is expected to be completed mid-2026.

Where can I find out more information about Victoria's road rules?

I received a seatbelt camera detected fine. Can I get an exemption?

What is MACA doing to improve road laws for people with disabilities and medical conditions?

We have extensively reviewed the current legislative environment which means we have a deep understanding of each state and territory's road laws. We work closely with road agencies, to remove unnecessary barriers and to identify opportunities for improvement. Our website, information resources and training are regularly updated to reflect any changes.

This approach is increasing awareness of the transport needs of people with disabilities and medical conditions and has resulted in some new laws for the use of seatbelt buckle covers.

To improve consistency, MACA is participating in the current review of the Australian child restraint road rules which is expected to be completed mid-2026.

Why do we need different road laws for people with disabilities?

We need road laws for children and adults with disability that have been developed based on research, and that protect their right to safe transport.

Due to the lack of research in this area their needs have not been considered equal to the needs of those without disabilities and medical conditions.

MACA is changing this through our research and participation in the current review of the Australian child restraint road rules. Read more about this in our media release.

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Victoria

Safe car travel

Victorian road rules

Alternative restraints and methods of travel

Taxi travel

Under 1 year old

1 year old and over

Rideshare travel

FAQs

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