UK police forces issued 5,533 fixed penalty notices to parents and drivers for child car seat and seatbelt offences between 2023 and 2025. Based on the standard £100 fixed penalty, that's equivalent to £553,300 in fines over three years.
Offences and Penalties
The offences varied from no seat being used at all, to the wrong seat for the child's age or size, or no seatbelt at all, according to data obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests sent to UK police constabularies.
Under UK law, children must use an appropriate child car seat from birth until they are either 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first. After this point, they can legally move onto an adult seat belt. Rear facing seats should never be used in a front passenger seat with an active airbag. Any restraint used must suit a child's current height and weight, not simply their age.
Retraining Courses and Prosecutions
In addition to the 5,533 offences, 2,926 drivers were ordered onto a retraining course instead between 2023 and 2025, including 958 in 2025 alone. The standard course for these offences in England and Wales is “Your Belt, Your Life”, run through the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS). It lasts about 30 minutes, ends with a test, and costs £54. Others faced more serious action, with 1,808 drivers referred for prosecution over the same 3-year period.
Regional Enforcement
Some parts of the country are seeing considerably more enforcement than others. Greater Manchester Police issued more fines than any other force in the UK. Its 1,514 fixed penalty notices account for almost 30% of all those issued nationally over the 3 years.
- Greater Manchester Police: 1514
- West Yorkshire Police: 1055
- Merseyside Police: 527
- Police Service of Northern Ireland: 310
- Leicestershire Constabulary: 199
- Northumbria Police: 177
- West Mercia Police: 153
- Devon and Cornwall Constabulary: 134
- Humberside Police: 125
- West Midlands Police: 114
Parent Survey and Safety Checker
A new survey of parents with children under 12 also found that thousands could be unknowingly putting themselves at risk of a fine by misunderstanding the UK's child car seat laws. Almost 1 in 3 parents admit they have driven with their child without the appropriate restraint at some point, whether that's using the wrong car seat or no car seat at all. Among those who have done so, more than a third say they have been stopped by police.
While many escaped with a warning, the research suggests officers are taking firm action where necessary. Over half say they received a verbal warning, while 45% were told to correct the issue before continuing their journey. More than a third received a fixed penalty notice or fine, almost a third had the incident formally recorded by police and almost 1 in 4 say they were prosecuted or required to attend court.
To help parents make the right choice for their child, Confused.com has launched a car seat safety checker. Parents enter their child's age and weight, and the tool instantly recommends the type of car seat or restraint appropriate for their stage, helping families keep their child safe, stay within the law, and avoid the cost of getting it wrong.
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, said: “Getting your child's car seat right isn't just about avoiding a fine, it's one of the most important things a parent can do to keep them safe on every journey. Yet, despite most parents feeling confident in their knowledge, our research shows a significant number are still unsure exactly when their child should move onto the next stage, or which seat is right for their age and size. That uncertainty can have real consequences, both on the road and afterwards.
“It's also worth remembering that getting this wrong won't necessarily invalidate your car insurance outright. But following the law matters, for your child's safety first and foremost.
“Our car seat safety checker takes the guesswork out of the equation. By simply entering your child's age and weight, parents can get clear, instant guidance on the right seat for their child, helping families make safer choices and avoid falling foul of the law.”
