Police forces across the UK issued £553,300 in fixed penalty notices for car seat and seatbelt offences over a three-year period, according to data secured via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests by Confused.com.
The figures show 5,533 fixed penalty notices were issued between 2023 and 2025, with standard penalties set at £100. The data highlights widespread non-compliance, leaving over 5,000 children at risk due to absent or incorrectly fitted restraints.
In addition to financial penalties, 2,926 drivers were ordered onto retraining courses, such as the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme's 'Your Belt, Your Life' module, while 1,808 drivers were referred for court prosecution.
Regional hotspots
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) topped the national list, issuing nearly 30% of all fines nationwide. GMP issued 1,055 fixed penalty notices between 2023 and 2025, with a total fine income of £151,400 across that period.
The complete list of regional fine hotspots is as follows:
- Greater Manchester Police - 1,514 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £151,400.
- West Yorkshire Police - 1,055 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £105,500.
- Merseyside Police - 527 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £52,700.
- Police Service of Northern Ireland - 310 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £31,700.
- Leicestershire Constabulary - 199 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £19,900.
- Northumbria Police - 177 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £17,700.
- West Mercia Police - 153 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £15,300.
- Devon and Cornwall Constabulary - 134 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £13,400.
- Humberside Police - 125 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £12,500.
- West Midlands Police - 114 fixed penalty notices issued with a total fine income of £11,400.
Parent survey reveals gaps
An accompanying survey of 1,200 parents with children under 12 suggests the penalty figures are only the tip of the iceberg. Almost one in three (31%) parents admitted to driving a child without the appropriate restraint at some point.
The research exposed significant gaps in understanding UK child safety legislation:
- Unknown Legal Cut-off: 64% of parents did not know the legal requirement stating children must generally use a car seat until they are either 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.
- Changing Requirements: 28% struggled to keep up with changing requirements as children grow, while 23% found it difficult to determine which seat suits each growth stage.
- Practical Vehicle Constraints: 14% struggled to fit multiple car seats into a single vehicle, with 20% considering upgrading their car to accommodate proper seats.
Of those stopped by police for seat offences, 57% received a verbal warning, 45% were directed to fix the issue before continuing, 35% received a fine, and 24% faced prosecution.
Expert advice and campaign
Motoring experts emphasise that proper seat fitting is primarily a matter of child protection rather than fine avoidance.
"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," said Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com. "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."
Confused.com has backed the Rear Face for Safety campaign, which advises keeping children in rear-facing seats until at least age four, where research shows they are up to five times safer, and launched a free online car seat safety checker to help parents identify the correct restraint based on a child's age and weight.
