Permis PrêtSeat belts and child car seats: what does Quebec law say?
Who must buckle up, how long a child stays in a car seat, and who is fined if it isn’t done.
Short answer: everyone in a moving vehicle must wear their seat belt properly, in the front and in the back. A child who is under 145 cm or under 9 years old must sit in a car seat or booster seat suited to their weight and height. The driver is responsible for passengers under 16.
Seat belts: required for every occupant
The Code de la sécurité routière (Quebec’s Highway Safety Code) requires every person, except a child who must be in a car seat, to properly wear the seat belt of the seat they occupy while the vehicle is moving (s. 396). The SAAQ handbook specifies that this applies in the front seat and the back seat alike (Guide de la route, ch. 4, “La ceinture de sécurité”).
The exceptions are narrow:
- the driver while reversing (s. 396);
- a person who has obtained from the SAAQ, for exceptional medical reasons, a certificate of exemption or partial use; they must carry it and show it to a police officer on request (ss. 398 and 400).
It is also prohibited to drive if the driver’s or a passenger’s seat belt or airbag is missing, modified or not working (s. 395), and to carry more passengers than there are seats with a manufacturer-installed belt, in a vehicle built after 1973 (s. 426).
Car seats: 145 cm or age 9
In a moving vehicle, any child who is under 145 cm tall or under 9 years old must be secured in a child restraint (car seat) or booster seat that meets Canadian standards. The seat must suit the child’s weight and height according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and be properly installed in the vehicle (s. 397).
The “or” matters: a child must meet both conditions to move to the seat belt alone.
| Child | Car seat or booster required? |
|---|---|
| Age 7, 150 cm | Yes: under 9 |
| Age 10, 138 cm | Yes: under 145 cm |
| Age 9, 146 cm | No: seat belt alone, worn properly |
Exceptions in s. 397: a seating position the manufacturer did not equip with a seat belt, if no belted seat is free; a medical authorization from the SAAQ. In a taxi or police vehicle, if no suitable seat is available, the child must at least wear the seat belt.
The handbook’s advice
To reduce airbag risks, the Guide de la route recommends (ch. 4, “Les sacs gonflables”):
- placing a baby’s rear-facing seat in the back seat, in the centre if possible;
- seating children aged 12 or under in the back seat;
- for the driver, moving the seat back to keep at least 25 cm between the centre of the airbag cover and the middle of the chest.
These are safety recommendations, not sections of the Code.
Who is responsible? Points and fines
| Situation | Fine set by the Code | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Not wearing a seat belt (the unbelted person) | $200 to $300 (s. 510) | 3 |
| Driving with a passenger under 16 who does not meet the rules (belt or car seat) | $80 to $100 (s. 508) | 3 |
A driver may not drive if a passenger under 16 is not belted or secured as the law requires (s. 401). The 3 demerit points come from the Regulation respecting demerit points (schedule, item 21). For a learner or probationary licence holder, they count toward the 4-point limit.
Key points for the test
- Seat belts are mandatory for everyone, front and back.
- Car seat or booster: under 145 cm or under 9.
- Passengers under 16: the driver is responsible.
- Not wearing a seat belt: 3 demerit points.
Original questions with explanations and sources, “Highway Safety Code” section.
Practise for free
See also
Official sources
- Code de la sécurité routière (Highway Safety Code, CQLR c. C-24.2), ss. 395 to 398, 400, 401, 426, 508 and 510
- Règlement sur les points d’inaptitude (Regulation respecting demerit points, CQLR c. C-24.2, r. 37), schedule, item 21
- SAAQ, Guide de la route (4th ed., 2024, French), ch. 4, “La ceinture de sécurité” and “Les sacs gonflables”
General information page, current as of 2026-10-28. If in doubt, the official text prevails. Rules can change: check saaq.gouv.qc.ca and legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca.