Visiting Orlando with a young child raises a practical question before you leave home: what are you legally required to use in a car, and will the taxi, Uber or car service you book provide it? Florida's rule is short. The part that surprises most visitors is the exemption for hired vehicles, which puts the job of bringing a seat on the parent. This guide summarizes the statute in plain language and explains your options in Orlando. It is general information and not legal advice, so read the statute itself if you need certainty, and we link it below.
The short answer
- Children aged five and younger must ride in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint.
- For ages three and under it must be a separate carrier or the vehicle's integrated child seat. For ages four and five a carrier, an integrated seat or a booster seat can be used.
- The law does not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van or similar vehicle hired for compensation, and it says the parent or guardian is responsible for complying.
What the statute says
Section 316.613 of the Florida Statutes covers child restraint requirements. In summary, anyone driving a motor vehicle on a Florida road with a child aged five or younger must use a crash-tested, federally approved restraint device. Through age three, that device must be a separate carrier or a seat built into the vehicle by the manufacturer. For ages four and five, a separate carrier, an integrated seat or a booster seat is allowed.
The statute lists a few exceptions for four- and five-year-olds who are secured with a seat belt, such as a child being driven as a favor by someone outside the immediate family, a medical emergency, or a documented medical condition. A violation is a moving violation with three points on the license. A court may let the driver attend an approved child restraint safety course instead, which can waive the penalty and the points.
The exemption for hired vehicles
Subsection (6) says the requirements do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. The same sentence adds that it is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian or other person responsible for the child to comply with the section.
In practice, a taxi or car service is not required to carry a child seat, and a driver may not have one unless you arranged it. The statute does not spell out how an app-based ride fits, so if you plan to use one, assume the driver has no seat. The law lets the ride happen without a seat. It does not say a seat is unnecessary for safety, and safety agencies such as NHTSA recommend using the right restraint for your child's age, height and weight on every ride.
Seat types by age
The table below follows the statute for the legal minimum and describes the usual types. Always follow the height and weight limits printed on your seat, and keep a child in each stage as long as they fit it.
| Age | What the law requires | Usual seat type |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | A crash-tested, federally approved separate carrier or the vehicle's integrated child seat | Infant carrier, then convertible seat |
| 4 and 5 | A separate carrier, an integrated seat or a booster seat, with limited exceptions | Forward-facing harness seat or booster seat |
| 6 and older | Section 316.613 does not require a child restraint device | Booster seat until the seat belt fits correctly, as safety agencies advise |
How to get a seat for a ride in Orlando
Bring your own
The simplest way to be sure it fits your child and is installed the way you know. Many families fly with their own seat and carry it through the terminal. The drawback is the bulk, and the time to install it in a car you do not know.
Rent one in Orlando
Baby gear rental companies in the Orlando area deliver seats to airports and hotels. Book early in peak seasons, and confirm the make, the model and how long it has been in service.
Book a car service that provides them
At SUV Orlando, car seats are free on every ride. Tell us each child's age and the seat size you need (infant, convertible or booster) when you book, and the right seats are in the car when we arrive. Please book at least 24 hours ahead, because we cannot guarantee seats on same-day bookings. See car service with car seats.
Ask any provider before you travel
With a shuttle, taxi or rideshare, ask the provider in advance whether it supplies seats and what sizes. Policies vary, and the answer you need is a yes, in writing, before you land.