Traveling with Car Seats: Planes, Rentals & Rideshares

Car seats are the most annoying thing you’ll haul on a family trip, and also the one piece of gear you really shouldn’t wing. The questions are always the same: can it go on the plane, should you check it, can you just rent one, and what happens in a taxi or in another country? Here’s the whole decision, start to finish.

A note on rules: Airline policies, rental programs, rideshare car seat options, and laws in other countries change. Confirm with your airline, rental company, and the destination’s official government site before you go.

Should you bring your car seat or get one there?

Start here. The answer depends on how you’ll get around once you land.

The CDC’s travel health guidance notes that well-maintained, approved car seats may be hard to find in some countries, which is why many families bring their own.

How to tell if your car seat is FAA-approved

Flip the seat over and look for a sticker that says:

“This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.”

That’s the line the FAA and flight attendants look for. Most U.S. rear-facing infant seats and convertible seats have it. Seats approved by a foreign government with the required label can also be acceptable on U.S. airlines.

What can’t be used during taxi, takeoff, and landing:

1. Booster seats (backless or high-back used as boosters)
2. Vest-type and harness devices other than the FAA-approved CARES
3. Lap-held “belly belts” that attach a baby to your belt
4. Baby carriers

Snap a photo of the label on your phone. If a crew member questions the seat, showing the label is faster than flipping it over in a crowded aisle.

Using a car seat on the plane

The FAA says the safest place for kids under 2 is in an approved restraint, not on a lap. To use a car seat onboard you need to buy your child a seat. Here’s the step-by-step:

1. Measure the car seat’s widest point and compare it to your airline’s published economy seat width. Narrow seats can be a tight squeeze.
2. Book a window seat for the car seat. The FAA prefers the window so the seat doesn’t block anyone’s way to the aisle. Exit rows are not allowed.
3. Pre-board. Installing a car seat while 40 people wait behind you is nobody’s favorite moment.
4. Install it per the label. Rear-facing or forward-facing according to the seat’s limits for your child’s size, using the airplane lap belt routed through the correct belt path.
5. Expect the seat in front to recline less if your child is rear-facing. If it won’t fit, ask the crew about other seats.

Your rights: If you buy your child a seat and your approved car seat fits, the airline can’t stop you from using it. If it doesn’t fit the assigned seat, the airline only has to find you another seat in the same class of service.

Carrying it through the airport: A car seat travel cart or a strap that clips the seat to a rolling carry-on lets your kid ride through the terminal. Or use a lightweight convertible seat that’s only for travel.

The CARES harness: what it is and who it fits

The CARES harness is a strap system that wraps around the airplane seat back and works with the lap belt to make a shoulder harness. The FAA lists it as certified for children who:

It’s great for toddlers and preschoolers who’ve outgrown wanting to sit in a car seat on a plane, and it saves you hauling a seat through the terminal. The tradeoff: you still need a proper car seat at your destination if you’ll be riding in cars. Our guide to flying with toddlers covers how it fits into the rest of the flight plan.

Gate-checking vs. checking your car seat

If you’re not using the seat onboard, you have two choices.

Tips either way:

1. Use a padded bag to protect straps and keep buckles clean. A cheap bag is better than nothing.
2. Label everything with your name and phone number.
3. Inspect it on arrival. Look for cracks, bent parts, or missing pieces. If something looks off, report it to the airline before you leave the airport.
4. Check your manual. Some manufacturers give specific guidance about seats that have been checked as luggage or in a crash. Follow it.

HealthyChildren.org notes airlines typically let families bring a car seat without counting it as extra luggage, but policies change.

Renting a car with a car seat

Most rental counters offer seats for a daily fee. That can work, but go in with eyes open.

What to check on a rental seat:

1. The expiration or manufacture date on the label, and that it isn’t expired.
2. No visible cracks, frayed straps, or missing padding.
3. The seat fits your child’s current height and weight.
4. The instruction manual is there, or you can find it online by model number.
5. It’s the type you reserved (infant, convertible, or booster). Counters can run out, especially in peak season.

The AAP’s HealthyChildren.org says rental selection may be limited and suggests confirming fit, condition, and that the manual is included. You also usually don’t know a rental seat’s crash history, which is one reason many families bring their own.

Installing it yourself: Don’t count on counter staff to install it for you. Know how to install with both the vehicle seat belt and the lower anchors (LATCH). Watch your seat’s install video before you leave home. If you’re unsure once you arrive, NHTSA’s car seat page can help you find a car seat inspection station near your destination.

Uber, Lyft, and taxis with kids

NHTSA says kids should always ride in the right seat for their age and size, including in taxis and rideshares. Car seat laws generally apply in rideshare cars just as they do in your own.

What works:

1. Bring your own seat. Practice a seat-belt-only install so you can do it fast at the curb.
2. Lightweight seats for babies and toddlers. A lighter convertible, or an infant seat that can install without its base (many can, check your manual), is much easier to carry around a city.
3. Travel boosters for older kids. Compact or inflatable boosters exist for kids who meet their seat’s minimums. NHTSA says kids should use a booster until the seat belt fits properly, typically between ages 8 and 12 or around 4 feet 9 inches tall.
4. Check your app. Some rideshare apps have offered a car seat ride option in select cities. Availability, seat type, and age and weight limits vary, so read the details in the app.
5. Taxis. Some states and cities exempt taxis from car seat laws. That’s a legal loophole, not a safety feature. Use a seat anyway.

Kids under 13 are safest in the back seat, per NHTSA.

Car seats on international trips

This is where it gets complicated.

On foreign airlines

Each airline sets its own policy on which car seats it accepts. Some accept FAA-labeled U.S. seats, some have their own rules about where seats can go and which types are allowed. Check your airline’s website before booking a seat for your child.

In cars abroad

• Standards differ. The U.K. requires child car seats approved to UN ECE standards, shown by a label with a capital “E” in a circle plus “R129” or “ECE R44” (GOV.UK). Many other countries use the same UN standards. U.S. seats are certified to U.S. federal standards, so they may not technically meet another country’s legal requirement.
• Ages differ. Under U.K. rules, for example, kids generally need a car seat until age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.
• Availability differs. The CDC notes approved seats may be scarce in some countries, and some vehicles may lack rear seat belts. Arrange transportation in vehicles with working seat belts.
• Anchors. Lower anchor systems exist abroad (ISOFIX), but the hardware and rules may not match your U.S. seat. A seat-belt install is your most universal option.

The practical path: check the destination’s government site, then decide between bringing your seat, renting a locally approved seat, or using a car service that provides one. If you’re prepping passports too, see our guide to passports for kids.

Quick car seat travel checklist

• Found the “certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” label (and took a photo)
• Checked seat expiration date and recall status
• Measured seat width and compared to airline seat width
• Booked a window seat for the car seat
• Practiced a seat-belt-only install at home
• Packed a padded bag or travel cart
• CARES harness, if your child fits and you’re going without a car seat onboard
• Researched rental, rideshare, or international rules

Add these to your trip list with the packing list builder, or read flying with a baby for the infant-specific details.

Your next step: find the sticker tonight

Turn your car seat over, find the aircraft certification label, and check the expiration date while you’re there. Then look up your airline’s seat width and car seat policy, and decide whether you’re installing onboard or gate-checking.