Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
Jun 9th 2008, 5:34 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 281
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
I personally think this is rather foolhardy. If you have an accident it gives the insurance company an excuse not to payout as you have installed none complient equipment in your vehicle. If your child was injured whilst using the UK car seat they certainly wouldn't payout. Is it really worth the risk?
Jun 9th 2008, 8:07 am
#17
The Brains
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Dubai / Hervey Bay
Posts: 886
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
Why would Australia recognise a UK standard when the testing standards are not the same - they may be better I grant you but they are different!
Jun 9th 2008, 8:33 am
#18
Anything,Anytime,Anywhere
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: The Magic Roundabout
Posts: 8,141
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
"Under Queensland law, the driver of the vehicle must ensure children under 16 years of age are wearing a correctly fitted child restraint or seatbelt. The penalty for failing to do this is a A$225 fine and three demerit points.
If more than one seatbelt offence occurs within a 12 month period, an additional three demerit points will apply. The additional penalty will apply to driver related offences for seatbelts, and rider related offences for helmets." from the Qld Transport website.
Last edited by The Bloke; Jun 9th 2008 at 8:35 am.
Jun 9th 2008, 10:12 am
#19
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,814
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
How clear do I have to make it.
A UK CAR SEAT IS NOT LEGAL FOR USE IN AUSTRALIA, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS
Unfortunately, this may mean that you cannot use a seat whihc in your eyes may be safer. The fact is that use of the seat is illegal. If you are involved in an accident you will be found guilty of using an illegal seat. If you try to claim on your insurance they will not pay because of your use of an illegal seat.
UK standards only apply to the UK.
A UK CAR SEAT IS NOT LEGAL FOR USE IN AUSTRALIA, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS
Unfortunately, this may mean that you cannot use a seat whihc in your eyes may be safer. The fact is that use of the seat is illegal. If you are involved in an accident you will be found guilty of using an illegal seat. If you try to claim on your insurance they will not pay because of your use of an illegal seat.
UK standards only apply to the UK.
Jun 9th 2008, 4:53 pm
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 182
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
We have a $300 Aussie car seat in my husband's newish car for our 5-year-old son. It was bought to replace the rear-facing baby seat we bought in the UK when he was born in 2003. And in my ancient Ford Fairmount we have a cheap Argos car seat my Dad bought when I visited the UK three years ago (to use in his car) and I still use it here. It has been back and forth to the UK twice. It's perfectly safe to use and no police officer has ever pulled me up for not using an Australian standard car seat in the five years I have been here so don't stress. As far as I am concerned if a UK car seat is safe to use in Britain then it's safe to use here as Britain has stringent standards. And anyway in Queensland we discovered - when our son was two - that child car seats are not compulsory in a taxi for toddlers as they are in NSW. In Sydney we couldn't get a taxi once to take us from Circular Quay to Central Station because none had a child's car seat. We assumed the same would apply when we arrived at Sunshine Coast Airport for a holiday and I got stressed about finding a taxi with a car seat to take us to our hotel. I made my husband go and look for a taxi with a car seat only to find out it wasn't necessary as the law is different in laid-back Queensland. Either that or the taxi drivers couldn't give a toss. My son sat in the back of the car with the seat belt practically strangling him. We now hire a car with a request for a car seat if we can't take our own car to a destination.
Just a thought - but maybe the Australian car seats are safer than UK's
Jul 5th 2008, 3:02 pm
#21
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 13
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
Hi
We have just returned from 9 years in Aus and foolishly brought our car seats back to the UK with us. 2 Safe N Sound Maxi Riders (9kg - 26kg). Although Australian standards are higher than the Uk we can not use them here, they are illegal as the do not comply with European/Uk standards.
If any one is heading out to Aus and wants to arrive with two fantastic car seats let me know.
Cheers
Rie
We have just returned from 9 years in Aus and foolishly brought our car seats back to the UK with us. 2 Safe N Sound Maxi Riders (9kg - 26kg). Although Australian standards are higher than the Uk we can not use them here, they are illegal as the do not comply with European/Uk standards.
If any one is heading out to Aus and wants to arrive with two fantastic car seats let me know.
Cheers
Rie
Jul 5th 2008, 10:44 pm
#22
Has left the building
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,079
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
Hi all,
We are finally flying out to OZ on 23rd June!!
We have been trying to find out if it is worth taking our 2 child car seats and checking them in with luggage but we can't seem to find any info on whether they are safe to use in OZ.
Has anyone done this and found it easier to just buy new over there?
Thanks
We are finally flying out to OZ on 23rd June!!
We have been trying to find out if it is worth taking our 2 child car seats and checking them in with luggage but we can't seem to find any info on whether they are safe to use in OZ.Has anyone done this and found it easier to just buy new over there?
Thanks
Jul 6th 2008, 8:11 am
#23
ab uno disce omnes
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: QLD The Sunshine State
Posts: 97
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
Hi
We have just returned from 9 years in Aus and foolishly brought our car seats back to the UK with us. 2 Safe N Sound Maxi Riders (9kg - 26kg). Although Australian standards are higher than the Uk we can not use them here, they are illegal as the do not comply with European/Uk standards.
If any one is heading out to Aus and wants to arrive with two fantastic car seats let me know.
Cheers
Rie
We have just returned from 9 years in Aus and foolishly brought our car seats back to the UK with us. 2 Safe N Sound Maxi Riders (9kg - 26kg). Although Australian standards are higher than the Uk we can not use them here, they are illegal as the do not comply with European/Uk standards.
If any one is heading out to Aus and wants to arrive with two fantastic car seats let me know.
Cheers
Rie
PJMA
Jul 6th 2008, 3:36 pm
#24
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 13
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
I guess $150 (AUD) each or about 75pound (I've got an Australian keyboard, I don't have a pound sign :-)
Why did we come back? Big question and very long answer. We often wondered if Aus was the right palce to be, we were very happy but still felt a pull to family and friends. We have had an opportunity to come back on a two year secondment with my partners job. So it is an opportunity for our kids to meet the relatives and for us to reconnect. And what happens when two years is up................... we have a bit of time yet to make our minds up.
I don't belive the UK or Austaralia are better or worse than each other, it is down to what we each make of where we live, but I know we are very lucky to have the choice.
But definitely don't try to take anything that has to connect to anything when you emigrate it's way too complicated!
Cheers
Rie
Why did we come back? Big question and very long answer. We often wondered if Aus was the right palce to be, we were very happy but still felt a pull to family and friends. We have had an opportunity to come back on a two year secondment with my partners job. So it is an opportunity for our kids to meet the relatives and for us to reconnect. And what happens when two years is up................... we have a bit of time yet to make our minds up.
I don't belive the UK or Austaralia are better or worse than each other, it is down to what we each make of where we live, but I know we are very lucky to have the choice.
But definitely don't try to take anything that has to connect to anything when you emigrate it's way too complicated!
Cheers
Rie
Jul 7th 2008, 10:11 am
#25
Ryan
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: cheshire
Posts: 5
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
British seats are a far better standard and cheaper , but it seams you still cant use them in aus
Jul 9th 2008, 8:10 pm
#27
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 13
Re: Are British child car seats ok to use in OZ ?
No they don't meet Australian standards so aren't legal.
