Traveling with kids: child seats in a private car
What Florida’s child restraint law says about young children, why we follow it on hired rides too, and how to request the right child seat when you book.
A family trip starts at the curb. The flight was long, the children are tired, and the last thing anyone needs is a surprise about car seats. The simple fix is to tell us about every child when you book, so the right seat is already installed when the Suburban pulls up.
What Florida law says
Florida’s child restraint law, Florida Statute 316.613, sets the standard for young children riding in a car:
- Children through age 5 must ride in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint.
- Ages 0 to 3: a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat.
- Ages 4 and 5: a separate carrier, an integrated child seat or a child booster seat.
The same statute exempts chauffeur-driven vehicles hired for compensation from those requirements. We do not treat that as a reason to skip a seat. A child is exactly as small in a hired car as in the family car, so we follow the same standard on every ride. This is general information, not legal advice; for the details, read the statute itself or ask a legal professional.
How to request a seat
When you request your ride, add a child seat for each young child and write their ages in the notes. Age helps, and weight and height help even more, because they decide between an infant carrier, a forward-facing seat and a booster. The seat is installed before pickup, so nobody is wrestling with straps at the arrivals curb.
If you would rather use your own seat, bring it. Many parents do, especially with infants. Just let us know, and allow a few extra minutes at pickup to fit it properly.
Small things that make the ride easier
- Book with your flight number, so a delay never leaves anyone waiting with tired children.
- Choose meet-and-greet at the airport for an extra pair of hands between baggage claim and the car.
- Mention strollers and travel cots, which need space in the back.
- Pack a small ride bag with snacks, a tablet and a change of clothes, and keep it by your feet.
- Tell us about stops, such as a pharmacy or groceries for a rental home.
Longer drives with children
On day trips to Orlando or Key West, plan a break every couple of hours. Young children ride far better with a chance to stretch, and a stop you planned is much calmer than one you had to make. Tell us when you book and Fernando will build the breaks into the day.
Cold water and chargers are in the back of every ride, and there is room to spread out. The rest is the part only you can pack: patience and a favorite toy.