Child car seats in Romania: what the law says and how Crazyrent helps
28 Oct 2026 11:27
A driver who uses car rental Iasi is held to the same legal standard as someone driving their own car. That is why we have gathered in one article the essential rules of the Road Code, explanations of the different types of car seats, and the practical things worth knowing when you use our services and will have children in the car. At the end you will find a checklist and details about how we at Crazyrent can help.
What the law says in Romania
The transport of children in motor vehicles is regulated by the Road Code (Emergency Ordinance no. 195/2002) and its implementing regulation. The main rules, in brief:
Children under 3 may only be transported in approved restraint systems, meaning car seats suited to their age and weight;
Children up to 135 cm tall must be secured in a child car seat installed in the vehicle;
For children between 135 and 150 cm tall, belt-adjusting devices such as a booster seat are also accepted, so that the belt sits correctly across the shoulder and hips;
Children under 12 are not allowed in the front seat, not even held in an adult’s arms.
The prudent rule, which road safety specialists also recommend, is simple: the child sits in the back, in the appropriate restraint, until the adult seat belt protects them properly without any aid.
Why the back seat remains the safest place
A front airbag is designed for an adult’s body. For a small child, the force with which it deploys can cause serious head and neck injuries. If, in an exceptional situation, a rear-facing seat has to be fitted in the front seat of a car rent in Iasi, the passenger airbag must be deactivated, and this is only possible if the car has a switch for it. The simplest approach is to avoid the situation and use the back seat, where the ISOFIX anchor points are also located.
Approval standards: R44 or R129 (i-Size)
Car seats approved in the European Union carry an orange label with the letter E and an approval number. The older standard is called ECE R44/04, while the newest, R129, is known as i-Size. Under R129, the choice is based on the child’s height rather than weight, and seats must remain rear-facing until at least 15 months. Both are legal in Romania.
ISOFIX: the fitting system that reduces mistakes
ISOFIX is a system that rigidly attaches the seat to two fixed points on the back seat. It is quicker to install than a seat belt fitting and leaves less room for error. Most cars made in recent years have ISOFIX on the outer rear seats. If your seat is not compatible with the rental car, or vice versa, it can also be installed using the seat belt, but in that case you must carefully follow the belt path shown in the manual.
What you risk if you do not follow the rules
Transporting a child without a car seat or in the front seat, contrary to the law, is an offence punishable by fine points and, in some situations, by penalty points as well. The amount of the fine depends on the value of the fine point, which is linked to the gross minimum wage and is updated periodically, so it is worth checking before relying on a figure from memory. More important than the fine, however, is the real effect of an accident: a child who is not properly secured can be seriously injured even at low speeds.
What changes with luxury cars
Some customers choose a premium car for a special occasion. The luxury car rental iasi segment comes with real advantages: superior comfort, advanced safety features, and generous space in the back seat. However, the law remains the same regardless of the car’s price. If you are thinking of taking a coupe or a convertible, check beforehand whether it has a back seat and whether a car seat can be fitted there. Choose a sedan, an SUV, or an executive four-door model, where the child travels in the back, protected, while you enjoy the comfort you were looking for.
Checklist before departure
The car seat is approved
It is installed and firmly secured
The harness or belt is fastened
A child under 12 is not sitting in the front seat
The rear doors have the child lock activated
You have planned breaks every two hours
A peaceful journey starts with the right car seat
A child’s safety in the car is not a matter of luck, but of three things: the right car seat, correct installation, and compliance with traffic rules. When the car is rented, these things can be prepared in advance with a little organization. Whether you need a compact car for the city, an SUV for a family trip, or a premium model, the important thing is to choose a vehicle in which your child can travel in the back, in the right car seat.
Two notes on the translation. I rendered the anchor texts as “car rental in Iasi”, “car for rent in Iasi” and “luxury car rental in Iasi”. If you want the English version to target specific keywords, tell me the exact phrases and I will adjust them. I also left “Iasi” without the diacritic, as in the original anchors.
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