Are Car Seats Required in a Limo?

Limo Classifications and Regulations

• Limos fall under the classification of commercial vehicles, which means they aren't subject to the same safety regulations for transporting children that private vehicles are. While you need to use a car seat up to a certain age in every state in a private vehicle, most commercial vehicles are either specifically excluded from those regulations or not mentioned at all. Check your state's child safety regulations for specifics on your area. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a list of state transportation websites at www.fhwa.dot.gov/webstate.cfm. Click on your state and then type "child safety seats" in the search field to find information on your state's car seat regulations.

Risks

• Many parents feel confident in their ability to hold onto their child in a car crash, numerous studies have proven otherwise. Even in a crash at 6 mph, your child can fly out of your arms, Volvo senior safety specialist Lotta Jakobsson cautions. Buckling your small child -- any child under 4 feet, 9 inches is too small for an adult seat belt -- into a seat belt can cause head, abdominal, neck or chest injuries. A small child can even be ejected from under the seat belt, according to the Perry County Health Department in Ohio.

Using the Company's Seat

• Many limo companies supply car seats if you reserve them. Specify the type of seat you need. You don't want to have to try and figure out to to safely put your newborn in a toddler seat -- an impossible task. Ask about the make of the seat so you can eyeball it online and figure out how to use it before you're double-parked in the city trying to figure it out. Also ask about the seat's expiration date to ensure it's still safe to use.

Bringing Your Own

• Nothing says luxury like stepping into a limo -- unless you're carting a baby in one arm and his humungous car seat in the other. If possible, avoid having to supply your own car seat, unless you'll need it at your destination. Some limo services will store your seat for you if you'll only need it for the ride to and from your destination, such as the airport. Don't risk making the trip without one, though, even if you have to haul your own. Accidents do happen to limos and other commercial vehicles. Twenty-seven percent of the accidents in Manhattan involves cabs, according to the Car Seat Lady website.