Do I Need a Child Car Seat for a Taxi in Toronto?
As a parent travelling in or near Toronto, one of the very first questions you should probably ask when deciding on transportation is whether or not you are required to have a child car seat in a taxi. The answer to this will probably surprise many parents – and it’s important to have this knowledge to make a safe choice when travelling with your kids, regardless of whether you will legally be required to use one.
What Ontario Law Actually Says
To understand “do you need child car seats for taxis in Toronto” we have to understand what Ontario law actually says. The Highway Traffic Act in Ontario makes it illegal for drivers of private passenger vehicles to fail to equip the vehicle with a proper child car seat or booster seat to transport a child who fits within a certain age, height or weight classification. This seems like pretty common-sense legislation given we all remember having our kids buckled up. One very significant group of offenders, however, the taxi driver, gets a free pass from this legislation.
So in Toronto, there is absolutely no requirement for taxi drivers to be equipped with or use child car seats, and most parents travelling to Toronto from other provinces and countries, in particular, don’t realize this.
Why the Exemption Exists — and Why It Doesn't Mean You Should Skip a Seat
The reason for the exemption is mostly practical; taxi ride by taxi ride, you’re carrying different passengers, and it wasn’t feasible when the legislation was being formed to mandate every car has every car seat type with it on every occasion.
However, the legal exemption is not a safety advice, however. Though it may not be required by law, safety experts would most assuredly urge you to make use of a child car seat each time you hop into a taxi with a little one on board; even a brief car trip for a few minutes has the potential for your unrestrained toddler to experience significant injury when making an abrupt stop or experiencing a mild crash.
So in Toronto, there is absolutely no requirement for taxi drivers to be equipped with or use child car seats, and most parents travelling to Toronto from other provinces and countries, in particular, don’t realize this.
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Ontario Car Seat Stages — A Quick Reference
Even when no seat is required in a taxi, you still benefit from knowing the child seat stage that applies to your kid.
So in Toronto, there is absolutely no requirement for taxi drivers to be equipped with or use child car seats, and most parents travelling to Toronto from other provinces and countries, in particular, don’t realize this.
| Stage | Seat Type | General Guidance |
|---|---|---|
Infant |
Rear-facing |
When the seat’s height/weight maximum is reached |
Toddler |
Forward-facing with harness |
When rear-facing limits are exceeded |
Older Child |
Booster seat |
Until 8 years or until the seatbelt fits properly |
These are the typical Ontario recommendations for seats being used in a private automobile. Although you aren’t required to have a seat for your child when travelling in a taxi, putting your son or daughter into a seat that is the right stage will get them close to the level of security they would have as being in a seat.
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Why Pre-Availability Matters in a City Like Toronto
Now, for taxi service, the loophole becomes a very real headache rather than a legal nuance. Since there’s no obligation to transport car seats in any type of Toronto taxi, you can never count on there being an available car seat. So, if you’re a parent on a short vacation to the Big Smoke, a weekend getaway, waiting for your next flight, a short business trip with the family or looking for a taxi at a curb on arrival can become a frustrating challenge.
It’s precisely this deficiency that Toronto car seat taxi booking services intend to solve.
A pre-booked, scheduled trip means no waiting around to hope the cabdriver at the curb just happens to have the necessary car seat in his or her trunk, ready to fit forward-facing, rear-facing, or as a booster seat.
What to Do If You Need a Car Seat for Your Taxi
- Plan ahead, rather than hail, a cab: Since it’s not legal for taxis to include child car seats as a part of their taxi service, you won’t find any randomly appearing that might just happen to have one.
- Mention the particulars of the infant: In order to the correct taxi type to be delivered. So, you just need to mention the child’s age, weight and height once placing order.
- Confirm the vehicle the previous day of your departure: A call in the previous day confirms if you really have had your vehicle with seats the next morning. Especially when it’s in the morning time flights, it reduces the stress a bit.
- Carry your seat along (It’s always smart): in order to maintain your individual infant seat as you carry your infant along everywhere. Drivers may even help you installing one, upon inquiry.
What Travelling Parents Say
The kind of feedback you get back from families who do book in advance, for exactly these reasons; “The driver was on time, polite and was in a nice clean new car. Most importantly for us the provider was supplying the car seats for the kids, travelling with family made much easier!”. And it is these small, seemingly insignificant little bits of information, which are often, more often than not, what make a stressful family journey an enjoyable one!
FAQs - Air Canada Taxi Voucher Slip
No, they are not.
Safety is not guaranteed.
Best option is to pre-book a taxi.
Yes, you can.
This depends on your child’s age, weight, and height.
Always confirm before booking at the given rate.
This exemption has to do with the fact that, by nature, taxis have new passengers getting in and out all the time.
