Car Seat Laws & Lyft / Uber - California

[dx4100]

Trying to work out how to travel around LA County / Orange County safely and legally.

Our daughter is 8 years old.

I believe legally she does not have to have a car booster seat ? Will this be the case if we are using Lyft / Uber or will the driver say she needs one ?

We plan on taking the Bubblebum inflated booster car seat which is legal both in the USA but I read a post from someone saying they had trouble using them in Ubers in Orlando. We plan on using it but if we faced any issues then the fact she is 8 should see us still being able to travel we are thinking ?

https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/programs/child-safety-seats
Anyone got any experience of this ?

 

[RedVines2001]

Yes legally you are ok in California with an eight year old with no booster. It’s your choice if you want to use the bubblebum. I wouldn’t worry about the stories from Orlando that has no bearing on what happens in California.

That said it’s always a possibility that an Uber driver refuse to take you as a passenger because they perceive the booster as not being legal since the legal liability would be on the driver, although I don’t see why they would think that. I think that would be unlikely. If that happens just get another Uber. Hope this helps.

 

[starry_solo]

Doesn’t the 8 year old also have to be a certain height in order not to have to use a child safety seat?

 

[RedVines2001]

No. The height requirement is for under 8. 27363(d) California vehicle code if you wanna Google it.

I also misspoke, the legal liability lies with the parent/guardian if they’re in the car not the driver, but I doubt most Uber drivers would know that.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Lots of people on the DL board have reported using the Mifold and Bubblebum travel boosters with Uber and Lyft without any problems.

 

[dx4100]

Thanks for all the replies

 

[oakleycat]

Over age 8 does not need a booster in CA, though it is recommended in the law they use one until 4'9". The booster you have will be fine in an Uber/Lyft.