Do National minivans have a built-in booster seat?

[trstno1]

I'm trying to decide whether to take my child's booster seat on our trip.

I just called the National office in Orlando. I was told that 99% of minivans in Orlando have built in booster seats. Because you get to choose the van you want, you can be pretty certain of getting a van with a built-in booster seat. The person stopped short of giving me a 100% guarantee, though.

Can anyone here confirm that their National minivan had a built-in booster seat?

 

[sweetp267]

I don't know if my van had a booster seat, but there was a child seat built in that had the harness style restraints that you would use for a smaller child. I have a 6 yr old and she uses a booster seat that utilizes the over the shoulder belt from my car and the seat itself anchors to a hook behind the seat. If your child uses this kind of seat then the built in seat might not be a comfortable fit. We didn't use the seat because we already brought our own just for peace of mind and it looked kind of small anyhow. The seat was in our Chevy Venture van that I picked myself from the van aisle.

Hope this helps.

Any other questions feel free to ask.

Jon

 

[kathy87]

Hi,

I used National a few years ago and the van did have built in booster seats. The van was a Chevy Venture. Hope this helps. Have a great vacation

 

[sharyn927]

I am also renting a mini van from National.

I'm not quite sure if they have a booster seat or not in the van.

The rules in New Jersey for child seats are 8yrs old or 80 lbs. So I like to stick to this rule wherever I am. I think it's safer for the children. My DS is going to be 3.

I purchased a portable car seat from One Step Ahead: $29.99

http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.js...=117&iSubCat=27179&iProductID=1363&change=117

This is a huge help instead of having to lug around a normal booster seat for travel.

You will always have it for future vacations, when your not sure if there is a seat built into the rental vehicle or not. Or as an extra seat for a relative to use in the meantime.

Hope this helps.

 

[n2mm]

I have rented minivans several times and have had them in some and not in others. We never needed them, just a curious grandson in the back openned them. Then the next time we had a minivan, we noticed it did not have them. I guess since you actually get to choose your vehicle with National you SHOULD be OK, unless the stock is low. In any case, doesn't National still rent car seats for $5 a day? (Could use this as a backup). Or you can note it on your reservation for a minivan with a carseat/harnass, but there is probably still a fee. Just a thought.

 

[shelly3girls]

I had the same question and when I called National last week they told me many did NOT have the integrated seat. We ended up changing our reservation to Dollar to save $40. Maybe they just tell you that so if the car you get doesn't have one you don't freak out.

 

[derekw]

*bump*
We're leaving next week and have a reservation for a minivan with National. I'm trying to find out if they mostly have vans with built-in child seats or not? Anyone there recently and have a report on the selections available? We have portable boosters but rather not lug them around. TIA!

 

[momsully]

Here is a link that gives some information on integrated car seats: http://www.car-safety.org/faq.html#Q15. I don't know how old your children are but my son is 5 and still in a booster seat and could not sit comfortably in an integrated car seat. I just put his booster in a duffle bag when we travel.

 

[Grumpy37]

Our last Chevy Venture from National had one, but we have a better booster seat that we travel with instead (checked as luggage in the airport).

 

[derekw]

*last bump* Anyone know if National's minivan selections have built in child-seats?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by derekw
*last bump* Anyone know if National's minivan selections have built in child-seats?

some do, some don't. It is the luck of the draw.

 

[Gillian]

Kind of related, does anyone know what types of minivans National typically has? Chevy Venture, I see. What about tape or CD players? Thanks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Gillian
Kind of related, does anyone know what types of minivans National typically has? Chevy Venture, I see. What about tape or CD players? Thanks!

Best bet, call National, they have a list of what is available at all their stations.

 

[sgtdisney]

When we rented with National last year they had Chevy Ventures, Pontiac Montanas, Chevy Astros and Dodge Grand Caravans to pick from. We selected an 8 passenger Montana, it didn't have built in child seats. Many cars have CD players now as standard. I am almost 100% sure the Ventures and Montanas have CD players as standard issue. As Gail said though, when in doubt call the renting location.