Is A Booster Seat Essential In Florida??

[FLORIDA DREAMING]

When we go to WDW, my DD will be 4. I have the pre-paid all inclusive insurance package with Virgin so I'm not sure if this covers the cost of renting one when we get there. However, I don't mind taking my own if necessary.

However, to save time, at the airport, I was planning to wait for the luggage by the carousel whilst DH sorted out the car insurance. Now, I'm not sure if they actually need to see the booster seat to make sure you have got it, or if they will take my hubby's word for it, as I will still be waiting for the luggage.

Anyone help???

 

[kristieuk]

oops!

 

[kristieuk]

I can't speak for Virgin - but I should imagine Virgin will have nothing to do with the actual rental company when your husband goes to collect the car.

We have rented through Dollar since our DD was a baby (she is now 5),although I don't believe they would ever have been aware we had a child with us (we do the same as you plan to, and it's just me that goes to collect the car). They have certainly never mentioned anything about any car seats or asked if we have children - even though we always rent an MPV- , so it can't be a big deal for them.

We just take her booster seat and put it in the hold, never a problem, and they aren't expensive to replace if there ever was any damage.

I don't think you will have any problem at all.

 

[Night-train]

If I recall correctly children under 5 must be in a State-approved safety seat in the rear of the car. Our DD was 5 on our last visit and she was ok with a booster ($18 from Walmart) and the normal seatbelt. I don't think you are legal if you do this with a 4 year-old. I will check it up as I know I have the info somewhere in the house.

 

[Gibbo]

We have been taking the kids since they were 6 months (now 6 & 3) and we always use our U.K. seats and pack them in a big holdall. As long as they are "kitemark" or "British Standard" approved they are OK for Florida use.

We chose to take our own as we are used to the securing and loading.

I also didn't fancy paying Dollar $5.00 a day each for using "hire " ones.

I was also amazed the amount of "locals" you see driving pick-ups with the kids jumping about on the seats, free of any restraint, but there you go!

 

[jax100]

It depends on the type of insurance you have paid for. The platinum package includes everything - car seat etc.
We have just returned - well we were there in feb. We took the platinum package so that we would get the car seat included. I thought that all children under 5 had to be in a proper fitted car seat with across the shoulder types straps - iykwim. My dd was 4 and ds 3 on our trip so we wanted two seats. Dollar showed me how to fit the seats, and also fitted the second one for me as i fitted the first one.

HOWEVER, my dd was too big for the car seat and she was very squashed and cramped in the seat. We checked with our virgin rep who assured us that due to - height and weight dd would have been allowed to sit in the car with no booster or car seat and could just use the normal seatbelt.It had something to do with a if 4.5yrs then it depended on the weight and height of the child. DD didnt want this option though as she wanted to be the same as ds so we found the seat with the loosest straps for some comfort.

The intention when we go out next march is not to need the seat even though we have paid for it. Across here they both use the booster seat but the seat that is provided by dollar is a graco/brittax car seat with 5point harness.

Dont know if that has helped any.

 

[allie5]

No one at Dollar or Virgin will care what you do with your child, because at the end of the day (and I dont mean that to sound horrible!) it is YOU that are responsible for them in the car. If you break the law, it is nothing to do with Dollar or Virgin, IYSWIM, hence they never check!

Florida law states that all infants / children aged from birth through 3 years have to be fitted into a "Federally approved Car seat" (As has been said, the UK kite mark is fine).

Here is a snippet of how the law reads..

What Florida Law says about...
Child Restraint Requirements


All children under the age of 18 must be buckled up while riding in any car, pickup truck, or van on Florida's roads, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle.

Children through the age of 3 must be secured in a federally approved child-restraint seat.

Children ages 4 through 5 must be secured by either a federally approved child-restraint seat or a safety belt.

Drivers are responsible for buckling up the child.

So, yes, your DD will be fine with a booster, and personally we always bring our own. Virgin dont count it as part of your luggage allowance, and in our experience, the rental ones are hideous!

 

[laudan14]

Went in 2002 when our daughter was 4 and did not take or use a booster seat. We booked holiday, car and insurance through a british holiday company and I would have thought they would have informed us if we had needed one.

 

[Cochise]

So we will be fine with our boosters for a 4 and 6 year old *phew*