Road safety
Choosing a child car seat or booster seat
Have questions about child car seats or booster seats? You're definitely not alone. Here are some tips to help you choose, purchase and install a seat correctly.
When used properly, child car seats and booster seats significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries in a crash.
Choose a seat that meets age, height and weight requirements
Children outgrow everything — even car seats and booster seats! Ensure you're using the right seat for your child's age and size.
It's also the law. In B.C., all children under 16 must be correctly restrained in an appropriate child car seat, booster seat or seat belt. For more information, please see child passenger safety.
Purchase an approved child car seat or booster seat
When you purchase or use a seat, ensure the seat:
has not expired
shows the National Safety Mark on it to confirm it's a Canadian product.
Important: If you're buying a child car seat or booster seat outside of Canada, either in-store or online from non-Canadian companies, it does not comply with Canada's safety regulations.
Find details on your child car seat or booster seat
Watch this video to learn how to locate the National Safety Mark, the manufacturer or expiry date of the seat.
Install your child car seat or booster seat correctly
For your child car seat or booster seat to be effective, it must be installed correctly. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
Need help or tips?
Visit Transport Canada for instructions with diagrams, and key information, or call 1-877-247-5551 to speak with an expert at BCAA's Child Passenger Safety Program.
