Using a Car or Booster Seat in an Uber, Lyft, or Shuttle

Kansas City, Missouri, is a bustling hub for tourists and locals alike. From the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the National WWI Museum to the Kansas City Zoo and the Chiefs football games, there’s no shortage of attractions. While the downtown area is highly walkable, many visitors find themselves needing a ride to explore further afield. For families traveling with young children, a common question arises: Do you need a car or booster seat when using rideshare services like Uber or Lyft or when taking a shuttle?

What are the laws in Kansas City, MO, regarding car and booster seats in vehicles?

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s website, the laws across the state for car and booster seats in vehicles are:

• Children under four years old or under 40 pounds: Must be secured in a car seat.
• Children aged four to seven years or at least 40 pounds: Must use a car seat or booster seat. They can transition out of a booster seat when they reach 80 pounds or are 4’9” tall.
• Children aged eight years or older, weighing at least 80 pounds, or 4’9” tall: Should use a booster seat or a regular seat belt.

While these guidelines are straightforward for personal vehicles, the rules differ for public transportation and rideshare services. Missouri Code 307.179 states that its laws for car restraint systems “shall not apply to any public carrier for hire.” It also states that they “shall not apply to students four years of age or older who are passengers on a school bus.” Therefore, after reading this section, you may realize that Missouri does not require children to be in car seats or booster seats in a taxi, Uber, Lyft, shuttle, school bus, or any other “public carrier for hire.”

Do children have to use a car or booster seat in an Uber, Lyft, or shuttle?

Legally, you are not required to use a car or booster seat in an Uber, Lyft, or shuttle in Missouri. However, safety should always come first. A study released in December 2021 showed that “parents may view traveling in ride-share services as different, in terms of risk and legal requirements, than traveling in their family vehicle.” Unfortunately, the study also found that only about 50% of parents with children who are eight years of age or younger said that they used car or booster seats when using ride-share services.

This is concerning as Dr. Michelle Macy, a pediatric emergency doctor, explained that “car accidents remain the leading cause of death for children under ten years old, and traveling without the recommended child restraint system increases the risk for serious injury or death in a crash.” While many states across the country, including Missouri, do not implement or enforce the same requirements for children using rideshare services, the harsh reality is that these vehicles are very popular on the roadways, and they are not immune to being involved in severe and fatal accidents at any given time.

Additionally, it is worth noting that if the driver of a rideshare vehicle, like an Uber, believes that a child cannot travel safely in their vehicle because of the lack of an appropriate car seat, they can cancel the ride.

Do I bring my own car or booster seat, or does Uber or Lyft provide one for my child?

Both Uber and Lyft have limited car seat options. Lyft provides car seats only in New York City. Uber offers a car seat service in select cities, including NYC and LA, but charges a $10 surcharge and only provides Nuna RAVA seats. These seats are not available in all cities.

Given these limitations, it’s advisable to bring your own car or booster seat when using rideshare services. You will also need to install the car seat yourself and ensure that your child is restrained safely and securely before the vehicle takes off. If you are adamant about not bringing a car seat, you should ask the Uber or Lyft driver who accepts your ride whether they have a car seat available based on your child’s height and weight. If they do not, you should prepare to use and install your own car seat when they arrive or request a different driver.

Was your child injured in an Uber or Lyft accident in Kansas City, MO? If so, please do not hesitate to reach out to the car accident lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys as quickly as possible. We know and understand how stressful, frustrating, and overwhelming it can be when you place your trust, confidence, and even life in the hands of a rideshare driver and they fail to get you to your destination safely. If you work with us, we will do everything we can to hold the liable party accountable for your accident and injuries and fight for the compensation you need and deserve to get back on your feet again. As Kansas City’s Favorite Law Firm, our team will treat you with respect, compassion, and understanding from beginning to end. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation in Kansas City, MO, today. We also have offices by appointment in Lee’s Summit, Parkville, and St. Joseph, MO, as well as in Overland Park, Kansas City, and Olathe, KS, for your convenience.