What about SeatBelts ?

Reflections Classic Car Hire - Seatbelt information

We are sometimes asked about the provision and use of seatbelts in a classic hire car, particularly when customers are considering carrying children as passengers. We are all very used to having seatbelts in our modern everyday cars, but when some of our classic cars were built, they did not have seatbelts fitted and some explanation is needed about what is required.

Below is a summary of what is required and what is fitted to our cars. It is not a requirement to fit seatbelts to a vehicle that did not originally have them when it was built, but if they are fitted then they must be used. All of our cars have seatbelts fitted for front seats and these must be used at all times. Rear seatbelts are fitted to some of our cars, but not all. Please refer to the table below to see exactly what is in each car. None of our classic hire cars have airbags.

Vehicle	Front Seats	Rear Seats
E-type Jaguar	Inertia reel seat belts	Two seats NO belts fitted
Morgan plus 4	Inertia reel seat belts	Two seats with Lap belts
MGA roadster	Fixed 3 point seat belts	no rear seats
MGB roadster	Inertia reel seat belts	no rear seats

Regarding children, it is necessary to conform to the new requirements of the child restraint regulations that came into force in September 2006. These are -

All children under 3 years old must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in any car or goods vehicle (except in the rear of a taxi if a child seat is not available). Rear facing baby seats must not be used in seats with an active frontal air-bag.

Children aged 3 or more years old and up to 135cm (approx. 4ft 5in) in height must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in cars or goods vehicles fitted with seat belts.

From May 2008 only child restraints complying with UN ECE Regulation 44.03 or a later standard may be used. From May 2009, where seat belts are provided, the number of people carried in the rear of vehicles may not exceed the number of seats available fitted with seat belts or child restraints.

Drivers are responsible for seat belt wearing and use of the relevant child seat or booster by children under 14 years of age.

Simple summary	Front Seat	Rear Seat
Driver	Seat belt must be worn if fitted
Child under 3 years	Correct child restraint must be used	Correct child restraint must be used
Child 3 to 11 years and under 1.35 m (approx 4ft 5 ins)	Correct child restraint must be used	Correct child restraint must be used
Child 12 or 13 or younger child over 1.35 m	Seat belt must be worn if fitted	Adult seat belt must be worn if fitted
Adult passenger	Seat belt must be worn if fitted	Seat belt must be worn if fitted

For more details about the new rules visit the Department for Transport (DfT) website