Florida Statute 316.613 requires children 5 years old and younger to ride in a crash-tested child restraint: children 3 and under in a separate car seat or integrated seat, and children 4 and 5 in a car seat or booster seat. The rule does not apply to chauffeur-driven for-hire vehicles such as taxis and limousines, but safety experts still recommend car seats. SPL Transportation installs car seats free of charge.
Private SUV, up to 6 passengers. Tolls, meet & greet and child seats included.
- Tolls included, gratuity optional
- Flight tracking, free wait for delays
- Free child seats
- Free cancellation up to 24h
Parents ask us about car seats almost every day, especially families flying in from countries where the rules are different. Here is what Florida law actually says, where people get confused, and how to keep your kids safe without carrying a car seat through the airport.
What Florida law says
The rule is Florida Statute 316.613. In short:
| Child’s age | Required restraint |
|---|---|
| 0 through 3 years | A separate carrier (car seat) or the vehicle’s integrated child seat |
| 4 and 5 years | A car seat, integrated child seat or a booster seat |
| 6 years and older | No specific child restraint rule; seat belts apply |
Summary of F.S. 316.613 for general information, not legal advice. Read the statute at flsenate.gov for the full text.
Does it apply to tourists?
Yes. If you rent a car in Orlando, the law applies to you the same way it applies to residents. Rental companies rent car seats, usually for a daily fee, and you install them yourself.
The exception that surprises people
The statute says the requirement does not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach or other passenger vehicle hired for compensation. That’s why airport buses and most rideshare cars don’t provide car seats.
Our honest view: an exemption in the law doesn’t change the physics of a crash on I-4. A child is just as safe, or unsafe, in a hired car as in a rental. That’s why we provide seats on every trip where they’re needed, at no cost.
Private SUV, up to 6 passengers. Tolls, meet & greet and child seats included.
- Tolls included, gratuity optional
- Flight tracking, free wait for delays
- Free child seats
- Free cancellation up to 24h
Your options as a visiting family
- Bring your own seat. Most airlines check car seats for free, but they can be damaged, and carrying one through MCO with luggage and kids is hard work.
- Rent one with your rental car. Daily fees add up, and you install it yourself after a long flight.
- Book a car service that provides them. With SPL, rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats are free and already installed when you get to the car.
“Had a large and comfortable vehicle with a car seat for our little one, which is very rare. Even had a tablet for the kids. He communicated the day before to confirm.”— Amanda T., Google review · Port Canaveral cruise
How to choose the right seat
- Rear-facing: babies and toddlers, until they reach the seat’s rear-facing height or weight limit.
- Forward-facing with harness: toddlers and preschoolers who have outgrown rear-facing.
- Booster: children who have outgrown the harness, until the adult seat belt fits properly (often around 4′9″ / 145 cm).
When you book, just tell us your children’s ages (and weight if you know it). We’ll bring the right seats.
Going to Disney? Read Orlando airport to Disney World: 5 ways to see which options include car seats.
