French law requires children under 10 to travel in a child restraint suited to their size and weight. Licensed street taxis are exempt (article R412-2 of the Highway Code), so a taxi from the rank may have no seat at all. Uber and other private-hire VTC cars are not exempt, which means under-10s need a seat and a driver can refuse the ride without one. The simplest fix is a pre-booked transfer with the seats already fitted.
Book a transfer with free child seats
Tell us your children's ages and we fit infant, toddler or booster seats before pickup, at no extra cost. Fixed fare shown before you confirm.
Before you travel, it pays to understand the car seat rules for taxis in France, because they are not what most UK and US families expect. The general rule is strict, the taxi exemption is surprising, and ride-hail apps sit on the wrong side of it. The good news is that you do not need to wrestle your own seats through the airport.
What the French law actually says
The general rule is straightforward: any child under the age of 10 must travel in a suitable restraint, whether that is an infant carrier, a convertible seat or a booster cushion. Beyond 10, children may use the standard adult seatbelt. The restraint must match the child, not simply be present in the car.
Taxis vs Uber and VTC: who is exempt?
Article R412-2 of the French Highway Code carves out an exemption for licensed taxis, so a street taxi from the airport rank is not legally required to carry or use a child seat. That is a legal exemption, not a safety recommendation: an unrestrained child is far more exposed in a motorway crash. Private-hire vehicles, known in France as VTC and including Uber, Bolt and pre-booked transfer companies, do not benefit from the exemption. For them the under-10 rule applies in full, so a driver without the right seat can, and often will, refuse a family. For more on the difference, see what a VTC taxi is in France, and for app availability see Uber at Disneyland Paris.
How Disney Taxi Paris keeps you legal at no cost
We provide free child seats with every family transfer, fitted before we collect you. There are three categories to cover the full age range, and we install whichever ones you need so the car is ready the moment you arrive.
- Infant seat for ages 0-12 months, rear-facing and secure.
- Convertible seat for ages 1-4 years.
- Booster seat for ages 4-10 years.
Why this matters on the airport transfer
The CDG to Disneyland transfer is around 38km and takes roughly 45 minutes, while Orly is around 50km and 50-60 minutes. These are real road journeys at motorway speeds, so a proper restraint is not a formality. Booking a fixed-price taxi from CDG to Disneyland Paris with the seats already fitted means you skip the taxi rank, where finding any car with a child seat is rarely possible, and avoid the RER entirely with its stairs and crowds. Our dedicated child seat transfer covers infants through boosters as standard.
Planning ahead with confidence
The simplest approach is to tell us your children's ages when you book. We then fit the correct seats before pickup at no extra charge, so the law is met and your little ones are comfortable. A saloon carries up to three passengers, and a minivan seats 7-8, which is ideal when you have several children and the seats that go with them. Everything is part of one fixed fare with no meter.
Frequently asked questions
Are car seats a legal requirement in French taxis?
Not in licensed street taxis: article R412-2 of the French Highway Code exempts taxis from the child-restraint rule. Private-hire VTC cars, including Uber and pre-booked transfers, are not exempt, so children under 10 must use a restraint suited to their size and weight. Disney Taxi Paris provides free, correctly fitted child seats on every transfer.
Do Uber drivers in Paris have to use a child seat?
Yes. Uber is a VTC (private-hire) service, which is not covered by the taxi exemption, so children under 10 need a suitable seat. Standard Uber cars do not carry one and the driver can refuse the ride, so book a car with seats in advance or bring your own.
Do I have to bring my own car seat to France?
No. We supply free seats fitted before pickup, so you can travel lighter.
What age groups do the free seats cover?
Infant (0-12 months), convertible (1-4 years) and booster (4-10 years).
Are car seats really required for a short airport transfer?
In a private-hire car, yes. The under-10 rule applies on every journey, including the 45-minute CDG transfer.
How do I tell you which seats I need?
Just give us your children's ages when booking and we fit the right seats free of charge.
Book a family transfer with free child seats
Tell us your children's ages and we will have the right seats fitted before we collect you.
Related reading: CDG to Disneyland with a baby and the best way from CDG with kids.