By Lena Bauer · Last updated: October 2026 · 10 min read
In This Guide
- Quick Facts
- Do children need a car seat on a ski transfer?
- Are taxis and private transfers exempt from child seat laws?
- Which seat does a baby, a toddler or an older child need?
- Should you bring your own child seat?
- Can a child sit in the front of a transfer van?
- How long is the transfer with small children?
- Will the driver stop on the way?
- How do you stop a child getting car sick on the mountain road?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a child needs a proper seat on a ski transfer, and you should ask for it when you book. France requires one for every child under 10 in a private transfer, Switzerland until 12 unless the child is taller than 150 cm, and Germany and Italy follow similar lines. Taxi exemptions exist in some countries, but they are narrow, and none of them makes an unseated child safe on a mountain road.
This guide covers the rule in each Alpine country, which seat fits which child, and the drive itself. It is part of our complete guide to ski transfers in Europe.
Quick Facts: Ski Transfers with Children (2026/27)
| Question | Short Answer |
|---|---|
| Child seat in France? | Every child under 10, unless the adult belt already fits them. The taxi exemption does not cover a private transfer. |
| Child seat in Switzerland? | Until the 12th birthday, unless taller than 150 cm. It applies in taxis too. |
| Child seat in Austria? | Under 14 and under 135 cm. Taxi vehicles are exempt, but an unseated child may not ride in front. |
| Child seat in Germany and Italy? | Germany under 12 and under 150 cm; Italy under 150 cm. |
| Who provides the seat on TransferBnB? | The carrier, if it can: add the seats in the booking form and check the offer. |
| Can you fly with your own seat? | Often free: easyJet takes two items of child equipment per child in the hold. |
| Shortest transfer for a family? | Innsbruck Airport to Seefeld, about 26 minutes. |
Sources: Code de la route R412-2 and R412-3; ASTRA and TCS; Austrian KFG § 106; StVO § 21; Polizia di Stato; easyJet, 2026; TransferBnB route pages and FAQ, October 2026.
Do children need a car seat on a ski transfer?
Yes, in every Alpine country, on any private transfer.
The thresholds differ, and a drive from Geneva Airport to the Tarentaise or from Barcelona to Andorra crosses a border. Ask for the seat the stricter country wants: in practice, one for any child under 12 who is shorter than 150 cm.
| Country | Child seat required | Taxis | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Under 10, unless the adult belt fits | Exempt | Not exempt |
| Switzerland | Until 12, unless taller than 150 cm | Not exempt; the driver is responsible | Not exempt |
| Austria | Under 14 and under 135 cm | Exempt, but no unseated child in front | Licensed as taxi, so the same |
| Germany | Under 12 and under 150 cm | Limited to two children from 9 kg on the rear seats | Not exempt |
| Italy | Under 150 cm | Rear seat only, with a passenger aged 16 or over | Same as taxi (NCC) |
| Spain | 135 cm or under, in the rear | Exempt in urban traffic only | Not exempt |
| Andorra | Under 10 and under 150 cm, in the rear | Not published | Not published |
Sources: Légifrance, ASTRA, TCS, RIS, gesetze-im-internet.de, Polizia di Stato, DGT, Policia d'Andorra; rechecked October 2026 except Spain and Andorra, September 2026.
Read the two right-hand columns together. Where a child may legally ride unseated, the law names a taxi, and that is no comfort on a mountain road at night.
Are taxis and private transfers exempt from child seat laws?
Taxis sometimes. Private transfers almost never.
France exempts "tout enfant transporté dans un taxi ou dans un véhicule de transport en commun", in Article R412-2 of the Code de la route. A pre-booked car with a driver is neither, so the under-10 rule applies in full.
Switzerland has no exemption. The touring club TCS says the law "also applies in taxis" and the driver is responsible. The rule runs until the 12th birthday unless the child is taller than 150 cm, so a tall eleven-year-old and a short twelve-year-old can both use the belt. The widely quoted "under 12 or under 150 cm" is not the same rule.
Austria is the one exemption that reaches a private transfer. Section 106 of the Kraftfahrgesetz lifts the duty for taxi vehicles, and since 1 January 2021 taxi and chauffeured hire are one licensed trade, so an airport car with a driver is covered. The condition that is easy to miss sits in the same paragraph: a child without a seat may not sit in front. The motoring club ÖAMTC still recommends a seat for every child.
Germany does not exempt taxis outright. Section 21 of the StVO limits a taxi's rear-seat duty to two children from 9 kg, at least one of 9 to 18 kg. Private hire gets no relief.
Italy lets a child under 150 cm ride unrestrained in a taxi or an NCC car (noleggio con conducente, hire with driver) only in the rear and with a passenger aged 16 or over. The fine is €83 to €333, charged to the parent if one is aboard.
The exemptions name the taxi. A ski transfer is a different trip.
Which seat does a baby, a toddler or an older child need?
Ask by weight and height, not by age.
The TCS seat groups are a simple starting point:
- Baby: group 0+, a rear-facing infant carrier, up to 18 months or 13 kg.
- Toddler: group 1, a seat with its own harness, for 9 to 18 kg.
- Older child: group 2/3, a high-backed booster that guides the adult belt, to age 12 or 150 cm.
Newer seats are approved under UN Regulation 129. In Switzerland only R129 seats may be newly sold since 1 September 2024, and R44 seats bought before then remain legal. Either label is fine. What matters is that the carrier knows each child's height and weight.
Should you bring your own child seat?
Bring it for a baby or an unusual seat. Otherwise ask.
Asking is quicker. The TransferBnB booking form has a child seat counter, and carriers who can provide a seat include it in their offer; check it before you accept. Put the seat type and each child's age, height and weight in the booking notes, so an infant carrier does not arrive for a school-age child. If your own seat fixes with Isofix, say that too, so the carrier can confirm the vehicle has the anchor points. If the vehicle that turns up is missing a seat that was in the offer you accepted, you can refuse the transfer and are entitled to a refund.
On easyJet, flying with your own is free. The airline carries up to two essential items of child equipment per child in the hold free, car seats and booster seats included.
A baby who travels in their own carrier at home is the strongest case for bringing it.
Can a child sit in the front of a transfer van?
Usually not, and on a transfer there is no reason to.
France bans children under 10 from front seats except in three cases in R412-3, such as a rear-facing seat with the airbag switched off. Austria allows a child seat in front, rear-facing only with the airbag off, and never a child without a seat. A transfer van has rear rows, so that is where the child seats go.
How long is the transfer with small children?
From under half an hour to three hours, depending on the airport.
Innsbruck is the family airport. Seefeld is about 26 minutes from its arrivals hall, while the big Tarentaise resorts sit two to three hours from Geneva or Lyon. These are our route pages' figures for a normal road:
| Route | Distance | Typical time | Private transfer from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innsbruck Airport to Seefeld | ~22 km | ~26 min | €55 |
| Innsbruck Airport to Mayrhofen | ~75 km | ~1h 05min | €125 |
| Geneva Airport to Chamonix | ~88 km | ~1h 15min | €150 |
| Munich Airport to Söll | ~146 km | ~1h 35min | €185 |
| Grenoble Airport to Alpe d'Huez | ~106 km | ~1h 40min | €300 |
| Lyon Airport to Val Thorens | ~199 km | ~2h 30min | €340 |
| Barcelona Airport to Andorra | ~203 km | ~2h 50min | on request |
Source: TransferBnB route pages, October 2026. Prices are indicative, per vehicle; the carrier's offer sets the final price.
Read the time column against your child's nap, not the map. Anything past two hours needs a snack plan and an agreed break. Children add nothing to a per-vehicle fare, which is why our family cost comparison comes out the way it does. For every resort's nearest airport, see our resort-by-airport table.
Will the driver stop on the way?
Ask before you leave the airport, not on the motorway.
A TransferBnB transfer is booked point to point; adding stops is not a feature yet. Agree a short break with the driver, whose name and number arrive with the booking confirmation.
The airport end is covered: the carrier tracks your flight and waits up to 60 minutes after landing at no charge, the hour a family spends on nappies, buggies and the ski bag belt.
How do you stop a child getting car sick on the mountain road?
Eyes on the road ahead, no screens, a light stomach.
The last stretch is where it happens. The climb from Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez alone is 21 hairpin bends. The NHS advice on motion sickness translates directly to a child seat in the back of a van:
- Look out, not down. "Look straight ahead at a fixed point, such as the horizon". A seat in the middle of the row looks through the windscreen.
- No screens on the climb. The NHS says not to read, watch films or use devices; save the tablet for the motorway.
- Small meal, not a big one. No heavy or spicy food shortly before or during the drive.
- Fresh air, and distraction. A cracked window, then talking, singing or music, which the NHS names for children.
One NHS line does not travel: "sit in the front of a car" is not allowed for a child under 10 in France, outside narrow exceptions. For a child who is always sick, the NHS lists dissolvable tablets for children and says to ask a pharmacist before the trip.
Pack a spare top within reach, not in the boot.
Book a family ski transfer
Post the trip, then choose an offer.
TransferBnB is a marketplace: verified local carriers who drive that road send offers, and you choose one. The price is per vehicle, and the offer you accept is the price you pay.
Add the child seats on the booking form and each child's age, height, weight and seat type in the notes. Count the buggy and ski bags too; our guide to what fits in which vehicle shows why a family of four with skis needs a van. Then start from your route, or from our ski resort transfers page, and book your transfer. Weighing a shared shuttle? Some lines do not carry under-4s at all.
AI-generated images.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a child car seat for a ski transfer in France or Switzerland?
Yes. France requires an approved child seat for every child under 10 on a private transfer; only taxis and public transport are exempt. Switzerland requires one until the 12th birthday unless the child is taller than 150 cm, in taxis too. Ask for the seat when you book.
Are taxis and private transfers exempt from child seat laws in the Alps?
Mostly not. France exempts taxis but not private transfers, and Switzerland exempts neither. Germany limits a taxi's child seat duty to two children from 9 kg on the rear seats. Austria exempts taxi vehicles, which since 2021 includes chauffeured hire, but a child without a seat may not ride in front. Italy lets a child under 150 cm ride without a seat in a taxi only in the rear, with a passenger aged 16 or over.
What car seat does a baby or a toddler need on a ski transfer?
A baby needs a rear-facing infant carrier (group 0+, up to 18 months or 13 kg) and a toddler a seat with its own harness (group 1, 9 to 18 kg). Older children use a high-backed booster until 12 or 150 cm. Give the carrier each child's height and weight so the right seat is fitted.
Can I bring my own child seat on a ski transfer?
Yes, and on easyJet flying with it is free: the airline carries up to two items of child equipment per child in the hold, car seats and boosters included. Say in the booking notes that you are bringing your own.
Can children sit in the front seat of a transfer van?
Usually not. France bans children under 10 from front seats except in a few cases, such as a rear-facing seat with the airbag off. In Austria a child without a seat may never ride in front. A transfer van has rear rows, so children ride there.
Will a ski transfer driver stop on the way for children?
Agree it in advance. A TransferBnB transfer is booked point to point, and adding stops is not a booking feature yet, so ask the driver about a short break before you set off; their name and number come with the booking confirmation. The carrier tracks your flight and waits up to 60 minutes after landing at no charge.
How long is the airport transfer to a ski resort with young children?
From about 26 minutes to around three hours. Innsbruck Airport to Seefeld takes about 26 minutes, Mayrhofen about 1h 05min, and Geneva Airport to Chamonix about 1h 15min, while Lyon Airport to Val Thorens takes about 2h 30min. Innsbruck gives the shortest drives.
How do I stop my child getting car sick on the mountain road?
Keep their eyes on the road ahead, no screens on the climb, a light meal before the drive and fresh air, per NHS advice. Seat the child in the middle of the row, facing the windscreen, because France keeps children under 10 out of the front in most cases. For children who are always sick, ask a pharmacist about tablets before you travel.
Sources and Data
- Légifrance, Code de la route R412-2 and R412-3: French child seat and front seat rules, October 2026.
- ASTRA, Swiss Federal Roads Office: Swiss rule and seat standards, October 2026.
- TCS, child seats in taxis: taxis and seat groups, October 2026.
- RIS, Kraftfahrgesetz § 106: Austrian rule and taxi exemption, October 2026.
- WKO, Gelegenheitsverkehrsgesetz amendment: taxi and chauffeured hire as one trade, 2021.
- oesterreich.gv.at and ÖAMTC: Austrian thresholds and advice, October 2026.
- StVO § 21: German rule, October 2026.
- Polizia di Stato: Italian exception and fines, October 2026.
- DGT: Spanish rule, 2026.
- Policia d'Andorra: Andorran rule, 2024.
- easyJet: child equipment allowance, June 2026.
- NHS, motion sickness: motion sickness advice, October 2026.
- Alpe d'Huez tourism: the 21 hairpin bends.
- TransferBnB route pages, booking form and FAQ: times, prices, child seats and waiting, October 2026.
