Taxi & Ride Share car seat/booster rules

Question

Hi all - travelling soon with our almost 5 & 10 year olds. Will have a booster for our youngest because we feel more comfortable with that, but I cannot find an official answer about whether our older kiddo will need one too. He’s about 4’7”.

We don’t plan to explore too far, but may take an Uber here and there.

Charley’s Taxi doesn’t require them I understand, but I can’t tell if that rule applies to Uber/Lyft as well. Can anyone point me in the right direction, or share a link? Thanks so much!

Answer

Traveling with children is always a little more complex when it comes to transportation, especially when it comes to car seats and boosters. Here’s what you need to know about taxi and ride-share (Uber/Lyft) car seat rules on Oahu, specifically in Waikiki:

1. Charley’s Taxi: You are correct that Charley’s Taxi does not require car seats or boosters for children, as per their official policy. However, they do provide car seats if requested in advance, but it’s essential to confirm this when booking your ride to ensure they are prepared for your needs.

2. Ride-share (Uber/Lyft): The rules around car seats and boosters for Uber and Lyft in Hawaii are a bit more complicated. Hawaii law does not specifically require children under the age of 4 to be in a car seat in ride-share vehicles. However, the law does require that children under 8 years old, or under 4'9" in height, must be in a car seat or booster seat. For your 5-year-old who is about 4'7", this means they may not legally need a booster, but some parents still prefer to have one for safety reasons.

Uber: Uber offers an option called UberX with car seats in select areas, which is great for families. You can request a car with a car seat, but availability can be limited, so make sure to check ahead of time. If you don’t opt for UberX with a car seat, you’ll need to bring your own booster for your younger child if that’s your preference. For your 10-year-old, it’s not mandatory, but you can still request one if you feel more comfortable with it.
Lyft: Lyft has similar policies to Uber regarding car seats. They do not require children over 4'9" to use a car seat, but they recommend using one. Lyft does not typically provide car seats, so you will need to bring your own if you need one. Lyft also offers a “Lyft XL” option, but car seats are not automatically included.

3. General Guidelines: While the law doesn't mandate a car seat for your 10-year-old (4'7"), it’s still a good idea to use a booster seat for safety, especially on longer rides. Some parents prefer to use boosters for older children even if not required by law. You can bring your own, or in some cases, you might be able to rent one for your trip. Hawaii’s warm weather and short distances between attractions often make it easier to handle a booster seat than on a long road trip, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

4. Alternatives: If you don’t want to bring a booster seat and are staying in a hotel, some rental car agencies and even some ride-share services in Hawaii may offer car seat rentals, so it's worth asking about this when you arrive. You can also check with services like “Hawaii Car Seat Rental” for rental options if you're concerned about carrying the seats during your vacation.

In summary, while Charley’s Taxi doesn't require car seats or boosters, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are not required to provide them. However, the law does mandate that children under 8 or 4'9" use a car seat or booster seat, so it’s still safest to bring one for your younger child. For your 10-year-old, a booster is not legally required, but if you're more comfortable with one, it's a good idea to bring it or request one in advance from the ride-share service.

Safe travels, and enjoy your time in Oahu!