12.01.2023

The complete guide to travelling by car with children

There are so many reasons why travelling by car with children can be a great experience. As well as being an excellent bonding opportunity for the whole family, it can be a more cost-effective way to travel than taking a plane or train. It’s also a great way to see different parts of the country or visit neighbouring countries. However, travelling by car with young children does not come without its challenges. Here are our top tips and tricks for car-sharing with the little ones this year.

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Plan ahead and pre-book a car

Before hitting the road with the whole family, it’s important to plan your journey in advance and make sure you allow for plenty of breaks. Children especially can get restless on long car journeys, so it’s important to plan for regular stops. Google Maps allows you to plan stops in your route so you’ll know exactly how far the next break is when navigating with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. It’s also worth bringing along some snacks and drinks for the journey, just in case traffic or something unexpected impacts your carefully planned timeline. Finally, make sure you pre-book your car-sharing car ahead of time. You can pre-book a car for trips up to 30 days and customise your trips with extras and perks when doing so.

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ISOFIX for child seat safety

The ISOFIX system is a standardised system for attaching child safety seats in vehicles. It allows child safety seats to be attached to a car using two metal bars that are anchored to the frame of the vehicle, rather than using the vehicle's seat belts. This makes it easier to install car seats and helps ensure that they are safely secured in the vehicle. The ISOFIX system is used in many countries around the world and is considered to be the safest and most convenient way to install child car seats in vehicles. All SHARE NOW models support the ISOFIX system. Simply bring your base and child seat when starting your trip.

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Check the regulations

Seating regulations need to be respected, especially if travelling abroad: booster seats must be used within Europe regardless of whether the little one falls below the specified age bracket. Research the relevant laws applicable according to safety compliance rules from the individual countries visited or travelled through beforehand. Some countries also have specific requirements for the way that child safety seats are installed in vehicles, such as requiring the use of the ISOFIX system or specifying the use of certain types of seat belts. It is important to be aware of the specific regulations that apply in the country where you will be using the child safety seat, as failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines or other penalties. In France, children under 10 must be equipped with a safety system adapted to their body size and weight.

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Choose your car model wisely

Do you know that old adage of having to sell your sports car for a nice family SUV when you have children? Well, with car-sharing you can have the best of both worlds. The SHARE NOW fleet is filled with cars of all shapes and sizes, from small city cars to family-sized SUVs. If you’re planning a road trip with the little ones, choose wisely. You may find the extra space and comfort of something like a Peugeot 3008 is worth taking a closer look at. After all, the more comfortable children are in the car, the more peaceful your journey will be. The other thing to think about is cargo space. Children come with added luggage such as prams and changing equipment. Consider checking the total cargo volume of your car-sharing car online before pre-booking.

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Have fun!

Finally, and most importantly, make sure you have fun when travelling by car with children. Children can be a lot of fun on a road trip, as long as you plan ahead and prepare for the journey. Some tips for making a road trip with children more enjoyable include bringing plenty of activities to keep them entertained, such as colouring books, puzzles, and handheld games. Family time is precious, so make the most of it along the way.

David McCourt

David McCourt

Sr. Editorial Content Strategist

"Own less, share more."

David is on a mission to improve the quality of life in cities through modern mobility solutions.