Transporting children in Bulgaria – rules and requirements

transportation of children in Bulgaria

We talk about Bulgarian requirements for seats and boosters, placing children in the front seat and fines for violating these rules.

Until what age is a child car seat required?

The use of child seats in Bulgaria depends on the age and height of the child. Children under 12 years of age and up to 150 cm tall cannot be transported without special restraints. Height plays the main role: if it is less than 150 cm, the rest does not matter.

Important: the maximum weight for which car seats are designed is 36 kg. If the weight of a young passenger exceeds this limit, you can ride without additional restraints.

When is it permissible to seat a child in the front?

Up to 3 years of age, you can ride in the front seat in a child seat. The passenger airbag must be disabled.

From 3 years old, only the back seat is allowed. When height reaches 150 cm, the rules allow sitting in the front without any special devices.

Types of child restraints for transportation

chair for children

Seat model with additional seat belts.

The classification of car seats in Bulgaria does not differ from the any one. Based on functionality, they are divided into 3 types – seats, boosters and infant carriers.

Full seats are designed for passengers up to 18 kg. The baby is held in place by separate seat belts, and the headrest protects the neck from injury in the event of a side impact.

A booster is a hard cushion that allows you to fasten your child with a standard seat belt. Sometimes this is part of a full-fledged car seat, the back of which can be unfastened. The maximum passenger weight is limited to 36 kg.

booster for transporting children

Using a standard belt with a booster.

An option for the little ones is a car seat, in which the child sits reclining. The upper weight limit is 13 kg.

Child restraints in Bulgaria must comply with UNECE regulations No. 44. Car seats are divided into 5 weight groups:

  1. group 0 (up to 10 kg);
  2. group 0+ (up to 13 kg);
  3. group I (9 – 18 kg);
  4. II (15 – 25 kg);
  5. III (22 – 36 kg).

A suitable chair is selected based on height and weight. If, when using a booster, the standard belt is below the neck, there will be no safety problems.

Penalty for breaking the rules

Improper transportation of children is punishable by a fine of 50 BGN. You can find out about other fines in Bulgaria in a separate article.