Seatbelt rules
Wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt is compulsory in Queensland for all motor vehicle occupants. Drivers and passengers are around nine times more likely to be killed in a road crash if they are not wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt.
Correct seatbelt use
Seatbelts must be worn with:
- the belt over your shoulder, running firmly across your chest
and - the lap part of the belt running firmly across your pelvic area and be buckled low on your hip.
Wearing a seatbelt any other way will result in a fine.
If you recline your seat
- You must ensure that the seat belt is still across your shoulder and chest.
- You and the and the driver may receive a fine, if your seatbelt is not properly fastened or adjusted when you've reclined your seat too far or fully.
Drivers
You and all passengers in your vehicle must always wear a seatbelt or child restraint when driving. Driving includes when the vehicle is moving or stationary (for example, when stopped at traffic lights), but not when parked.
As the driver of the vehicle, it is your responsibility to ensure you and every passenger in the vehicle is correctly restrained for the duration of your trip. This does not apply to buses or motorcycles.
Passengers
In Queensland, everyone 7 years or older must wear a correctly fitted seatbelt. Children up to 7 years must be in a properly fastened and adjusted Australian Standard approved child restraint. Check that the seatbelts are not frayed, loose, twisted or knotted.
Alternative restraint options
If your passenger has a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a seatbelt comfortably, or from keeping a seatbelt fastened for the duration of the trip, we encourage you to seek advice from an allied health professional.
Alternative restraint options, such as seatbelt extenders, 5-point harnesses or buckle covers may be an appropriate alternative to a seatbelt exemption.
An occupational therapist or physiotherapist will be able to assess your passenger's needs and assist you with seeking alternative restraint options.
Additional resources
If you have a passenger with a medical condition or disability and need to consider alternative restraint options, these websites may assist you.
Exemption from wearing a seatbelt
Exemptions from the seatbelt rules apply in very limited circumstances.
You will only be exempt from the requirement to wear a seatbelt if:
- You are the driver and are reversing the vehicle.
- You carry a current seatbelt exemption certificate, signed by an Australian doctor registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The certificate must state that you can 't wear a seatbelt due to a medical condition or disability.
- The vehicle was originally manufactured without seatbelts fitted and you are 7 years or older. Children under 7 years of age are not permitted to travel in any vehicle without correctly fitted seatbelts or child restraints.
- You are required to get in and out of the vehicle frequently while engaged in door-to-door pick-up or delivery of goods, and you drive at no more than 25km/h.
Find more information about seatbelt exemptions for historic vehicles.
Some drivers are also exempt from the requirement to ensure their passengers are wearing a seatbelt in certain circumstances. You are exempt from this requirement if:
- you are a bus driver
- you are a taxi or rideshare driver and your passenger is over 16
- you are a taxi or rideshare driver, your passenger is under 7 and you do not have an Australian Standard approved child restraint in the vehicle.
Seatbelt exemption certificates
In extremely rare circumstances, your doctor can provide a seatbelt exemption certificate if you have a medical condition or disability impacting your ability to wear a seatbelt. The Department of Transport and Main Roads does not grant seatbelt exemptions.
If you or your passenger is unable to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt due to a medical condition or disability, you should speak with your doctor or allied health professional about alternative restraint options before asking for a seatbelt exemption certificate.
Applying for a seatbelt exemption certificate
If you think you may be eligible for a seatbelt exemption certificate, there are important steps you will need to take:
- Book an appointment with your doctor – they are responsible for determining your eligibility for an exemption, including whether any conditions should apply
- Talk to your doctor about your reason for requesting a seatbelt exemption certificate
- Your doctor must assess you against the standards outlined in Appendix 7 of the Austroads' Assessing Fitness to Drive publication.
- If satisfied that you meet the criteria, you and your doctor should complete form F2690.
- Your certificate must:
- Be signed by your doctor
- Display the date of issue
- Display an expiry date of no more than 12 months after issue
- State that, in the opinion of your doctor, you should not wear a seatbelt due to medical condition or disability.
The Assessing Fitness to Drive publication contains guidelines for common conditions, included in the table below.
| Condition | Exemption possible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ileostomies and colostomies | No | Refer patient to occupational therapist for advice. |
| Musculoskeletal conditions and deformities | Yes - passenger only | Dependent on the exact nature of the condition. |
| Obesity | Yes | Modification or alternative restraint advised. If not feasible, an exemption is possible. |
| Pacemaker | No | If the pacemaker received a direct compression force from a seatbelt, the device should be checked for malfunction. |
| Physical disability | No | Advise patient about correct fitting. |
| Pregnancy | No | Advise patient about correct fitting. |
| Psychological conditions | No | For severe conditions, refer the patient to a specialist. |
| Scars, woulds and skin conditions | No | Advise patient about the use of protective padding |
Register your exemption certificate
If you have a seatbelt exemption certificate, you must have it with you when you are in a vehicle and show it to a police officer, if requested.
You should also register your seatbelt exemption certificate with the Department of Transport and Main Roads so we have a record of it. While this may not always prevent a camera-detected seatbelt infringement from being issued, it will assist during the infringement enquiry process.
It is a serious offence to give false or misleading information under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 and doing so may incur a penalty.
Online
You can register a copy of your seatbelt exemption certificate with us online.
By email
You can email us a copy of your seatbelt exemption certificate.
By post
Post a copy of your certificate to:
Department of Transport and Main Roads
PO Box 673
FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006
In person
Bring your exemption certificate and visit your nearest transport and motoring customer service centre or Queensland Government Agency Program Office.
Infringement enquiries
If you hold a current seatbelt exemption certificate
If you hold a valid Seatbelt Exemption Certificate (Form F2690) and receive a camera-detected seatbelt infringement, you can submit an infringement enquiry online to have the infringement reviewed. You should attach a copy of your seatbelt exemption certificate to your enquiry even if it is registered with the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
If you do not hold a current seatbelt exemption certificate
Seatbelt exemption certificates cannot provide you a certificate with a 'backdated' date of issue. However, if you receive a camera-detected seatbelt infringement and had a medical condition, you may provide a letter from your doctor.
The medical letter must be signed by the doctor and state that in their opinion, a seatbelt should not be worn due to a person's medical condition or disability at the time of the offence.
You can submit an infringement query with us online, or phone 1300 360 610 to speak to a representative from the Queensland Revenue Office.
Penalties
Fines and demerit points apply for not wearing a seatbelt and for incorrectly fastened and adjusted seatbelts (for example a seatbelt worn under the arm). Drivers and passengers aged 16 years or older may be fined for not wearing a seatbelt or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt. A driver may be fined for each unrestrained or incorrectly restrained passenger in the vehicle.
Double demerit points apply for second or subsequent seatbelt offences committed within 1 year of an earlier offence. This applies for drivers not correctly wearing a seatbelt as well as drivers failing to ensure passengers under 16 are correctly wearing a seatbelt.