Car Seat Certifications Explained: FAA, EASA, ECE, and Why They Matter for Travel

Published March 15, 2026

Car seat certifications are confusing. There are at least six different standards used around the world, and your car seat’s certification determines two things: which airlines let you use it onboard, and which countries consider it legal to use in a car.

The major certifications

FAA (US)

The Federal Aviation Administration label reads “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” If your car seat has this label, US airlines must allow it. Most US-bought car seats have it. Some European and Australian seats do not.

FMVSS 213 / CMVSS (US / Canada)

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 is the US road safety standard. CMVSS is the Canadian equivalent. These are required for legal car seat use on US and Canadian roads. Almost all FAA-approved seats also meet FMVSS 213, but the labels are separate requirements.

ECE R44 (Europe - older standard)

The UN Economic Commission for Europe standard, specifically revision 03 or 04 (R44-03, R44-04). This is the older European standard, still widely accepted. Seats meeting this standard are legal across the EU and accepted by most European airlines.

ECE R129 / i-Size (Europe - newer standard)

The newer European standard, gradually replacing R44. Focuses on side-impact protection and uses height-based sizing instead of weight. R129 seats are accepted everywhere R44 is, plus they tend to be newer and safer designs.

AS/NZS 1754 (Australia / New Zealand)

The Australian and New Zealand standard. Seats meeting this standard are legal in Australia and New Zealand. Some (but not all) AS/NZS 1754 seats also carry an aircraft-use label. Australian seats that require a top tether won’t work on planes because aircraft seats only have lap belts.

EASA (European Aviation)

The European Aviation Safety Agency oversees aircraft safety but defers to individual airlines for car seat policies. EASA recommends ECE R44 or R129 seats for aircraft use but doesn’t issue its own approval label.

The cross-border problem

Here’s the thing nobody thinks about until they’re packing: your car seat may not be legal at your destination.

A US car seat with FAA/FMVSS 213 certification is not legal for car use in the UK or EU (which require ECE R44 or R129). A European ECE R129 seat is not legal for car use in the US (which requires FMVSS 213). An Australian AS/NZS 1754 seat is not legal in Europe or the US.

This matters if you’re planning to use your car seat in a rental car or taxi at your destination. Using a non-compliant seat can invalidate your travel insurance.

Some car seats carry dual certifications (e.g. FAA + ECE R129), which makes them legal in multiple regions. These are the best option for international travel. Check the certifications column on our car seats page to find seats with multiple certifications.

Which certification do airlines require?

This varies:

Use our Flying Hub to check what your airline requires, or look at an individual car seat page to see which airlines accept its certifications.

Which certification do countries require?

Every country has its own road safety standards:

Check what’s required at your destination using our country pages.

Practical advice for international trips

  1. If you only fly within one region (e.g. US domestic, intra-Europe), any locally-bought car seat with an aircraft label will work fine.

  2. If you’re crossing regions (e.g. US to Europe), look for a seat with dual certification, or plan to rent a car seat at your destination.

  3. The CARES harness is an alternative for the flight itself. It’s FAA-approved, weighs 450g, and works on most airlines. But it’s only for the flight. You’ll still need a car seat at your destination.

  4. Check before you buy. Our Trip Planner lets you enter your airlines and destination countries to see which car seats work across your entire itinerary.