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 seatbelt 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 are 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.
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. Your doctor may include conditions on the seatbelt exemption certificate, such as requiring the use of an alternative restraint. The Department of Transport and Main Roads does not grant seatbelt exemptions.
Doctors play a critical role in determining a person’s eligibility for a seatbelt exemption certificate, including whether any conditions need to apply. They have obligations to give clear advice about the severe risks associated with not wearing a seatbelt which can include serious injury or death. These risks should be weighed against any potential pain or discomfort associated with seatbelt use.
Alternative restraint options
If your passenger has a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a standard seatbelt, keeping a seatbelt fastened or in the correct position for the duration of the trip, we encourage you to seek advice about alternative restraints when asking for a seatbelt exemption certificate.
In some cases, alternative restraint options (such as seatbelt extenders, 5-point harnesses and buckle covers) may be approved though other processes and do not require a seatbelt exemption certificate.
However, a seatbelt exemption certificate allows a doctor to authorise the use of any alternative restraint as a condition of the exemption. If you would like to understand the alternative restraint options available based on specific medical needs, you may be referred to, or request a referral to an occupational therapist from your doctor.
Additional resources
If you have, or your child or passenger has, a medical condition or disability and need to consider alternative restraint options, these websites may assist you.
- MACA National Product Register
- MACA Health Professional Lookup
- Safe Movement Guideline (Seatbelt Buckle Covers)
- Kidsafe Queensland
- Child Restraints
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. Where a full exemption is not suitable, your doctor should explore whether an alternative restraint can used in place of, or with, a seatbelt
- If satisfied that you have a medical condition or disability that impacts your ability to wear a seatbelt correctly or at all, you and your doctor should complete form F2690
- Remember to register your seatbelt exemption certificate with the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
- 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
- If needed, state any conditions of the exemption (such as the use of alternative restraints).
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, wounds 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.