Survey reveals safety concerns with child seats in hire cars

Consumers are worried that the child seats in hire cars are ‘dirty and tatty’ and not safe for their children.

The survey, conducted by YouGov on behalf of iCarhireinsurance.com, a leading provider of stand-alone excess insurance, reveals that over one in 10 consumers (12%) who have hired a child seat with their rental car (either in the UK or abroad) were concerned for the safety of the child in the car seat, with over a sixth (16%) of consumers said the child seat was ‘dirty and tatty’.

Over a quarter (26%) of travellers were also surprised that no help was given by staff from the rental company to fit the child seat.

A shocking 37% of travellers were given no written instructions on how to fit the child seat in the car and 11% spent at least half an hour fitting the seat.

“We’re stunned that customers are being provided with child seats that they consider substandard,” said Ernesto Suarez, founder and Chief Executive of iCarhireinsurance.com. “What’s even more concerning is that almost 40% of seats, irrespective of their condition, are being supplied with no fitting instructions; after all the best child seat in the world is still dangerous if it’s not properly fitted.

“When you’re spending around £60 to rent a child seat – as much as it would cost new - as a minimum it should be clean, in good condition and provided with clear fitting instructions. Parents are absolutely entitled to expect that their most precious and vulnerable passengers are comfortable, safe and secure.”

Almost 1 in 10 (8%) of the consumers polled had hired a hire car with a child seat, which means that millions of car seats are being supplied every year by car hire companies.

iCarhireinsurance.com takes the hassle out of hire car insurance by offering stand alone policies accepted at all car and van rental locations worldwide that are fully comprehensive and significantly better value than those offered at the rental desks. An iCarhireinsurance.com excess insurance policy starts from £2.99 a day (compared with the average £17 charged by the rental desks) or from £39.99 for an annual policy. It also includes cover for vulnerable parts of the vehicle such as tyres and windows which are frequently excluded by the rental companies' policies.