Travelling to Madeira with a baby or toddler? Whether you’re renting a car at the airport or being driven by a taxi/transfer service, Portugal has strict child car seat laws — and rental car companies don’t always provide compliant equipment. Here’s everything you need to know before you land.
The Basic Rule
Every child must use an approved child restraint system
until they are 135 cm tall OR 12 years old —
whichever happens first.
This applies to all vehicles, including rental cars, taxis, and private transfers. There is no exception for short taxi rides or “just around the corner.”
Which Car Seat for Which Age?
Portugal (like the rest of the EU) allows two certification systems:
ECE R44/04 — Weight-Based Groups
| Group | Weight | Approx. Age |
| 0 | Up to 10 kg | Newborn |
| 0+ | Up to 13 kg | Newborn – 12–15 months |
| 1 | 9–18 kg | ~9 months – 4 years |
| 2 | 15–25 kg | ~4–6 years |
| 3 | 22–36 kg | ~6–12 years |
R129 / i-Size — Height-Based (Newer Standard)
Seats are classified by the child’s height, not weight, and require rear-facing travel up to at least 15 months — a stricter and safer standard than the older R44.
i-Size seats are now considered the gold standard and are what we use for all AGU rentals.
What’s NOT Allowed
- Holding a baby on your lap while driving
- Using an adult seatbelt alone for a child under 135cm
- Rear-facing car seats in the front seat with an active airbag
- Children under 3 in the front seat (unless the airbag is deactivated)
- Using a car seat that’s expired, damaged, or has been in a previous accident
The Problem With Rental Car Companies
Here’s what many parents don’t realize:
Many rental car companies offer car seats as an “add-on” — but these are often generic, poorly fitted, and non-Isofix, shared between hundreds of tourists with no visible cleaning or safety checks.
We’ve heard this from real customers:
“Originally I rented a baby seat from our car rental company, but on arrival this was a cheap plastic seat which could not be fixed securely.” — Mike de Vries, AGU customer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This isn’t just uncomfortable — it can be genuinely unsafe on Madeira’s winding mountain roads.
How AGU Madeira Does It Differently
| Rental Car Companies | AGU Madeira | |
| Isofix seats | Often unavailable | Always available |
| Cleanliness | Rarely sanitized between uses | Sanitized after every use |
| Delivery | Pick up at counter, often delays | Delivered to airport or your accommodation |
| Age-appropriate sizing | Limited options | Full range: newborn to booster |
Quick Guide: What Seat Do I Need?
Arriving with a newborn (0-6 months)?
→ Rear-facing infant seat (Group 0+/i-Size)
Toddler (1-4 years)?
→ Rear or forward-facing seat with harness (Group 1/i-Size)
Older child (4-10 years, under 135cm)?
→ Booster seat with backrest (Group 2/3)
Not sure which one fits your child? [Contact us and we’ll recommend the right seat →]
Our Recommendation for Madeira Visitors
- Skip the rental car “extra” — pre-book with a specialist instead
- Confirm Isofix compatibility with your rental car if needed
- Have your seat delivered directly to the airport so it’s ready before you even collect your car
- Return it at your convenience — no need to coordinate with your rental car drop-off
With AGU, your car seat is delivered and collected at the airport or in Funchal, already installed correctly — so you can focus on enjoying Madeira, not wrestling with buckles in an airport car park.
[Reserve your car seat now — safe, clean, and ready before you land] →