Car Service with Car Seats in NYC

A car service with car seats, booked before you travel

Travelling around New York with small children is easier with a car that already has the right seat in it. You ask for the seat when you book, tell us your child's age, weight and height, and we confirm in writing which seat is coming and in which vehicle. This works for trips across the city, to and from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, and for longer drives to Long Island, the Hamptons and Westchester.

Why a yellow cab doesn't solve this

In a private car, New York State law requires a child restraint until a child's 8th birthday, and a rear-facing seat until age 2. Yellow taxis and other TLC-licensed vehicles are exempt from that law. The Taxi and Limousine Commission's passenger guidance says a child under 7 may ride on an adult's lap.

Exempt doesn't mean safe, and most parents don't want a baby on a lap on the Van Wyck. A street-hail taxi won't have a seat, and you can't count on an app ride having one either. Booking ahead is the only reliable way to have a seat in the car when it arrives.

Which seat for your child

Always follow the height and weight limits on the seat's own label, and the guidance of your paediatrician. Give us your child's actual weight and height, not just their age, so we can match the seat to the child.

How to ask for a car seat

When you request a quote, include:

1. How many seats you need, and the age, weight and height of each child.
2. The trip: pickup, destination, date, time, and the flight number for an airport trip.
3. Everything else that travels: strollers, a travel cot, checked bags, carry-ons.

Reservations confirm which seats are available for your date, which vehicle they will be in, and any charge, all in your written quote before you confirm. Seats are limited, so ask as early as you can, especially for summer weekends and holidays.

Bringing your own seat

Many families prefer their own seat because they know it and the child is used to it. That's welcome. A few tips:

• Allow five to ten minutes at pickup to fit the seat. Tell us you are bringing one, so the timing allows for it.
• Fit it yourself, or check it before you set off. You know your seat. Pull the harness or belt tight and check that the seat doesn't move more than an inch at the belt path.
• Infant carriers that click into a base work well if you bring the base. Many can also be fitted with the seat belt alone; check your seat's manual.
• Flying with a seat? If you check it with the airline, it comes out at baggage reclaim, so tell us; the meeting time allows for it.

Airport trips with children

Airport runs are the most common car-seat booking. Arriving with children, the hard part is the gap between baggage reclaim and the car. Two things help:

• Flight tracking: the pickup follows your actual landing time, so a delay doesn't leave you hunting for a car with tired children.
• Meet-and-greet: the driver waits inside the terminal and helps with bags. It costs a little more, and parents travelling alone often find it worth it. See the airport chauffeur page.

For airport details, see JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.

Long drives: the Hamptons, Long Island and Westchester

A two-to-three-hour drive to the Hamptons is a long time for a small child. Plan a stop: tell us when you book, and the quote allows for it. Leaving outside the summer Friday and Sunday peaks shortens the trip more than anything else. See Hamptons car service, Long Island and Westchester for the routes.

Which vehicle fits seats and strollers

• Sedan: usually fits two child seats in the back, with an adult in front. Room for a folded stroller and a couple of cases.
• Luxury SUV: two or three seats across the rows, with space for the stroller and luggage. This is the usual choice for families arriving at an airport.
• Sprinter: for two families, or a family with grandparents and a lot of luggage.

How many seats fit depends on the seats themselves; wide convertibles take more room. Tell us the make if you know it. See the fleet page for the vehicle classes.

Book a car with car seats

Send the trip, the number of seats with each child's age, weight and height, and the luggage, through the form or by calling (888) 201-0419. We reply with the vehicle, the seats and the full price before anything is booked. First-time customers can ask for the 10% first-ride offer.

Your questions, answered