Can a child sit in the front seat in Denmark?
Front seat, airbag and seat
Short answer
In Denmark the rules for children in the car are based on height and equipment: a child under 135 cm must use approved child safety equipment in whichever seat it sits. A child may not travel in a rear-facing seat on a passenger seat with an active front airbag, so you must switch the airbag off or move the child to the back. As of November 2026 the fine for a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag is 1,000 kr. In a car whose seats have no belts, children under 3 may not travel, and older children under 135 cm may not sit in the front.
Why
- An airbag can hit a rear-facing seat hard.
- The airbag must be off, or the child goes in the back.
- The 135 cm rule also applies in the front.
Details
A baby seat faces backwards and is used from birth to about 15 months.
Tip
In a rental car, find out how to switch off the passenger airbag before you fit a baby seat in the front.
What may differ
How to switch off the airbag differs from car to car, and some cars cannot do it.
Common misconception
Children are never allowed in the front seat in Denmark.
What actually happens
A child may sit in the front with the right equipment, but never rear-facing in front of an active airbag.
People also ask
- What are the child car seat rules in Denmark?
- How long should a child face backwards in the car?
- Is it compulsory to wear a seatbelt in Denmark?
Sources
- Retsinformation: Consolidated Road Traffic Act (LBK no. 118 of 12 January 2026)Checked at:
- Danish Road Safety Council: Car seats for babies aged 0–15 monthsChecked at:
- Danish Police: Guideline fine rates for breaches of the Road Traffic Act (version 27.02.25)Checked at:
- Danish Road Safety Council: Children in the car, what does the law say?Checked at:
This answer is for reference only. Traffic rules, fines and fees can change, so check the Danish authorities before you drive.
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