Rules for seat belt use

In short, the rules for seat belts mean that no persons may be transported in seats without seat belts. 

A few rules for seat belts in the Netherlands at a glance (no rights can be derived from this and you should always check which rules apply in your country at all times): 
• Everyone must use their own seat belt, two children / people in one seat belt is not allowed. 
• Everyone must have their own seat. 
• No more people may be transported than seat belts are present. 
• Additional rules apply to children smaller than 1.35 m. 

No seat belts in the vehicle

But how does it work if there are no seat belts in the vehicle? The year of manufacture of the vehicle is important in this seat belt issue. Older cars usually have no or too few seat belts. The law makes an exception in these cases. Below is an overview with the obligation for seat belts by year of manufacture.

• Year of construction before 1-1-1971: no obligation for seat belts. 
• Year of construction after 1-1-1971: compulsory seat belts in the driver's seat and all seats next to the driver if they are adjacent to a door. 
• Year built after 31-12-1989: a seat belt must be present on all forward-facing seats, including the rear seat (if a seat does not have a seat belt, this is not a seat). 
• Year of construction after 1-1-1995: seat belts must be fitted on both forward and rearward facing seats. If your vehicle does not need seat belts due to its year of construction, you are still allowed to transport people. 

However, one limitation applies to the transport of children; children under the age of three must not be transported without a seat belt.