Riding with children in Europe – what are the rules?

The rules for carrying children as motorcycle passengers vary considerably across Europe. Before packing your bikes and heading across the border, it's well worth checking the regulations that apply in your destination country.

For many riders, taking their children on the back of a motorcycle is one of the greatest joys of motorcycling. It’s a way of sharing a passion from an early age and creating memories that last long after the helmets have come off. In Sweden, there is no legal minimum age for a child to ride as a passenger. Instead, it is up to the rider to decide whether the child can sit securely, reach the footrests and hold on properly.

In several European countries there are fixed minimum age requirements, sometimes as high as 12 years, while others require a dedicated child seat. If you’re planning a motorcycle trip abroad with your children this summer, it’s well worth checking the regulations in your destination before you set off. That way, you’ll stay on the right side of the law and know whether any additional equipment is required.

Below you’ll find a country-by-country overview. If your destination isn’t included, or if you’d like to check the regulations in more detail, the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) provides an excellent starting point, alongside the official road traffic authority for the country you’re visiting.

Children as motorcycle passengers – the rules across Europe

There is no common EU standard for how old a child must be to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle. Rules vary considerably between countries – from no age limit at all to fixed limits of 12 years. Below is an overview grouped by the Nordics, the Baltics and the rest of Europe. Rules can change, so always double-check with the relevant country’s traffic authority before travelling.

The Nordics

Sweden	No set age limit. The child should have suitable protective clothing; a certified helmet is required from age 15, younger children may use other suitable head protection.
Norway	No age limit. The child must sit in the designated passenger seat, must not be strapped to the rider’s back, and should be able to reach the footrests.
Denmark	Minimum age 5. Children under 135 cm must use an approved child seat.
Finland	No fixed age limit, but the law requires that the child’s stability on the motorcycle can be reliably ensured. Maximum one passenger.
Iceland	Children under 6 must have back support. The child must be able to reach the footrests.

The Baltics

Estonia	Minimum age 12.
Latvia	No age limit, but a minimum height of 150 cm applies – unless the child uses a child seat or the footrests can be adjusted low enough.
Lithuania	Minimum age 12. No age limit applies in a sidecar.

Rest of Europe

Albania	Minimum age 16.
Austria	Minimum age 12. The child must reach the footrests. In a sidecar, up to two children under 12 may be carried, provided there is adequate side protection and a child seat/belt appropriate to age.
Belgium	Children under 3 may not be carried on a moped or motorcycle at all. Ages 3–8: only on vehicles up to 125cc, in an approved child seat. From age 8: permitted on any size of motorcycle, with a helmet and suitable protective gear.
Bulgaria	Minimum age 12, unless the child is in an approved child seat.
Croatia	Minimum age 12.
Cyprus	Minimum age 12.
France	No age limit. Children under 5 must use an approved seat with handles and footrests. Older children must be able to reach the footrests themselves. Certified motorcycle gloves are mandatory for both rider and passenger.
Germany	No age limit. Children under 7 must use a child seat.
Greece	Minimum age 5, unless the child is secured in an approved restraint system suited to age, height and weight.
Hungary	No set age limit, but the child must be able to look after their own safety and reach the footrests.
Ireland	No set age limit.
Italy	Minimum age 5. The passenger must not disturb the rider or the motorcycle’s balance.
Kosovo	Minimum age 12.
Luxembourg	Minimum age 12. The child must be able to use the motorcycle’s original footrests. Maximum two people in a sidecar.
Macedonia	Minimum age 18.
Malta	No age limit, but the child must reach the footrests. Accident insurance covering the passenger is mandatory.
Montenegro	Minimum age 12.
Netherlands	No age limit.
Poland	No age limit, but speed is restricted to 40 km/h when carrying a child under 7.
Portugal	Minimum age 7.
Romania	Minimum age 14. In a sidecar, children aged 7–14 are permitted, but only accompanied by an adult.
Slovakia	Minimum age 12.
Slovenia	Minimum age 12.
Spain	Minimum age 12, or 7 if the rider is one of the child’s parents or legal guardian.
Switzerland	No age limit, but children under 7 must use an approved child seat. The child must be able to reach the footrests.
Turkey	No age limit, but the child must reach the footrests.
United Kingdom	No set age limit, but the child must be able to reach the footrests and sit astride the motorcycle.

For Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine, no reliable information on rules for child motorcycle passengers is currently available.