ISO-FIX & Latch Car seat range
You've probably heard a lot of people talking about ISOFIX car seats and rightly so - they are now recognized as the safest possible way to travel with your child and are being adopted by car seat and vehicle manufacturers worldwide. Here, you can find out all you need to know about this new car seat fitting system.
Do you know that your car very likely has ISOFIX?
Since February 2006, all new car models must be equipped with the standardized ISOFIX and top tether anchorage points. From 2011 European regulations require all cars to adhere to this standard.
The best way to find out if your car has ISOFIX fittings is to contact your vehicle manufacturer or the dealership that you purchased it from. Alternatively you can consult your car's manual which should clearly indicate the ISOFIX fitting points. You can also look in your car for the two lower anchorages (telltale "staple-like" protrusions) that would be located in the seat bight (the intersection of the vehicle seat back and bottom cushions). A trained fitter would also be able to tell you.
What is ISOFIX?
ISOFIX (International Standards Organization FIX) is a new standard for car seat installation that's being adopted by car seat and vehicle manufacturers worldwide. The system operates through ISOFIX points on the back of the child car seat that plug into ISOFIX fittings in the car, creating a solid link between your child's car seat and your car.
Why use ISOFIX?
Only 30% of child seats are installed correctly when using an adult seat belt, 96% when using the ISOFIX system!** Source: The German Insurance Institute GDV, Group 1.
The ISOFIX system also reduces the forward and side-ward movement of the seat and limits rotation through a foot prop or top tether (universal or semi-universal seats).
The ISOFIX system makes installation and removal quick and easy, in other words, it gives you peace of mind when fitting a child seat and reduces the risk of misuse.
How do i know that the seat will fit my car?
The ultimate aim is that any ISOFIX child car seat you buy will fit your car simply by plugging it into the ISOFIX points. Manufacturers are also carrying out lengthy tests to ensure their ISOFIX seats are as universal as possible when it comes to fitting in different vehicles. However, the technical details of the ISOFIX standard are still being finalized so the seats currently require specific vehicle approval. This means that you need to match the ISOFIX seat you want with your vehicle to ensure that they are compatible. Most manufacturers' websites carry this compatibility information and retailers are also able to access it directly. Trained fitters will also be able to determine whether the seat fits your car if it's not a car type that's on a manufacturer's list. Please contact us if you are unsure if the seat will fit or will not fit your car.
