How to Pick a BMW Car Seat
Follow local and national guidelines to find the best car seat for your BMW, and be sure to read your owner’s manual before installing the seat.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- How to choose a car seat for a BMW
- Installing a car seat in a BMW
- The best family BMWs for car seats
- Car seat laws by state
- How to find affordable BMW insurance
- FAQs
Load full table of contents
Finding the right BMW car seat is a crucial decision for parents. Every new BMW comes with standardized ISOFIX anchors to secure child car seats, but checking your owner’s manual and following official safety guidelines will keep your child safe on the road.
Having a baby is a high point in any parent’s life, but picking out a car seat can feel like a major low point. Between safety ratings, recall numbers, convenience, aesthetics, and price point, finding the right car seat—the one that will protect your child no matter what happens on the road—might seem like an impossible task.
That’s why
car insurance
comparison super app Jerry
has created a guide to BMW car seats. If you’re not sure where to begin, use these tips to choose and install a car seat in your Bimmer. We’ll also take a look at some of the best BMWs for families with young children, give you a rundown of car seat laws by state, and tell you how to reduce your BMW car insurance costs
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversHow to choose a car seat for a BMW
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
sets standards for car seats for children aged 0 to 12 years. The exact type of car seat your child needs depends on their age, weight, and height—and it’s not an exact science. In general, the NHTSA recommends using a rear-facing seat for your child until they outgrow the manufacturer’s maximum height and weight specifications, usually around three years. Between ages four and seven, you’ll transition to a front-facing seat, and then to a booster seat that your child should use until they’re 12 years old or taller than four feet and nine inches.
Not sure which type of car seat your child needs? Check out the table below for detailed guidelines.
Category | Age groups | Features | Types |
|---|---|---|---|
Rear-facing | 0-12 months and up to three years | Protects neck and spinal cord during crashes | Infant car seat, convertible seat (for 12+ months), or all-in-one seat (for 12+ months) |
Forward-facing | Four to seven years OR over manufacturer’s weight and height limits for rear-facing seats | Uses a harness and tether to limit forward movement during crashes | Convertible seat, all-in-one seat, or combination seat |
Booster seat | Seven to 12 years OR over manufacturer’s weight and height limits for front-facing seats | Raises the child so the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly | Combination seat, all-in-one seat, high back booster seat (for cars without headrests), or backless booster seat (for cars with headrests) |
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The best car seats for BMW owners
The perfect car seat for your child will depend on myriad factors, but these are some of the top-rated car seats for BMW owners. Remember to check the dimensions of your rear seats when buying a car seat.
You can use the NHTSA’s
Car Seat Finder
to compare ease-of-use ratings for specific seats in the correct category for your child. For booster seats, use the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) booster ratings
to settle on a seat that guarantees the best protection. Installing a car seat in a BMW
No matter what car seat you buy, you’ll need to install it in the right place in your BMW. Every BMW comes equipped with special attachment points for car seats that conform to international ISOFIX standards. ISOFIX, also known as LATCH (“Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children”), has been a requirement for all cars sold in the US since 2002.
The NHTSA provides
detailed instructions
for installing child car seats
, but the basic steps are the same no matter what seat you’re putting in your BMW: - Start by reading the instruction manuals for both the car seat and the vehicle you’re installing it in
- Connect the car seat or seat base using either the seat belt or ISOFIX/LATCH lower anchors
- Test the seat’s movement and secure it more tightly if it moves more than an inch
- Buckle your child in snugly
Experts recommend putting a car seat behind the front passenger seat for maximum safety. Although the middle rear seat may be most insulated from damage during a crash, the outer seats have a few advantages:
- Outer rear seats typically have the standardized ISOFIX attachment anchors required by law for child safety seats. Installing a car seat in the center position without ISOFIX anchors may compromise safety.
- You’ll be able to keep an eye on your child easily, minimizing distractions.
- Placing the car seat behind the passenger seat allows you to take the child in and out easily while protected from traffic.
No matter what, resist the temptation to put your child’s car seat in the front seat next to you. Although it may feel like you’ve got better access, rear-facing seats are not designed to work in the front seat—you’ll actually be putting your baby in greater danger.
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The best family BMWs for car seats
While any new BMW since 2002 comes equipped with the necessary ISOFIX/LATCH anchors to safely secure a car seat, not all BMWs size up equally as family cars. Here are the three best BMWs for families with young children.
BMW 3-Series
Starting price: $42,445
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good (2022 Top Safety Pick)
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Good
The 3-Series is a classic for a reason. Sporty handling and undeniable luxury make the
BMW 330i
sedan a top pick for driving enthusiasts. But with 17 cubic feet of cargo space, stellar infotainment options, and available driver assistance technologies
to bolster its already impressive safety ratings, the 3-Series is also a solid pick for a family car. BMW X1
Starting price: $36,395
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Acceptable
SUVs are quickly outpacing the humble minivan as the go-to vehicle for families, and BMW’s offerings are solid. The pint-sized
BMW X1
is a practical, cozy family vehicle—and the price tag makes it downright affordable. Choose the optional Active Driving Assistant and adaptive cruise control package for increased safety, and add the Harman Kardon® surround sound system to fill the X1’s cabin with the sweet sounds of “The Wheels on the Bus.” The only downside? While the X1 comes with the same ISOFIX/LATCH anchors as other BMWs, they’re trickier to use than for other models. Be sure to read your owner’s manual carefully for installation instructions.
BMW X5
Starting price: $61,595
NHTSA safety rating: 4 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good (2022 Top Safety Pick)
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Good
The
BMW X5
is the midsize luxury SUV for families, with optional rear-seat entertainment and an available driver assistance package to pilot your kids to their destination in high-tech safety. A full 33 cubic feet of cargo space, standard dual-zone automatic climate control, and just about every luxe upgrade in the book make the X5 a great option for families. It’s also well-appointed with anchors to easily secure your child’s car seat in no time. Car seat laws by state
Want to make sure your BMW car seat is in compliance with your state’s laws? Jerry’s got you covered. Check out the table below and click your state’s name for more detailed regulations.
State | Minimum requirements for adult seat belt | Maximum base fine |
|---|---|---|
6+ years | $25 | |
7+ years OR 57 inches or 65+ pounds | $50 | |
5+ years AND 57+ inches | $50 | |
6+ years OR 60+ pounds | $100 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $100 | |
8+ years | $81 | |
8+ years AND 60+ pounds | $50 | |
8+ years OR 66+ pounds | $25 | |
6+ years | $60 | |
57+ inches | $50 | |
4+ years AND 57 inches or 40+ pounds | $100 | |
7+ years | $79 | |
8+ years OR 40+ pounds where only a lap belt is available | $75 | |
8+ years | $25 | |
6+ years | $25 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $60 | |
57+ inches | $50 for children restraint, $30 for booster seat | |
9+ years OR above manufacturer’s height and weight restrictions | $100 | |
57+ inches OR 80+ pounds | $50 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $10 | |
8+ years AND 57+ inches | $25 | |
65+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $50 if child is under 80 pounds or 57 inches; $10 for others | |
6+ years | $100 | |
8+ years | $25 | |
6+ years | $500 | |
7+ years OR 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years or 57+ inches | $75 | |
7+ years | $25 | |
8+ years | $100 | |
8+ years OR 40-80 pounds in seats without shoulder belts | $25 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years | $75 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $115 | |
8+ years | $75 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $85 | |
South Carolina | 8+ years OR 57+ inches *only if* belt fits correctly | $150 |
5+ years OR 40+ pounds | $25 | |
9+ years or 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years | $25 (minimum) | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years AND 20+ pounds | $25 | |
8+ years | $50 | |
57+ inches OR 4+ years where only a lap belt is available | $124 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $20 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds and 57+ inches | $75 | |
9+ years | $50 |
MORE: 8 pro tips for long car rides with kids
How to find affordable BMW insurance
No matter what car seat you choose for your family’s BMW, take a minute before you drive off to download the Jerry app and make sure you’re protected with the best possible car insurance policy.
Jerry
is the #1 rated insurance app—and here’s why. We believe that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to the insurance protections that drivers and families need. That’s why our trustworthy insurance comparison app
is designed to find you the lowest rate available on your car’s coverage, with customized quotes pulled from a pool of 50+ top providers nationwide. On average, Jerry users save $887 a year on car insurance. That’s a financial boost that could put better coverage in reach—or just free up a little money each month for all the expenses that come with parenthood!
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FAQs
Does BMW have Isofix?
Every BMW model is outfitted with mandatory ISOFIX/LATCH anchors to secure your child’s car seat. However, they’re easier to find and use in some models. Check your model’s
IIHS child seat anchor
ratings to see how accessible the LATCH system is in your vehicle. Are you overpaying for car insurance?
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