How are you allowed to transport a five-year-old child in your car?

In Germany, children under 12 years old or shorter than 150 cm must use an appropriate child restraint system in a car. For a five-year-old, this means using a suitable and approved child seat with a test mark, which ensures the child's safety in case of an accident. Simply sitting on the back seat with a standard three-point safety belt or just a waist belt is not allowed because these belts are designed for adults and may not properly secure a young child, increasing the risk of injury. The child seat adjusts the belt position and provides additional protection tailored to the child's size.