car rental and car seats in the Uk

[SammyRo]

We're going to the UK next Feb and we'll be hiring a car. But I'm not sure what to do about car seats. I'm pretty sure they don't have anchor points in the cars over there, so whilst taking our seats will save us money, I don't want to use them if there not safe. But, if we're hiring them, I'm not sure what sort of seats we'll get. I know that newer cars over there have isofix, and isofix seats are readily available, but I don't think they are law yet, and I think that the other type of seat just uses a seat belt to secure it, which to me, doesn't seem enough.

Anyway, anyone used an aussie car seat whilst being in Europe/the Uk or have you rented them along with the car? If so, what sort of seat did you get? And were you happy with it?

TIA

[MummaSue]

We hired a car when we went back home to Scotland in October last year. DD was 6 months old and the car seat we got with the car hire company was satisfactory safety wise. It was just filthy.

You can always ring the car hire companies. I wanted to take our car seat but found out that it wasn't going to be compatible so would have been a waste of time and money.

[Swoop]

We've just arrived back in the UK for an extended period and have bought a car and borrowed maxicosi car seat from a friend for now. The car seat is just secured with a seatbelt, but it does feel very secure - the seatbelt is held in place much more securely than it is on our Aussie car seat. I was skeptical, but after looking at it and giving it a good shake and pull around I feel confident that it is safe. I'm not sure that's the case every time - I vaguely recall Yules having a problem with car seats when she arrived in Jersey.