Car seats in Oz hire cars help

[FlightofFancy]

Sorry, another thread worrying about stuff - any advice welcome.

Trying to book hire cars in Oz with car seat, and trying to get right size. Web sites give option of 0-1 year old or 1-3 year old. DS will be 9mo, so had presumed would be the 0-1 size - then looked at one site that gave weights as well, with 0-1 being up to 20lbs/9kg and 1-3 being 9kg plus. DS was over 10kg when last weighed at 7 1/2m so presume I need bigger size, but chap on phone said it had to be based on age. Now hugely confused. Have been told that UK car seats not good enough so can't take our own .

Don't want to get to collect car after 24 hours on planes etc and find we've got the wrong size and can't fix it. Have visions of being stranded at airport or having a hysterical row with someone after no sleep!

wwhen we went to collect our hire car in oz the car seats were all against one wall and you could choose your own (we had no DC then so didn't have to worry).

If you've paid I can't imagine them quibbling about which one you have.

Its not that UK car seats are not good enough, they just don't have the equivalent to a UK kite mark so are therefore illegal. You can still take your seats but it is a risk if caught out either by the Police or in an accident.

When we've hired in OZ, the seats are lying out for you to look at and pick. On the times we have been we've been very lucky to have virtually brand new seats to pick.

I think you'll find the 0-1 car seat is fine and if it's not you won't have a problem changing it...

I don't know what your life has been like that you expect to have hysterical rows with people at airports but that sort of thing isn't really how it works in Australia most of the time at least... just be your usual nice self and it'll be fine. No-one is out to screw you over, I'm sure you'll find they're just there to help.