Any German residents - a question about car/driving law

[captainmummy]

I am coming over to cologne in the summer and hope to hire a car - my dh says that children under 12 need a car/booster seat, which of course the hire company make a bomb on. Is this right, or do they need one only in the front - my dc are 11 and 9.

taken from a webpage:

Children may be still taken up to completed 12 years if they are more smally than 150 cms only in a suitable children's support system

So, similar law to over here...

Thanks 3