What Car? Q&A - What is ISOFIX all about?

Q: What are ISOFIX child seat anchor points?
Doug Watters

A: A seat which uses ISOFIX mounting points doesn't rely on the seatbelt to hold it in place.

Instead, a pair of metal clasps holds the seat a pair of anchor points at the base of the outboard rear seats. Some cars also have mounting points for the front passenger seat, although these should never be used for a rearward-facing infant carrier.

ISOFIX mountings were designed to make fitting a child seat simpler and quicker. In conventional seats, it's often easy to route a seatbelt in the wrong place or introduce a twist in the belt, both of which compromise the safety of the seat.

Not all ISOFIX seats are compatible with all cars, so check with the seat manufacturer about suitability (you'll find many 'fit-finder' programmes on their websites).

Also, many ISOFIX seats require you to use a third anchor point. These either take the form of a leg which extends down to the floor of the car, or a belt which reaches up over the back of the seat an anchor point in the boot.

So although ISOFIX was designed to make seats easier to fit, you'll still need to check compatibility and learn how to use them properly and safely.