Are Seat Belts Required in Classic Cars?

In Ontario and most Canadian jurisdictions, seat belts are mandatory. However, if your vehicle was imported or built before January 1, 1968, the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) doesn't require seat belts.
Under this rule, you won't be charged for not wearing a seat belt if your car is a 1967 model or older. However, some classic vehicles, like the 1966 Corvette, were equipped with seat belts, meaning owners had to follow seat belt standards. Drivers of older car models retrofitted with seat belts must also buckle up.
That said, you may be held liable if your pre-1968 vehicle with no seatbelts is involved in an accident or crash that caused injuries. The accident could also affect your insurance claims. Seat belts are mandatory because they save lives. They can help prevent death and minimize injuries in accidents and collisions.
In Ontario, seatbelt regulations include the following:
- Every person in your car, including passengers under 16, must have their working seat belt.
- You must secure children in an appropriate booster or child car seat.
Drivers should also keep the following pointers in mind before they go on the road:
- The belt should cross your chest and lower hips.
- Straighten the belt when it's twisted. Twisted seat belts won't protect you adequately.
- Don't put the shoulder strap behind your back and under your arm.
- If pregnant, sit upright and wear the lap and shoulder belt. Lower the lap belt so it is downward in your pelvic bones and not across your stomach.
Owning a classic car doesn't necessarily exempt you from seat belt-related accident liabilities. Be responsible by buckling up to protect yourself and others using the road.
Visit Diamond and Diamond today to know how we can help if you or a loved one was injured in a seat belt-related accident.