We see this question a lot: can I use the seat belt that comes down from the ceiling/roof of my SUV to install my carseat? Sure! Of course, double-check the seat belt section of your carseat owner’s manual and the child seat section of your vehicle owner’s manual, but as of this writing, I haven’t come across any combinations that disallow it.
First you have to assemble it to make it a usable seat belt. When you pull it down from the ceiling—or, in the case of some sedans, down from the top of the back seat near the parcel shelf—you have 2 latchplates (the metal male end) which will make your lap/shoulder belt. The end latchplate is usually smaller, looks different, and gets buckled first on the same side from which the seat belt comes from the ceiling. Now you have your lap/shoulder belt and can use it like any other seat belt.
Pro tip:
To stow that seat belt out of the way, use its latchplate or a key to unbuckle it and retract it back into the ceiling. There will be a slot on the side of the smaller buckle which will pop the smaller latchplate out. After unbuckling it, let it retract and you’re ready to go!
I was in a taxi the other day on the way back from the shops with my dad as we had to pick up a few bits and pieces when it started raining.
We didn’t want to walk back so we called a taxi, and of course it was a van so we got in and i sat in the middle seat with my brother and dad next to me and of course it was a roof belt…
Of course it was an old van and beacuse it wad a taxi driver he didn’t give a **** about the fact it didn’t work so i didn’t wear one for the 1 mile drive and it felt so strange but i hate roof belts and i never wear them in taxis as they are never tight enough!
I wonder if there’s a way to report the van to the taxi authority? It’s tough when you’re in a hurry though.
Any tips for using a ceiling seat belt with a highback booster? I’m using mine in the middle row, middle seat of my 2014 Honda Odyssey with a Maxi-Cosi Rodifix booster. Because of the sharp angle at which the belt enters the shoulder guide, sometimes it doesn’t retract fully and there is slack in the belt. My son knows to pull his belt tight, but it makes me nervous…
Hello. It may mean using a different booster seat that has the belt guide oriented differently, though the Rodifix’s is pretty front-to-back. As long as your son keeps the belt tight, it may be a waiting game until he goes into a backless booster in that position.