Pram and pushchair guides

Picture this illustration, which is not a real person: a buyer collects a second-hand pram from a seller found online, pays by bank transfer, and weeks later comes to think it may have been stolen. Citizens Advice has a page for exactly this, and it is short and specific about the order of steps. This guide sets out what that page says (it applies to England), then adds the wording of two laws it points towards: the offence of handling stolen goods in section 22 of the Theft Act 1968, and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 terms about a trader’s right to sell. It is general information, not legal advice.

The first instruction

Citizens Advice begins with reassurance: a buyer who bought something previously stolen “shouldn’t get into trouble” if they did not know it was stolen when they bought it. It then says that as soon as a buyer thinks the item is stolen, the buyer needs to call the police on 101 or take the item to a local police station, and that the police will try to return it to its original owner.

Why not hand it back to the seller?

The same page says the buyer should not keep the item or return it to the seller personally, because that might be considered “handling stolen goods”, which is illegal. The offence is defined in section 22 of the Theft Act 1968. Under the wording on legislation.gov.uk, a person handles stolen goods if, knowing or believing them to be stolen, they dishonestly receive the goods, or dishonestly undertake or assist in their retention, removal, disposal or realisation by or for the benefit of another person, or arrange to do so. The section as read contains two tests: knowing or believing the goods to be stolen, and dishonesty. Neither source applies those tests to a particular pram.

Asking for the money back

Citizens Advice says to ask the seller for a refund as soon as possible. When the item is handed in, the police give a crime reference number and a property log number. The page says to show these to the seller, together with the receipt or other proof of purchase, and gives a bank statement as an example of proof.

It says the buyer has the legal right to a full refund from the seller, even if it has been a while since the purchase and the buyer has only just realised the item is stolen. Its sample wording says the police have confirmed the item was stolen and cites entitlement to a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

What the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says

The Act’s chapter on goods applies, under section 3, to a contract for a trader to supply goods to a consumer. Section 17(1) treats every such contract, in the case of a sale, as including a term that the trader must have the right to sell or transfer the goods when ownership is to pass. There is an exception in section 17(4) where the contract shows, or the circumstances imply, that the trader and the consumer intend the trader to transfer only whatever title the trader has, even if limited. Under section 19(6), if the trader breaches the section 17(1) term, the consumer has a right to reject; section 20 sets out when that is available.

The Citizens Advice page does not discuss who the seller must be. These provisions are written for a trader supplying a consumer, so whether the person who sold the pram was a trader matters, and a page about private sales would be the place to look.

If the seller refuses

Citizens Advice gives a short ladder. A buyer who paid by debit or credit card may be able to get the money back through the bank if the seller refuses. Beyond that, it suggests trying alternative dispute resolution, in which an independent person looks at the problem to try to find a solution. If that is not an option, a court claim is possible, and it says a court will usually expect alternative dispute resolution to have been tried first. A court fee is payable and may be claimed back on winning, though a winning claimant might have to pay further costs before actually receiving the money, and Citizens Advice says to think about legal advice before taking legal action.

What the pages leave open

• Where the seller is a private individual rather than a trader, or cannot be traced, the Citizens Advice page does not say what happens.
• It describes England; the page points to separate advice for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
• It does not say what the police will decide about a particular item once handed in.

The bottom line

Per Citizens Advice (England), a buyer who did not know an item was stolen should not get into trouble, should call 101 or take it to a police station as soon as stolen goods are suspected, should not return it to the seller personally, and then asks the seller for a full refund using the crime reference and property log numbers. The Act’s trader terms are written for a trader supplying a consumer, and the page does not cover private sellers or the other nations of the UK.

Sources

• If you think you’ve bought stolen goods, Citizens Advice (advice applies to England), page undated, read 9 November 2026 (citizensadvice.org.uk)
• Theft Act 1968, section 22: Handling stolen goods, legislation.gov.uk, up to date to 9 November 2026, read 9 November 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 3, 17 and 19, legislation.gov.uk, up to date to 9 November 2026, read 9 November 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)

A pushchair page that says “eco-friendly”, “made from recycled bottles” or “a greener choice” is making what the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) calls an environmental claim. This guide goes through five common assumptions about such claims and answers each from the CMA’s Green Claims Code (published 20 September 2021) and its explainer on responsibility across the supply chain (published 22 January 2026). Neither document mentions prams or pushchairs; they cover goods and services generally, and the CMA says its guidance applies to businesses across the whole of the UK.

“Eco-friendly is just a friendly word”

The Code says broader, more general or absolute claims are much more likely to be inaccurate and to mislead. Terms such as ‘green’, ‘sustainable’ or ‘eco-friendly’, especially if used without explanation, are likely to be seen as suggesting a positive environmental impact, or at least no adverse impact, and unless a business can prove that, it risks falling short of its legal obligations.

It also points out that a claim of ‘environmentally friendly’ may refer to many aspects, such as air, soil and water, packaging, components, production, use and disposal, and says a high level of strong evidence is likely to be required to substantiate such a claim.

“Recycled means some of it is recycled”

According to the Code, claiming a product contains recycled content when it does not is always liable to mislead consumers. One of the fictional examples in the 2026 explainer involves a retailer that claimed all its tents were “made from recycled polyester” when not all contained recycled content and none contained above 50%. The CMA says businesses should be able to back up environmental claims with evidence, and in that example it would be more likely to act against the retailer that made the claim and had no internal process for verifying it.

Another example, in the Code, concerns a product labelled ‘recyclable’ where only the packaging could be recycled. The Code says the claim is likely to mislead people into thinking the whole product can be recycled, and is less likely to mislead if it is made clear that only the packaging is recyclable.

“If one detail is true, the claim is safe”

The Code says claims can also mislead where what they say is factually correct, if the impression given about the environmental impact, cost or benefit is deceptive. It lists the colours, pictures and logos used, and any information left out or hidden, among the aspects that may be relevant, and it warns that cherry-picking beneficial aspects and highlighting them risks misleading consumers, particularly if other aspects have a greater negative impact.

Where a claim needs further explanation, caveats or conditions should be disclosed prominently and close to the main claim; the more they are hidden in small print, the more likely consumers are to be misled.

“Only the brand answers for the claim, not the shop”

The Code says retailers who sell products carrying misleading environmental claims made by manufacturers or wholesalers on their packaging can be liable for those claims, as well as the manufacturer or wholesaler, and that retailers should assure themselves that the claims are accurate. The 2026 explainer adds that a business may be deemed to be repeating an environmental claim where it stocks a product, so the manufacturer and the retailer may both be liable for an unfair commercial practice.

It also says that, where the CMA is pursuing civil enforcement, an “innocent” or unwitting breach is still a breach, and that arguing the business took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence is not a defence in civil actions. The CMA says that in deciding whom to investigate it considers which business made the claim, and that it may look at the retailer, brand, manufacturer or another business in the supply chain.

“Nothing happens if a green claim is wrong”

The 2026 explainer states that under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which came into effect in April 2025, the CMA can decide whether consumer protection laws have been infringed, give directions on a business’s conduct and order redress to be paid to affected consumers, and can fine businesses without taking them to court. The 2021 Code was written earlier and refers to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Code adds that consumers may also bring legal proceedings or seek redress in the courts for certain breaches of consumer protection law.

The Code is not legal advice and is not exhaustive; whether a claim breaks the law depends on the circumstances, including the effects on the decisions consumers are likely to make, and the courts give the definitive interpretation.

The bottom line

On the CMA’s published guidance, a vague claim such as “eco-friendly” on a pram page needs strong evidence, a recycled claim must be true, a true detail does not make a misleading overall impression safe, and a retailer can be liable for a claim a manufacturer made. The CMA’s powers to fine and order redress under the 2024 Act came into effect in April 2025. These are the CMA’s own statements of how it reads the law, not a ruling on any particular pram or retailer.

Sources

• Making environmental claims on goods and services (Green Claims Code), Competition and Markets Authority, published 20 September 2021, read 8 November 2026 (gov.uk)
• Green claims code: making environmental claims (publication page and checklist), Competition and Markets Authority, published 20 September 2021, read 8 November 2026 (gov.uk)
• Making green claims: Getting it right, across the supply chain, Competition and Markets Authority, published 22 January 2026, read 8 November 2026 (gov.uk)

This guide follows a pushchair from the airport security checkpoint to the aircraft, using pages published by two English airports: Heathrow’s “Travelling with children” page and five pages from Manchester Airport’s website. Only the Manchester security guide shows a date (last updated April 2026); the other pages read show no date. The two airports word things differently and the Manchester pages do not all agree, so each is reported separately. The pages are the airports’ own and are not the rules of any airline, which this guide does not cover.

The airline decides first

Manchester Airport’s security guide says that with a pram, buggy or pushchair there are different rules and processes depending on the airline. A passenger might be asked to check it in with hold luggage or at the departure gate, or might be allowed to take it through security and keep it until boarding. The airport says it strongly recommends contacting the airline in advance. Heathrow’s page lists checking the airline’s rules for buggies, car seats and baby bags among things to do before leaving home, and says that most airlines let passengers use a pushchair in the terminal and take it to the gate.

At the checkpoint

Heathrow says pushchairs, car seats and baby carriers must go through security checks, and that pushchairs will usually need to be folded before they are screened. Its checklist before reaching the checkpoint begins with being ready to fold the pushchair. The page adds that children who can walk on their own may go through the scanner on their own, and that a child who cannot walk can be carried through.

Manchester’s guide says that if the airline allows the pushchair to be kept until boarding, a member of staff at security will direct the passenger to a queue, and an “assisted” lane may be available if it is not too busy. A Manchester blog post of tips for young children (undated) says pushchairs, buggies and other children’s travel items may need additional screening, so it recommends allowing extra time and keeping essential items easy to access.

Which lane? Manchester’s pages give two answers

Manchester’s FastTrack page answers the question “Can I use Security FastTrack if I’m travelling with a pushchair?” with “Yes”: passengers with infants under three years old, pushchairs or car seats can use Security FastTrack provided the rest of the party has bought it, and infants under three travel through the lane free and need no separate booking.

The booking terms and conditions say the opposite. Clause 8.8 reads that, “due to regulatory restrictions”, FastTrack or FastTrack Plus cannot be provided to customers travelling with child transport accessories, including pushchairs, prams and car seats, and that such customers will be directed to the Assistance Lanes. The terms cover bookings on the Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands websites, and the page shows no date of the terms. Neither page says which governs, so a passenger would need to confirm with the airport before paying.

The TimeSlot page, which concerns a different product, says it is not suitable for those travelling with pushchairs or car seats, or for infants under three years old, who are instead automatically directed to the Assistance Lane and need no TimeSlot booking.

Heathrow’s Fast Track

Heathrow describes Fast Track as a dedicated security lane that some families find useful when travelling with young children, buggies or several bags. It says Fast Track must be booked in advance and that spaces depend on the terminal and time of day. The page read does not say that pushchairs are excluded from Fast Track.

At the gate and after landing

Heathrow’s page says a pushchair taken to the gate will usually go into the aircraft hold when boarding, and that where it is returned depends on the airline: it may be at the aircraft or at baggage reclaim. It advises checking with the airline before travelling. The Manchester pages read do not say where a pushchair is returned.

Asking for help

Heathrow describes a “Meet and Assist” service in which a trained host guides passengers through the airport, and says it can be useful when travelling alone with children or with a buggy and several bags. Manchester’s routes to help are the staff at security and the assisted lane described above.

The bottom line

On Heathrow’s page, a pushchair will usually need to be folded to be screened, most airlines let it be used up to the gate, and the airline decides where it is returned. On Manchester’s security guide (April 2026), whether the pushchair stays with the passenger to the gate or goes into the hold depends on the airline, and an assisted lane may be available if it is not too busy. Manchester’s FastTrack page and its booking terms disagree on whether pushchairs can use FastTrack, so the position should be checked with the airport and the airline before paying for a lane.

Sources

• Travelling with children, Heathrow, page undated, read 7 November 2026 (heathrow.com)
• Guide to going through Security, Manchester Airport, last updated April 2026, read 7 November 2026 (manchesterairport.co.uk)
• Security FastTrack at Manchester Airport, Manchester Airport, page undated, read 7 November 2026 (manchesterairport.co.uk)
• TimeSlot, Manchester Airport, page undated, read 7 November 2026 (manchesterairport.co.uk)
• Security FastTrack Booking Terms and Conditions (MAG Security FastTrack, FastTrack Plus and TimeSlot), Manchester Airport, no date of terms shown, read 7 November 2026 (manchesterairport.co.uk)
• Travelling with Young Children, Manchester Airport blog, page undated, read 7 November 2026 (manchesterairport.co.uk)

Eurostar carries pushchairs, but it says so in several places, and the wording is not identical. This guide reads Eurostar’s own pages on 6 November 2026: its luggage allowance page, its help centre answer, its pages on travelling with babies and with children, and its conditions of carriage (“Version as of 18 July 2025”). The other pages are undated, the children page and the conditions were read on Eurostar’s US English edition, and the help centre answer on its Belgian English edition. Eurostar’s conditions are set out separately for services to and from London and for services between Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany, and the arrangements can differ between them. Fares, passports and the child ticket rules are not covered. General information, not legal advice.

The luggage page

The luggage page says a standard ticket allows 2 pieces of luggage and 1 small item of hand luggage, and that “folded pushchairs and prams are welcome too”, to be folded down and put in the luggage rack for the journey. Its table for Eurostar Standard, Plus and Premier lists pushchairs and prams separately from bags and gives the same entry for each class: travel for free, and the pushchair must be folded when stored. A later passage repeats that pushchairs and prams are allowed free of charge if folded before boarding and stored in the luggage rack.

The help centre answer

The help centre has an answer about taking a pushchair, pram or buggy on Eurostar, which begins “Of course”. It says a folding pushchair, pram or buggy can be taken for free in addition to the individual luggage allowance. This answer says folding but does not repeat the instruction to store the pushchair in a rack.

The babies and children pages

The page on travelling with babies and toddlers says pushchairs or strollers can be brought on board, but must be folded before boarding and stored in the luggage racks during the journey. In another passage it says that, in addition to the luggage allowance, a pushchair can “usually” be brought free of charge, folded before boarding and stored in one of the baggage racks near the seat. It adds that a compact, easy-fold pushchair can make things easier when moving through stations, especially when travelling alone with a baby or juggling bags.

The children page uses firmer wording: in addition to the luggage allowance, a pushchair can be taken on board free of charge, folded before boarding and stored in one of the baggage racks near the seat.

The conditions of carriage: London routes

The conditions for Eurostar’s London routes are the contract wording rather than a help page. They say a passenger may take one pushchair and one car seat per child on board at no extra cost and in addition to the individual allowance. These must be stored in the luggage racks in the carriage where the passenger is seated, and any pushchair must be folded for storage. The London conditions are the only ones read that name the car seat in the same sentence.

The conditions of carriage: Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany

For services between those countries, the conditions say a passenger travelling with a child may bring one pushchair on board in addition to the three authorised pieces of luggage, as long as the pushchair is folded before boarding and properly placed in one of the storage areas in the car where the passenger has booked a seat. The conditions describe those three pieces as two pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage, with a size given for the larger pieces.

Help at the station

The babies page says Eurostar does not offer priority boarding or dedicated family lanes for all families travelling with children, but that assistance is available in certain circumstances. It says that for someone travelling alone with a young child who would benefit from extra support, the assistance team may be able to help through the station and with boarding, and it recommends booking at least 24 hours before travel. Staff can also be asked for a hand on the day, and the page says they will do their best to help where they can.

What the pages agree on and where they differ

• Agree: a pushchair travels free in addition to the luggage allowance, and it has to be folded.
• Where stored: the luggage page says the luggage rack; the babies and children pages say a baggage rack near the seat; the London conditions say the racks in the carriage where the passenger is seated; the other conditions say a storage area in the car where the seat is booked.
• How many: only the two sets of conditions say “one” pushchair; the pages say “a” or “your” pushchair.
• Size: the size limits on the luggage page are for bags; none of the pages read gives a size limit for a pushchair.

The bottom line

Eurostar’s pages say a folded pushchair can be taken free in addition to the luggage allowance and must be stored in a rack or storage area. Its conditions of carriage say one pushchair, with a car seat as well on London routes, and the babies page says “usually”. The pages word differently where it is stored, and none gives a size limit for a pushchair. The conditions read are dated 18 July 2025 and the other pages are undated, so the arrangements for a particular route and date may differ.

Sources

• Eurostar luggage allowance: size, weight and baggage rules, Eurostar, page undated, read 6 November 2026 (eurostar.com)
• Can I take a pushchair, pram or buggy with me on Eurostar?, Eurostar Help Centre, page undated, read 6 November 2026 (help.eurostar.com)
• Travelling with babies and toddlers on Eurostar, Eurostar, page undated, read 6 November 2026 (eurostar.com)
• Travelling with children, Eurostar, page undated, read 6 November 2026 (eurostar.com)
• Conditions of carriage, Eurostar, version as of 18 July 2025, read 6 November 2026 (eurostar.com)

Illustration only, not a real case: a pushchair’s folding latch gives way during ordinary use and the child in the seat is injured. A separate statute can apply to a defective product that causes injury or damage. This guide reads Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, current text on legislation.gov.uk, which shows it extending to the whole of the UK) and section 11A of the Limitation Act 1980, on 5 November 2026. Neither mentions prams or pushchairs, so the examples here are illustrations of how the wording works. Remedies for a faulty product under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 are not covered. General information, not legal advice.

Who can be held liable

Section 2 says that where damage is caused wholly or partly by a defect in a product, the following are liable for it:

• the producer of the product;
• anyone who, by putting a name or trade mark on the product, has held himself out to be the producer; and
• anyone who imported the product into the United Kingdom in order, in the course of business, to supply it to another.

A shop that only sold the product is not named in that list. Section 2(3) makes a supplier liable if three conditions are met: the injured person asked the supplier to identify one or more of the persons above; the request was made within a reasonable period after the damage and at a time when the person asking could not reasonably identify them all; and the supplier failed, within a reasonable period, either to comply or to name whoever supplied the product to it. Where more than one person is liable for the same damage, liability is joint and several, and section 2(6) leaves other liability untouched.

What counts as a “defect”

Under section 3, a product is defective if its safety is not such as persons generally are entitled to expect. All the circumstances are taken into account, and the section names three:

• how and for what purposes the product was marketed, its get-up, any mark on it, and any instructions or warnings about doing or not doing something with it;
• what might reasonably be expected to be done with it; and
• the time when the producer supplied it to another.

The section adds that a defect is not to be inferred from the fact alone that a product supplied later has greater safety. For a pram, instructions and warnings, such as those in a manual or on a label, would be among the circumstances the section mentions; the statute does not say what weight any particular warning carries.

What kind of damage is covered

Section 5 defines damage as death or personal injury, or loss of or damage to any property including land, with limits:

• no liability for damage to the defective product itself, or to a product supplied with it that has the defective product built in;
• no liability for property that is not ordinarily intended for private use, occupation or consumption, or that the person suffering the loss did not intend mainly for private use; and
• no damages for loss of or damage to property if the amount, apart from interest, does not exceed £275.

Defences the Act lists

Section 4 gives six defences. They include that the defect is attributable to compliance with a requirement under an enactment; that the person proceeded against never supplied the product to another; that the defect did not exist at the relevant time; and that the state of scientific and technical knowledge at the relevant time was not such that a producer of products of that description might be expected to have discovered it. Another covers a component defect wholly attributable to the design of the product it was built into or to that maker’s instructions. A further defence covers a supply made otherwise than in the course of the person’s business, where section 2(2) does not apply to that person or applies only because of things done otherwise than with a view to profit. The “relevant time” is, for a producer, importer or own-brander, the time it supplied the product to another.

Small print cannot take the right away

Section 7 says liability under Part 1 to a person who has suffered damage, or to a dependant or relative of that person, cannot be limited or excluded by any contract term, notice or other provision. A line in a manual or in a shop’s terms that purports to do so does not limit this statute, according to that section.

The clock: three years and ten years

Section 11A of the Limitation Act 1980 applies to actions for damages under Part 1. For personal injury or property damage, an action may not be brought after three years from the later of the date the cause of action accrued and the date of knowledge of the injured person (for property, of the claimant). Separately, no action may be brought after ten years from the relevant time, and that ten-year period extinguishes the right of action whether or not it had accrued. The definition of “date of knowledge” sits in another section, which was not read. The extent shown on legislation.gov.uk for the Limitation Act 1980 is England, Wales and Northern Ireland; the time limit in Scotland was not read.

The bottom line

Part 1 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 makes the producer, an own-brander and an importer liable for damage caused wholly or partly by a defect, meaning safety not such as persons generally are entitled to expect, and makes a supplier liable if the three conditions in section 2(3) are met, including a failure to identify them when asked within a reasonable period. It covers death, personal injury and certain property loss, with a £275 floor on property claims, lists six defences, and says contract terms and notices cannot exclude the liability. Section 11A of the Limitation Act 1980 sets three-year and ten-year limits for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while the Scottish position was not read. Neither statute names prams, and other routes, such as remedies under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, are separate.

Sources

• Consumer Protection Act 1987, Part 1 (Product Liability), sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, current revised text, read 5 November 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Limitation Act 1980, section 11A (Actions in respect of defective products), current revised text, read 5 November 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)

What has to be declared at the UK border when a pram or pushchair bought abroad is carried home? This guide reads two GOV.UK pages on 4 November 2026, one on bringing goods into the UK for personal use and one on the simplified rates used by the online declaration service. They apply to goods a traveller brings in personally, and say nothing specific about prams or pushchairs. General information, not tax advice.

The allowance for other goods

GOV.UK says personal allowance rules apply to any goods bought overseas and brought into the UK, wherever they were bought, including a duty-free shop or an ordinary high street. For goods other than alcohol, tobacco and vaping products arriving in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), the page says a traveller can bring in other goods worth up to £390, or up to £270 when arriving by private plane or boat. The page says a traveller bringing goods in must transport them personally and must use them or give them away as a gift, and that an allowance cannot be combined with anyone else’s.

An illustration, not a real purchase: a pram bought abroad for £450 is above the £390 allowance by itself. GOV.UK says that when an allowance is exceeded, tax and duty are paid on the total value of the goods, not just the value above the allowance. In this illustration the figure that matters is therefore the whole £450, not the £60 over the limit.

What the traveller pays when over the allowance

The page says a traveller who goes over an allowance must declare the goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category, and that import VAT may be due on the total value of the goods plus duty, at the current UK VAT rate. Duty may be due too: the page says customs duty may be payable if the allowance is exceeded.

The simplified rates page, updated 8 October 2026, explains how the online service calculates duty. It names categories with their own simplified customs rates, such as clothing, footwear and furniture, and lists children’s car seats at 0%. Prams and pushchairs are not named in the table. The page says goods that fall into none of the listed categories use the “all other goods” option, which shows a simplified customs rate of 2%. It also says that using the online service means choosing not to use the customs tariff rates, and that someone who thinks the service does not give the best overall outcome can make an oral declaration to Border Force on arrival, in which case the customs tariff rates apply to all the goods declared. The pages read do not give the tariff rate for a pram, so a traveller needing a figure has to check the tariff.

Declaring: when and how

• Goods can be declared online from 5 days (120 hours) before arrival in the UK, and tax and duty can be paid at the same time.
• The online service asks for the exact price in the currency paid, the quantity, the arrival date and time, and passport details; goods from the EU also need the country where they were made.
• After declaring, the traveller can use the green “nothing to declare” channel, and customs officials may ask for the receipt or reference number.
• Declaring can also be done at the border using the red channel or red-point phone, for example for goods not declared online.
• Goods may be seized if the rules are broken, and the page says a traveller may also be fined or prosecuted.

By journey: Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Arriving in	What GOV.UK says about goods other than alcohol and tobacco
Great Britain, from anywhere abroad	Up to £390 of other goods (£270 by private plane or boat); over that, tax and duty on the total value.
Northern Ireland, from an EU country	No need to declare or pay tax or duty if the goods are transported by the traveller, are for own use or a gift, and tax and duty were paid where bought. Goods from the Canary Islands, the north of Cyprus, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands follow the rules for countries outside the EU.
Northern Ireland, from outside the EU	Up to £390 of other goods (£270 by private plane or boat); over that, tax and duty on the total value.

A separate part of the page covers travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is not covered here.

Goods made in the EU, and goods for sale

For travellers arriving in Great Britain from an EU country, the page says a zero rate of customs duty can be claimed on an item grown or made in the EU using only EU ingredients or materials and bought in the EU, with evidence for each item, which the traveller must be able to show if a Border Force officer asks. The zero rate is for customs duty. The page also says commercial goods must be declared and that there are no personal allowances for goods brought in to sell or use in a business.

If too much was paid

GOV.UK says form C82 is used to apply for a refund of tax or duty paid in excess, and the HMRC helpline can help when the online service cannot be used.

The bottom line

GOV.UK says other goods bought overseas and carried in by the traveller can come into Great Britain without UK tax or duty up to £390 in total (£270 by private plane or boat), and that going over the allowance means tax and duty on the total value, not only the excess. For Northern Ireland, the page describes no £390 limit for arrivals from the EU, where goods need not be declared if its conditions are met, and the same £390 limit for arrivals from outside the EU. The pages read do not name prams or pushchairs or give a tariff rate for them, and they describe goods the traveller transports personally, not goods sent by post or courier.

Sources

• Bringing goods into the UK for personal use, GOV.UK (HMRC), public update 8 November 2024, read 4 November 2026 (gov.uk)
• Simplified rates for bringing personal goods into the UK, GOV.UK (HMRC), public update 8 October 2026, read 4 November 2026 (gov.uk)

For a family whose pushchair came with an infant car seat, the question in the car is which child car seat rules apply. This guide reads two official pages on 3 November 2026: the GOV.UK page “Child car seats: the law” (the GOV.UK content record shows a public update of 1 April 2015) and rules 99 to 102 of the Highway Code (public update 14 September 2021, on GOV.UK). Neither page mentions pushchairs, prams or travel systems, so they are read here as general rules on child car seats. General information, not legal advice.

Which seat counts: the labels

GOV.UK says children must normally use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first, and that the seat can be chosen by height or by weight.

• Height-based seats must be rear facing until the child is over 15 months old, and approved seats carry a capital E in a circle and “R129”.
• Weight-based seats carry a capital E in a circle and “ECE R44”. For 0 kg to 10 kg (group 0) the page lists a lie-flat or lateral baby carrier, a rear-facing baby carrier or a rear-facing baby seat using a harness. For 0 kg to 13 kg (group 0+) it lists a rear-facing baby carrier or rear-facing baby seat using a harness.

GOV.UK says only approved seats of each type can be used in the UK. The Highway Code, in rule 100, says a child under 1.35 metres tall must use a baby seat, child seat, booster seat or booster cushion suitable for the child’s weight and fitted to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fitting: belts, ISOFIX and side-facing seats

GOV.UK says a child car seat must only be used if the car’s seat belt has a diagonal strap, unless the seat is designed for use with a lap belt or is fitted using ISOFIX anchor points. It also says a child car seat must not be fitted in side-facing seats.

The front seat and the airbag, worded two ways

• GOV.UK: deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat.
• Highway Code, rule 101: a rear-facing baby seat must not be fitted into a seat protected by an active frontal airbag.

The two pages word the point differently, and neither says anything about a particular car or seat.

Taxis and private hire vehicles

GOV.UK says that if a taxi or minicab driver does not provide the correct child car seat, children can travel without one, but only on a rear seat, wearing an adult seat belt if aged 3 or older and without a seat belt if under 3. The Highway Code table for a child under 3 says the correct restraint must be used and that, if one is not available in a taxi, the child may travel unrestrained. For a child from the 3rd birthday up to 1.35 metres, it says an adult belt must be used if the correct restraint is not available in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle.

Minibuses, coaches and vans

GOV.UK says minibus or coach drivers and companies do not have to provide child car seats and that a family must bring its own to be sure a child has one. On coaches, children can travel without a car seat or seat belt if none is available. In minibuses, all children must travel in rear seats, meaning any seats behind the driver, if a car seat or adult belt is not fitted. The rules for vans are the same as for cars.

Unexpected journeys and a crowded back seat

GOV.UK says a child aged 3 or older can use an adult belt when the correct seat is not available if the journey is unexpected, necessary and over a short distance. A child under 3 cannot be taken on such a journey without the correct seat unless it is a licensed taxi or minicab and the child sits on a rear seat without a belt. If there is no room for a third child car seat in the back, the page says a child under 3 must travel in the front seat with the correct child car seat, while a child aged 3 or older can sit in the back using an adult belt. The Highway Code table gives similar exceptions in its own words, including a case where two occupied restraints prevent fitting a third.

What the two pages do not settle

• Whether a given infant seat fits a given pushchair frame, or which adapters are needed. Neither page mentions pushchairs.
• Which car seat suits a given car, a point on which GOV.UK refers readers to the Child Car Seats website.
• Whether a seat is still suitable once it is old or has been used before. Neither page covers this.

The Highway Code says the restraint must be fitted to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The bottom line

GOV.UK says children must normally use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first, and the Highway Code says a child under 1.35 metres must use a restraint suited to the child’s weight, fitted to the manufacturer’s instructions. Both pages mention the rear-facing seat and the active frontal airbag, with different wording. The taxi, minibus and unexpected-journey exceptions are described in more detail on GOV.UK than in the Highway Code table. Neither page mentions pushchairs or travel systems, so the pushchair side of a travel system is outside what they cover.

Sources

• Child car seats: the law, GOV.UK, public update 1 April 2015 per the GOV.UK content record, read 3 November 2026 (gov.uk)
• The Highway Code: rules for drivers and motorcyclists (89 to 102), GOV.UK, public update 14 September 2021, read 3 November 2026 (gov.uk)

This guide sets out what two bus operators say on their own help pages: the page headed “Bus accessibility” in the West Yorkshire section of the First Bus website, and two answers on the Arriva Bus Help Portal for the Midlands. Both were read on 2 November 2026 and show no date. Other First Bus areas and other Arriva regions were not read, so their wording may differ. Conditions can change, so it is worth checking the operator’s current page before travelling. General information, not legal advice.

Getting on and off a First bus

First Bus describes a method for a bus it calls “buggy friendly”. The page says to lean the buggy onto its rear wheels, move forward and lower the front wheels onto the bus, and that the driver can be asked to lower the step. It says not to try boarding while the step is lowering, because the buggy’s wheels could be trapped between the step and the kerb. For leaving, the page says to wait for the bus to stop completely, to check it is not lowering, and to lean the buggy back slightly on its rear wheels until they reach the edge of the step before lowering it.

What First asks for on board

• The buggy should be in the special “buggy zone”.
• The brakes should be applied and the buggy held at all times.
• Neither child nor buggy should be left unattended.
• Shopping and other bags should not be hung on the buggy, because it could tip over.

The page also says space for buggies is limited, that it can vary with the bus, the number of pushchairs and their size, and that if buggies are already on board the driver may ask for yours to be folded. It asks passengers not to block aisles or exits.

Arriva in the Midlands: up to two, first come first served

An Arriva Midlands help answer says its easy access buses can accommodate, on a first come, first served basis, up to 2 prams, pushchairs or buggies. It adds that if the bus is busy, a passenger may be asked to fold the pushchair up or may not be allowed to bring it aboard.

A separate answer covers a child in a disabled pushchair. It says disabled pushchairs are allowed on the bus at all times, but that this may not be possible if the designated area is already occupied, and that drivers will try their best to accommodate all passengers.

The two pages side by side

Point	First Bus (West Yorkshire page)	Arriva (Midlands help portal)
Space	Limited; varies by bus, number and size of pushchairs	Up to 2, first come first served
Folding	Driver may ask if buggies are already on board	May be asked if the bus is busy
Refusal	Not stated on the page read	May not be allowed aboard if busy
Wheelchair space	May be used only if not needed by a wheelchair user	Not addressed in the two answers read

When a wheelchair user needs the space

First Bus says wheelchair users have priority over everyone else for the designated wheelchair space, giving as its reason that it is the only place in which they can travel safely. It says a buggy may use the space only if a wheelchair user does not need it. Where a pushchair or buggy is in the space, the page says the driver will ask for it to be repositioned, moved to another part of the bus, or folded and stored in the luggage space where available.

The page then goes a step further than asking. If passengers do not respond without good reason and the bus is not full, it says the driver will advise them that they are required to move from the wheelchair space, and that the driver will consider other action such as not setting off from the stop until the situation is resolved.

What the Supreme Court said about asking

The judgment in FirstGroup plc v Paulley [2017] UKSC 4 concerned FirstGroup’s policy at the time. It records that the claim was that FirstGroup had failed to make “reasonable adjustments” to its policies, contrary to section 29(2) of the Equality Act 2010. In paragraph 66, Lord Neuberger, with whom Lord Reed agreed, wrote that it was not enough for FirstGroup to instruct its drivers simply to request non-wheelchair users to vacate the space and to do nothing further if the request was rejected. The judgment contains several separate opinions, and this guide does not summarise the others. The point here is only that the First Bus page describes a further step after a request is not acted on.

The bottom line

The two pages read describe different arrangements. First Bus’s West Yorkshire page gives boarding steps, a buggy zone, a reminder to apply the brakes and not to hang bags on the buggy, and a wheelchair-space policy in which the driver may require a move. Arriva’s Midlands help portal says up to 2 prams are carried on a first come, first served basis, with folding or refusal possible on a busy bus. The pages read do not say how either policy works in other regions, so arrangements can differ by operator and area. For a specific route, the operator’s own page or customer service is the place to check.

Sources

• Bus accessibility, Buggies and Pushchairs, First Bus (West Yorkshire section), page undated, read 2 November 2026 (firstbus.co.uk)
• Can I take a pram on the bus?, Arriva Bus Help Portal, Midlands, page undated, read 2 November 2026 (help.arrivabus.co.uk)
• Can I get on Arriva buses with my child in a disabled pushchair?, Arriva Bus Help Portal, Midlands, page undated, read 2 November 2026 (help.arrivabus.co.uk)
• FirstGroup Plc v Paulley [2017] UKSC 4, UK Supreme Court judgment, read 2 November 2026 (caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk)

Some pram retailers offer to spread the cost in instalments, and one form of this is hire purchase: the buyer pays by instalments and does not own the item until the agreement has been paid off. Two sources, read on 1 November 2026, answer it: the Citizens Advice page on cancelling something bought on hire purchase (the England version, undated) and sections 99 and 100 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 as published on legislation.gov.uk. Neither source mentions prams, so this is general information on hire purchase applied to a pushchair purchase, not legal advice.

What Citizens Advice means by hire purchase

Citizens Advice describes hire purchase as a type of borrowing where the buyer agrees to pay instalments on an item but does not own it until the agreement is paid off. It adds that if the agreement says the buyer must buy the item at the end of the period, this is called a conditional sale. Its page says hire purchase is often used for cars, furniture or white goods.

Buy now pay later is a separate subject, covered in the guide to buying a pram with buy now pay later. Paying by card has its own protections, set out in the guide to Section 75 and chargeback.

The first 14 days

Citizens Advice says there are very limited circumstances in which the item can be returned for a full refund. The buyer must have signed up within the last 14 days, and in one of four ways: online, by phone, in the buyer’s home or by mail order. In that case the buyer is within a cooling-off period and can cancel without charge by contacting the company.

Ending the agreement later

Outside the cooling-off period, Citizens Advice says an item being paid off through hire purchase can be cancelled and returned at any time, but money may still be owed to the company it was bought from.

Section 99(1) of the 1974 Act gives the legal footing. It says that at any time before the final payment falls due under a regulated hire-purchase or regulated conditional sale agreement, the debtor is entitled to terminate the agreement by giving notice to any person entitled or authorised to receive the sums payable. Section 99(2) says that ending the agreement does not affect any liability under it that accrued before termination. The wording refers to regulated agreements, and neither source says whether a particular retailer’s pram finance is one, so the agreement itself is the place to check.

The “half” rule and how the two sources word it

Citizens Advice puts the rule in plain terms. If less than half of the item has been paid off, the buyer legally only has to pay half the cost of the item minus what has already been paid in instalments. If half or more has been paid off, the buyer legally does not have to pay any more.

Section 100(1) is worded more precisely. Unless the agreement provides for a smaller payment, or for no payment, the debtor is liable to pay the amount, if any, by which one-half of the total price exceeds the aggregate of the sums paid and the sums due in respect of the total price immediately before the termination. The Act counts instalments already due as well as those paid, a detail Citizens Advice’s summary does not spell out.

Illustration only, with invented figures: take a pram on finance with a total price of £600 and £100 paid or due when the agreement ends. Half of the total price is £300, so the amount at stake under section 100(1) would be £200, unless the agreement provides for a smaller sum. If £300 or more had been paid or due, the formula would leave nothing further to pay. This is arithmetic on the section’s wording, not a quote from either source.

Three further wrinkles in section 100

• Section 100(3) lets a court order a smaller sum in place of the section 100(1) amount if it is satisfied that a lower sum would equal the creditor’s loss from the termination.
• Section 100(4) increases the amount if the debtor has contravened an obligation to take reasonable care of the goods.
• Section 100(5) deals with a debtor who wrongfully keeps the goods after termination. In a creditor’s action to recover them, the court, unless it is satisfied that it would not be just in the circumstances, shall order delivery to the creditor without giving the debtor an option to pay the value of the goods.

If payments are being missed

Citizens Advice says a buyer who is struggling should speak to the organisations owed money, which might allow smaller payments or a break, and should not ignore bills or letters. It says a buyer who has missed payments but wants to keep the item should contact the company and ask for a repayment plan, which would mean paying smaller amounts over a longer period. It also says the finance company should keep the buyer up to date about its plans for repossessing the goods, and that a buyer who feels it has not done so can complain to an ombudsman. For disputes about how much is owed, it points to the Citizens Advice consumer service.

The bottom line

Citizens Advice and the Consumer Credit Act 1974 both say a hire purchase agreement can be ended before the final payment, and both tie what may be owed to half of the total price. Citizens Advice describes the first 14 days as a cooling-off period for agreements signed online, by phone, at home or by mail order. Section 100 adds that the agreement can provide for a smaller payment, that a court can order a lower sum, and that failing to take reasonable care of the goods can increase the amount. Neither page says whether a particular pram finance deal is a regulated agreement.

Sources

• Cancel something you bought on hire purchase, Citizens Advice (England version), page undated, read 1 November 2026 (citizensadvice.org.uk)
• Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 99, Right to terminate hire-purchase etc. agreements, up to date with changes known to be in force on or before 30 October 2026, read 1 November 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 100, Liability of debtor on termination of hire-purchase etc. agreement, up to date with changes known to be in force on or before 1 November 2026, read 1 November 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)

Here is an illustration, not a real case. A parent hands a pushchair over at the aircraft door, and at baggage reclaim the frame is bent. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Citizens Advice and easyJet each publish guidance on damaged bags, and each sets a seven-day window for making a claim. The pages were read on 28 October 2026. Citizens Advice’s page is written for England, and it links to separate versions for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Does a pushchair count as a bag?

None of the three damaged-bag pages names pushchairs. They speak of bags and luggage. The CAA says that when hold luggage is lost, delayed or damaged, airlines are liable for the losses, and Citizens Advice says there is a legal right to claim compensation from the airline if checked-in luggage is damaged.

What easyJet’s children’s page says is where a pushchair fits. The airline carries up to two items per child in the hold for free, a pushchair among them. A pushchair needed to reach the boarding gate is collected before boarding, placed in the aircraft hold, and available at baggage reclaim on arrival. Ask the airline how to register damage to a pushchair accepted into the hold. Its reporting process does not replace any rights that apply under baggage law.

At the airport: report it before leaving

The CAA says damage should be reported on arrival at the airport, and that most airlines have a dedicated baggage desk in the baggage claims area. A passenger may receive a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), and the CAA adds that having a PIR is no guarantee that the airline will accept the claim. Citizens Advice says there is no legal duty to report straight away, but doing so makes any compensation more likely, and that the PIR is the form from customer services in the baggage claims hall.

easyJet asks for more. Its page says to take a photo of the damage before leaving the airport, and that photos taken later may not be accepted.

The clock: seven days, and three ways of counting it

The same deadline appears in all of the guidance, but the starting point is worded differently:

• The CAA says a written claim to the airline is needed within seven days for damaged baggage.
• Citizens Advice gives 7 days after getting the luggage back.
• easyJet says the report and the claim registration must both be complete within 7 days of the flight.

The treaty text behind most of this is Article 31 of the Montreal Convention, set out in the UK’s 2002 implementing Order (as originally made). It says that in the case of damage the person entitled to delivery must complain to the carrier forthwith after discovering it and, at the latest, within seven days from the date of receipt in the case of checked baggage. Every complaint must be in writing, and if none is made in time, no action lies against the carrier, save in the case of fraud. For checked baggage covered by the Convention, complain in writing as soon as damage is discovered and no later than seven days after receipt. Follow the airline’s reporting process promptly as well.

What can be claimed, and what is usually refused

Compensation depends on the loss proved. For baggage claims covered by the Montreal Convention, the usual liability limit is 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger, effective from 28 December 2024 according to ICAO. This is a limit, not an automatic payout, and its sterling value changes with exchange rates. If a claim is accepted, the airline may pay for repair or provide a replacement. Airlines do not allow “new for old” and value an item by its age when it was lost.

Citizens Advice says airlines will not usually provide new-for-old replacement or pay for stress, inconvenience or other consequences of a luggage problem. It also lists what to gather: the boarding card, the luggage labels, the PIR or the airline’s written confirmation of the report, proof of purchase, photographs of the damage and cost estimates for any repair.

easyJet publishes its own exclusions. Its page says it cannot be responsible for damage that is superficial or external, such as scuffs and scratches. The page does not mention pushchairs, so how that exclusion applies to one is a matter for the airline.

Writing the claim and what follows a refusal

Citizens Advice says to ask how the airline wants the claim sent and, if there is no claim form, to write to customer services. It suggests stating that the letter is a claim for compensation under the Montreal Convention, giving the flight details, what happened, the amount asked for and a description of everything damaged, and keeping copies.

If the airline does not resolve it, Citizens Advice says to complain to the CAA, which will only consider a luggage complaint if the airline or airport is not a member of an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme. As a last resort it mentions the small claims court, within 2 years of the flight, which it warns can be expensive and time-consuming.

Is travel insurance the better route?

Both the CAA and Citizens Advice raise it. The CAA says it might be better to claim on travel insurance because airlines may not pay out the true cost, though policies typically carry an excess of around £40 and often a time limit. Citizens Advice says that anyone with travel or home contents insurance that covers luggage is likely to be better off claiming through insurance. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

The bottom line

The three pages describe the same sequence: report the damage at the airport, photograph it, put a written claim to the airline within seven days, and expect a payment based on the item’s value, because airlines do not allow new for old. None names pushchairs, so check the airline’s reporting process, while keeping the applicable legal deadlines and rights in view. Check the airline’s current wording before travelling.

Sources

• Lost, delayed or damaged baggage, UK Civil Aviation Authority, read 28 October 2026 (caa.co.uk)
• Get airline compensation for lost or delayed luggage, Citizens Advice (England), read 28 October 2026 (citizensadvice.org.uk)
• Damaged or delayed bags and lost property, easyJet, read 28 October 2026 (easyjet.com)
• Flying with children, easyJet, read 28 October 2026 (easyjet.com)
• The Carriage by Air Acts (Implementation of the Montreal Convention 1999) Order 2002, Schedule 1 (as made), read 28 October 2026 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Press release: International air travel liability limits set to increase, International Civil Aviation Organization, 18 October 2024, read 28 October 2026 (icao.int)