United States Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines

By Recording Law Editorial TeamPublished September 22, 20206 min read

Key Takeaways

1Every US state requires children to ride in an age- and size-appropriate restraint, though exact age, weight, and height cutoffs vary by state.
2Infants should ride rear-facing for a minimum of 2 years or until they exceed the seat manufacturer's height and weight limits, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
3Children who outgrow rear-facing seats move to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness, often until around age 7 or up to 60 pounds.
4Booster seats raise a child so the seat belt fits properly and should be used until the child reaches about 4 feet 9 inches tall.
5The AAP recommends children remain in the back seat until age 13, since front airbags can injure them.
6Car seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash because hidden cracks can make them unsafe.

Every state requires children to ride in an age- and size-appropriate restraint. Infants stay rear-facing for at least two years, older toddlers move to a forward-facing harness seat, then a booster seat until they reach 4'9", after which a standard seat belt applies. Exact age and weight cutoffs vary by state.

Best Car Seat Practices in the United States

A Summary of Best Car Seat Practices

A top-tether strap hooked to an anchor point behind the rear seat

Infants should ride on a rear-facing seat for a minimum of 2 years or until they exceed the manufacturer's maximum weight and height limits.
Children who have outgrown rear-facing seats should transition to forward-facing seats.
Booster seats should be used by children who have outgrown forward-facing seats.
Children should remain in the back seat until age 13.
Car seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash.
Make sure to check your state for unique laws

Best Practice for using Rear-facing seats

Infants should ride on a rear-facing seat for a minimum of 2 years or until they exceed the manufacturer's maximum weight and height limits. According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), children should remain in the rear-facing position for as long as possible because it is the safest position. In the event of an accident, the rear-facing seat holds the child in place to protect the fragile and flexible body parts (neck, head, and spine). Typically, newborns usually start in infant-only seats which are portable and designed to fit smaller infants. However, children usually outgrow them within a short period of time. When this happens, parents should transition their child to convertible seats. Convertible seats allow children to remain rear-facing until age 4 due to their higher weight limits (up to 40 pounds). Rear-facing seats should be reclined according to the manufacturer's instructions. This is because the semi-reclined position helps to keep the baby's airways open. Also, the harness straps should be used to fasten the baby to the seat according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Best Practice for using Forward-facing seats

Children who have outgrown rear-facing seats should transition to forward-facing seats and remain there until they reach the topmost weight and height limits allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Parents who are using convertible seats can turn their seats to face forward once the child has exceeded the rear-facing requirements, and others can opt for a forward-facing only seat or combination seat. Children should be secured with a 5-point harness. This is preferable because the shoulder straps, hip straps, and crotch straps can be snugly secured over the child's stronger body parts (hips and shoulders). This, in turn, helps protect the fragile body parts by directing impact forces away and spreading them over the stronger parts in the event of a crash. Most seats can support up to 60 pounds or more, so this means children can safely remain in a forward-facing seat until age 7.

A folded blank instruction booklet resting on a child car seat

Best Practice for using Booster Seats

Booster seats should be used by children who have outgrown forward-facing seats. Most children 8 years or younger cannot fit in regular safety belts and can suffer serious injuries if the seat belt straps are misplaced. A belt-positioning booster seat raises a child so that seat belts can safely fit over the child's body. For a safe and comfortable fit, the lap belt should lie flat across the child's hips and upper thighs (not stomach), and the shoulder belt should lie snug across the middle of the chest (not neck). There are two main types of booster seats - high back and backless. Use a high back booster seat if the child is taller than the back of the seat or if there are no headrests in the vehicle. A backless booster seat is adequate if the vehicle's headrest can support the child's neck and head. Booster seats should be used with lap-shoulder belts. Never use a lap-only belt to secure a booster seat. Seats of this type can support up to 80 pounds. Therefore, children can ride on them until age 8-12 years. However, when it comes to transitioning from booster seats to safety belts only, you need to make sure that your child can fit in safety belts. A height of 4'9" is recommended because safety belts are designed to fit anyone with this height or taller. They should also be able to sit all the way back against the seat with knees bent at the edge of the seat without slouching. To increase safety, make sure your child can ride in the car without trying to detach the seat belt.

When Should a Child ride in the Front seat?

It is a good idea to install all car seats in the rear of the vehicle. This is because front seats have airbags that can hurt children when they inflate. Also, the back seat is farther away from the point of impact in case of a frontal collision. If your car has no rear seats or if you must install a car seat in the front seat, make sure to turn off the airbags, especially if it is a rear-facing seat. The AAP recommends children should remain in the back seat until age 13.

When Should you replace your Car Seat?

Car seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash. This is because they can develop tiny cracks after an accident that makes them unsuitable for use. If you choose to buy a used car seat, make sure you know the seat's history. The seat should have a model number and date of manufacture (helps in checking for recalls), it should have no missing parts or visible damage and it should never have been involved in an accident.

Should you use a Car Seat in Commercial Vehicles?

When traveling in commercial vehicles such as taxis and cars for hire, you need to take responsibility and provide the appropriate car seat for your child. You never know when accidents may happen, so it's best to take precautions.

While it is important to follow these car seat practices, car seat laws vary by state, so make sure to check your local laws by clicking the relevant link above.

Car Seat Laws by State

Select a state for its specific car seat and booster requirements:

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should a Child ride in the Front seat?

Sources and References

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Car Seat Laws Traffic Laws

United States Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines

By Recording Law Editorial TeamPublished September 22, 20206 min read

Key Takeaways

1Every US state requires children to ride in an age- and size-appropriate restraint, though exact age, weight, and height cutoffs vary by state.
2Infants should ride rear-facing for a minimum of 2 years or until they exceed the seat manufacturer's height and weight limits, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
3Children who outgrow rear-facing seats move to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness, often until around age 7 or up to 60 pounds.
4Booster seats raise a child so the seat belt fits properly and should be used until the child reaches about 4 feet 9 inches tall.
5The AAP recommends children remain in the back seat until age 13, since front airbags can injure them.
6Car seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash because hidden cracks can make them unsafe.

Best Car Seat Practices in the United States

A Summary of Best Car Seat Practices

A top-tether strap hooked to an anchor point behind the rear seat

Infants should ride on a rear-facing seat for a minimum of 2 years or until they exceed the manufacturer's maximum weight and height limits.
Children who have outgrown rear-facing seats should transition to forward-facing seats.
Booster seats should be used by children who have outgrown forward-facing seats.
Children should remain in the back seat until age 13.
Car seats should be replaced after a moderate or severe crash.
Make sure to check your state for unique laws

Best Practice for using Rear-facing seats

Best Practice for using Forward-facing seats

A folded blank instruction booklet resting on a child car seat

Best Practice for using Booster Seats

When Should a Child ride in the Front seat?

When Should you replace your Car Seat?

Should you use a Car Seat in Commercial Vehicles?

While it is important to follow these car seat practices, car seat laws vary by state, so make sure to check your local laws by clicking the relevant link above.

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United States Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines

Best Car Seat Practices in the United States

Best Practice for using Rear-facing seats

Best Practice for using Forward-facing seats

Best Practice for using Booster Seats

When Should a Child ride in the Front seat?

When Should you replace your Car Seat?

Should you use a Car Seat in Commercial Vehicles?

Car Seat Laws by State

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should a Child ride in the Front seat?

Sources and References

United States Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines

Best Car Seat Practices in the United States

Best Practice for using Rear-facing seats

Best Practice for using Forward-facing seats

Best Practice for using Booster Seats

When Should a Child ride in the Front seat?

When Should you replace your Car Seat?

Should you use a Car Seat in Commercial Vehicles?

Car Seat Laws by State

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should a Child ride in the Front seat?

Sources and References