Car Seat Laws: Age and Requirements for Child Safety

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), all children under the age of 13 must be restrained in a car seat or booster seat. However, some states may have their own laws regarding car seat use, so it is important to check with your local DMV for more information.

In general, children should use a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit for their seat. Once they outgrow their rear-facing car seat, they should move to a forward-facing car seat with a harness. Children should use a harness until they reach the maximum weight or height limit for their seat.

Once a child outgrows their forward-facing car seat with a harness, they can move to a booster seat. Booster seats help to position the child so that the vehicle's seat belt fits correctly across their body. Children should use a booster seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and 80 pounds.