Texas car seat laws and requirements [updated 2023] (2023)

FAQs

What is the new car seat law in Texas? ›

Texas law requires that all children younger than eight years old, unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches, be secured in a child safety seat whenever they ride in a vehicle. Older children who have outgrown a booster seat must be buckled with a seat belt.

These children should remain in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach four feet and nine inches in height and are between eight and 12 years of age. Check car seat labels for exceptions and additional guidance.

A child up to 8 years old, unless taller than 4 feet 9 inches, must ride in a child safety seat. From birth to as long as possible, up to the weight or height limit of the seat. At a minimum, keep rear-facing until age 1 and 20 lbs. From 8+ years old or taller than 4 feet 9 inches.

A child must be over 4'9″ to sit in the front seat of a car in Texas. Once a child is over 4'9″, kids can sit in the front seat of a car in Texas using a lap or shoulder seat belt. However, children less than 13 years should never ride in the front seat of any vehicle with active airbags on the passenger side.

A child is ready for a booster seat when they have outgrown the height or weight limit of their 5-point harness car seat. This is usually when they reach over 65 pounds or 49 inches. You can check your car seat's manual for its height and weight limits and if it can be converted to a booster seat.

Seat belts are made for adults. Children should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly, typically when children reach about 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age. Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until 10 to 12 years of age.

There is no law in Texas specifies when a child can sit in the front seat. However, the law requires that all child safety seat systems must be used according to owner's manual. Most vehicle manufacturers' require and recommend keeping all children 12 years and younger in the back seat.

Children weighing more than 22kg and taller than 125cm can use a backless booster seat. Children of 12 years old or taller than 135cm do not need to use a child seat. Before this age or height they must do by law. Child seats must be fitted either using ISOFIX mountings or a diagonal seat belt strap.

California Law

​Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4'9” in height may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

There is no law against children sitting in the front seat, as long as they are using the right child restraint for their height and weight.

How much is a ticket for a child without car seat in Texas? ›

Children younger than eight years must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they're taller than four feet nine inches. If they aren't properly restrained, the driver faces fines up to $250, plus court costs.

By law, the children must be in seats unless the fitting of 2 prevent the third from being safely fitted.

Common mistakes include routing the seat belt through the wrong belt path, failing to use a top tether for a forward-facing car seat, installing a rear-facing infant seat in the front passenger seat, and using both the seat belt and the lower anchors at the same time.

A passenger vehicle may not carry a load extending more than three inches beyond the left side line of its fenders or more than six inches beyond the right side line of its fenders.

4 – 7 Years

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

The advice is not to use car seats for longer than 30 minutes for babies younger than four weeks and not using car seats for more than two hours in one go for babies of all ages (The Lullaby Trust, 2016).

Once the child passes 35 lbs, which is usually around two years of age, you should start thinking about a front-facing safety seat, or a harness, that will keep your child safe and comfortable.

Children younger than 4 must use a car seat. Children 4 through 7 years and less than 57 inches tall should use a booster seat. Adult seat belts are allowed at 8 years old or more than 57 inches tall.

Your 2-year-old child's growth

At 2 years old, your toddler is growing, growing, grown — to a length that just might predict her future height. Most 2-year-old girls weigh 19½ to 32½ pounds and measure 31½ to 36½ inches tall. Boys typically weigh 21 to 33½ pounds and measure 32 to 37 inches tall.

Can a 4 year old sit in a booster seat in Texas? ›

Children under 5 years old and less than 36 inches tall must ride in a child safety seat. Children more than 36 inches tall and at least 5 years old but younger than 17 years old must be secured by a safety belt. What Type of Child Car Safety Seat Should I Use?

According to Texas law, all vehicles must have a license plate on the front and the rear. Those who do not adhere to the law can face a fine of up to $200. The law does specify an exception to the rule for road tractors, motorcycles, trailers, and semitrailers.

Children 3 and Over

While children legally can sit in the front seat from three years of age, it is important to remember that children are always safest in the backseat, even with appropriate car seats and boosters.

All our car seats have been designed and tested to ensure the forces on each part of the body remain within the safe limits. All our car seats for babies and toddler up to approximately four years old have a 5-point harness.

Therefore, if you find yourself in a taxi with your toddler but no car seat, put the child in his own seat belt. Pull the seat belt snug and try to make sure the lap portion of the belt is resting very low and very snug on the tops of the child's thighs.

The car seat should always be installed in the back seat. That is the safest spot for your baby. If you can, put the car seat in the center seat. If not, it is fine behind either the driver or passenger side.

Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat. Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.

The following guidelines are allowed under the law for children who: Weigh less than 40 lbs: May remain in five-point harness car seat. Weigh more than 80 lbs, or are taller than 4 feet, 9 inches: May use vehicle safety belt without booster.

Booster seats can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front. It is safest to keep children in this type of seat until they have outgrown it.

We strongly recommend that children sit in the back and remain rear-facing for as long as possible to minimise the risk of injury. However, you are allowed to have them in the front if you use a child seat and follow these safety precautions: Rear-facing child seat – you are required to deactivate all front airbags.

Can you take a baby on a bus without a car seat? ›

Bus and coach companies are not required by law to provide child car seats in coaches and buses, but child passengers should use them if they are provided. Any passenger in a front passenger seat, or any exposed seat, must use an appropriate child seat.

The current Texas Transportation Code requires that a child under the age of eight be secured in a child passenger safety seat system during the operation of a motor vehicle. The failure to secure a child in this manner is a misdemeanor offense and may result in a penalty of up to $250.

Texas law doesn't specify what age is old enough for a child to stay home alone. However, if you decide to leave a child under 15 at home alone and something bad happens – such as a fire, injury or crime – you could find yourself facing criminal abandonment charges.

Seat Belt Safety Laws in Texas

Children under the age of 17 must be secured by either a seat belt or a child passenger safety seat system. There are several exceptions to the law. Those who have a medical reason can be exempt from wearing a seat belt if they have a statement from their physician.

Sgt Rana added: “It is also against the law to travel in a vehicle with a child on your lap as this could put them at risk of serious harm if you are involved in a collision.

The law is that in a licenced taxi or mini cab, children under 3 years of age can travel without a child's car seat or seat belt, but only in the back seats. Children aged 3 years or older can travel without a child's car seat if they wear an adult seat belt.

The safest place for your car seat is the rear middle seat due to its maximum distance from passenger-side air bags and any potential impact.

The safest place in the vehicle is the centre of the back seat, being positioned the furthest point away from any possible point of impact. Some older vehicles do only have a lap belt so it is essential to check that your seat is suitable for one of those. However, most new cars now do have 3 point diagonal belts.

Can you ride in the bed of a truck in Texas? ›

Texas law does not forbid anyone over the age of 18 from riding in the open bed of a truck or trailer. However, the same cannot be said for Texans younger than 18. Drivers caught with a minor in the bed of a truck or on a trailer can face a fine between $25 and $200.

Texas law is typical of those states that forbid driving with the trunk open, stating that you cannot drive a vehicle if a tailgate, tailboard, tarpaulin, door, fastening device, or equipment or rigging is not securely in place.

Operation may be authorized only on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. If operated on the roads at a speed of 25 mph or less, an ATV, ROV, UTV and Sand Rail is required to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem.

1. Rear-Facing Seat: Infants stay rear-facing as long as possible – to the upper weight limits of the harness – but never forward-facing before their first birthday and 20-22 pounds. 2. Forward-Facing Seat: Toddlers go forward-facing in a five-point harness until the upper limits of the harness, usually 40-65 pounds.

It's required that infants ride in the back in a rear-facing seat. Kids under 2 years of age, or between 20 and 40 pounds should be in rear facing seats.

Children need to ride in a booster seat until the seat belt fits right, when they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall, about 80 pounds and 8 years old.

The car seat should always be installed in the back seat. That is the safest spot for your baby. If you can, put the car seat in the center seat. If not, it is fine behind either the driver or passenger side.

Texas law doesn't specify what age is old enough for a child to stay home alone. However, if you decide to leave a child under 15 at home alone and something bad happens – such as a fire, injury or crime – you could find yourself facing criminal abandonment charges.

What is the punishment for leaving a child in a vehicle in Texas? In Texas, it is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine for leaving a child in a vehicle in Texas. This offense is classified as neglectful supervision, which means CPS will also likely get notified and may launch their own investigation.

Texas Penal Code § 22.041 states that a person commits child abandonment if he or she has custody, care, or control of a child younger than the age of 15 years old and does the following: Intentionally abandons the child in any place; and. Exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of harm.