Car seat & booster law

Alaska

Q: Is the Alaska car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Alaska car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 1 or under 20 pounds ride rear-facing; ages 1 to 3 over 20 pounds in a child restraint; ages 4 to 7 under 57 inches and under 65 pounds in a booster. From age 8, or once over 57 inches or 65 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

Q: When can my child stop using a booster in Alaska?

Once the child is 8 years old, over 57 inches, or over 65 pounds. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

Q: Until what age does my child need a rear-facing car seat in Alaska?

Alaska requires a rear-facing seat for any child under 1 year old, and also for a child age 1 or older who still weighs under 20 pounds. Once your child is at least 1 year old and over 20 pounds, the law allows a forward-facing child restraint, though pediatricians recommend staying rear-facing as long as the car seat allows.

Q: What age can a child sit in the front seat in Alaska?

Alaska law sets no minimum age for riding in the front seat. The child restraint rules still apply: a car seat or booster is required until age 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Alaska.

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Alaska

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or 4'9" tall.

Children under 1 or under 20 pounds ride rear-facing; ages 1 to 3 over 20 pounds in a child restraint; ages 4 to 7 under 57 inches and under 65 pounds in a booster. From age 8, or once over 57 inches or 65 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing < 1 yr Forward 1+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr

Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095 Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

General information, not legal advice.

SeatChecker

Required vs recommended

What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.

The law requires

Minimum, or it's enforceable

Rear-facing until: Age 1
Booster until: Age 8 or 4'9"
Front seat: No age set in law

Pediatricians recommend

AAP: safer, not the law

Rear-facing until: To seat limit (often age 2+)
Booster until: 4'9", typically age 8 to 12
Front seat: Back seat until 13

AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Alaska's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in each stage longer than the law requires.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Alaska.

Alaska car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 1 yr	—	or while less than 20 lb / 9 kg (under 16 yr)	Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095
Forward-facing	1 yr – 8 yr	—	—	Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095
Booster	until 8 yr	< 4'9" / 145 cm	< 65 lb / 29 kg	Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095
Seat belt	8 yr +	or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm	or ≥ 65 lb / 29 kg	Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095

Age: Birth – 1 yr
Weight: or while less than 20 lb / 9 kg (under 16 yr)

Forward-facing Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095

Age: 1 yr – 8 yr

Booster Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095

Age: until 8 yr
Height: < 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: < 65 lb / 29 kg

Seat belt Alaska Stat. § 28.05.095

Age: 8 yr +
Height: or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: or ≥ 65 lb / 29 kg

Back seat / front seat Guidance

Age: Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Alaska in 2026?

Is the Alaska car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Alaska car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 1 or under 20 pounds ride rear-facing; ages 1 to 3 over 20 pounds in a child restraint; ages 4 to 7 under 57 inches and under 65 pounds in a booster. From age 8, or once over 57 inches or 65 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

When can my child stop using a booster in Alaska?

Once the child is 8 years old, over 57 inches, or over 65 pounds. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

Until what age does my child need a rear-facing car seat in Alaska?

Alaska requires a rear-facing seat for any child under 1 year old, and also for a child age 1 or older who still weighs under 20 pounds. Once your child is at least 1 year old and over 20 pounds, the law allows a forward-facing child restraint, though pediatricians recommend staying rear-facing as long as the car seat allows.

What age can a child sit in the front seat in Alaska?

Alaska law sets no minimum age for riding in the front seat. The child restraint rules still apply: a car seat or booster is required until age 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Alaska.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Alaska compares

Where Alaska ranks among all 50 states, DC, and the US territories on each measure. Rankings compare legal minimums only and are not safety ratings.

Strictest car seat laws by state
#23 of 56, tied · 54 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#26 of 32, tied · Age 1
Booster seat laws by state
#10 of 52, tied · Age 8
Car seat fines by state
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
No back-seat law, not ranked

See all car seat law rankings →

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