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Car seat & booster law

American Samoa

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · American Samoa

A car seat or booster is required until your child is in a proper restraint.

A child under 3 must ride in a federally approved child passenger restraint system. A child 3 to under 4 must be in a restraint or a seat belt. American Samoa law sets no booster, rear-facing, height, or back-seat requirement.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster Belt 4+ yr
A.S.C.A. § 22.0332 Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

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
Not specified by law
Booster until
Not specified
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 American Samoa’s legal minimum. The territory requires a restraint only through age 3 and has no booster rule, so pediatric guidance goes well beyond the statute.

Every stage, by the law

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

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster Guidance
Age
—
Seat belt A.S.C.A. § 22.0332
Age
4 yr +
Back seat / front seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in American Samoa in 2026?
A child under 3 must ride in a federally approved child passenger restraint system. A child 3 to under 4 may use a restraint or a seat belt. There is no booster requirement.
Is the American Samoa car seat law changing?
No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the American Samoa car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child under 3 must ride in a federally approved child passenger restraint system. A child 3 to under 4 must be in a restraint or a seat belt. American Samoa law sets no booster, rear-facing, height, or back-seat requirement.
What age can a child sit in the front seat in American Samoa?
American Samoa 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 the seat belt fits properly. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in American Samoa.
Does American Samoa require booster seats?
No. American Samoa law only regulates children under 4. Pediatricians still recommend a booster until the seat belt fits properly, around 4 feet 9 inches.
At what age can a child use a seat belt in American Samoa?
A child under 3 must be in a federally approved child restraint. A child 3 to under 4 may use either a child restraint or a seat belt. From age 4, American Samoa law sets no child-specific restraint, so a seat belt applies.
What is the fine for a car seat violation in American Samoa?
A first offense is a $25 fine, a second offense is $50, and a third or later offense is $75.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How American Samoa compares

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