Car seat & booster law

Arkansas

Q: Is the Arkansas car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Arkansas car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child under 15 must be in a child passenger restraint system. A child under 6 and under 60 pounds must be in a child safety seat. From age 6, or once 60 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

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

Arkansas 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 6 or 60 pounds. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Arkansas.

Q: Does Arkansas require booster seats to 4'9" or age 8?

No. Arkansas releases a child from the child safety seat requirement at age 6 or 60 pounds, with no 4 foot 9 inch rule. Pediatricians still recommend a booster until the seat belt fits, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Q: Does Arkansas require a rear-facing car seat by age?

No. Arkansas law does not set a rear-facing age. The law requires the child's restraint to meet federal standards, but it does not put a specific age on when a child must be rear-facing. Pediatricians still recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the seat's height or weight limit.

Q: Are taxis and Uber or Lyft exempt from the Arkansas car seat law?

Taxis are exempt. The law applies to a passenger automobile, van, or pickup truck that is not operated for hire, so vehicles operated for hire such as taxis are excluded. Arkansas law does not state whether rideshare services like Uber or Lyft are covered, so this is not specified. For safety, it is best to bring your own car seat when you can.

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · Arkansas

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 6 years old.

A child under 15 must be in a child passenger restraint system. A child under 6 and under 60 pounds must be in a child safety seat. From age 6, or once 60 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 6 yr Belt 6+ yr

Ark. Code Ann. § 27-34-104 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: Not specified by law
Booster until: Age 6
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 Arkansas's legal minimum, which ends at age 6 or 60 pounds. Pediatricians recommend a booster until the seat belt fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.

Every stage, by the law

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

Arkansas car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Infant (per seat)	—	—	Guidance
Forward-facing	Toddler (per seat)	—	—	Guidance
Booster	until 6 yr	—	< 60 lb / 27 kg	Ark. Code Ann. § 27-34-104
Seat belt	6 yr +	—	or ≥ 60 lb / 27 kg	Ark. Code Ann. § 27-34-104
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Guidance

Age: Infant (per seat)

Forward-facing Guidance

Age: Toddler (per seat)

Booster Ark. Code Ann. § 27-34-104

Age: until 6 yr
Weight: < 60 lb / 27 kg

Seat belt Ark. Code Ann. § 27-34-104

Age: 6 yr +
Weight: or ≥ 60 lb / 27 kg

Back seat / front seat Guidance

Age: Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Arkansas in 2026?

A child under 15 must be in a child passenger restraint system. A child under 6 and under 60 pounds must be in a child safety seat. From age 6, or once 60 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

Is the Arkansas car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Arkansas car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child under 15 must be in a child passenger restraint system. A child under 6 and under 60 pounds must be in a child safety seat. From age 6, or once 60 pounds, a seat belt is allowed.

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

Arkansas 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 6 or 60 pounds. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Arkansas.

Does Arkansas require booster seats to 4'9" or age 8?

No. Arkansas releases a child from the child safety seat requirement at age 6 or 60 pounds, with no 4 foot 9 inch rule. Pediatricians still recommend a booster until the seat belt fits, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Does Arkansas require a rear-facing car seat by age?

No. Arkansas law does not set a rear-facing age. The law requires the child's restraint to meet federal standards, but it does not put a specific age on when a child must be rear-facing. Pediatricians still recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the seat's height or weight limit.

Are taxis and Uber or Lyft exempt from the Arkansas car seat law?

Taxis are exempt. The law applies to a passenger automobile, van, or pickup truck that is not operated for hire, so vehicles operated for hire such as taxis are excluded. Arkansas law does not state whether rideshare services like Uber or Lyft are covered, so this is not specified. For safety, it is best to bring your own car seat when you can.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How Arkansas compares

Where Arkansas 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
#53 of 56, tied · 13 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
No statutory age, not ranked
Booster seat laws by state
#47 of 52, tied · Age 6
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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