Car seat & booster law

Colorado

Q: What is the car seat law in Colorado in 2026?

Under the law effective January 1, 2025, children under 2 must ride rear-facing unless they weigh 40 pounds or more. Children must be in a car seat or booster and ride in the back seat through age 8. From age 9, a properly fitting seat belt is allowed.

Q: Did Colorado's car seat law change?

Yes. A new age-based child passenger safety law took effect January 1, 2025. It requires back seat use and a car seat or booster through age 8, with a properly fitting seat belt allowed from age 9.

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

Colorado requires a car seat or booster through age 8. A child must be in a booster or a properly fitting seat belt from age 9. Colorado uses age, not a 4 feet 9 inch height rule, so there is no statutory height that ends booster use.

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

In Colorado, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. Children under 9 (ages 0 through 8) must ride in the back seat if one is available. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Colorado.

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Colorado

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 9 years old.

Under a law effective January 1, 2025, children under 2 must ride rear-facing (unless the child weighs 40 pounds or more). Children must be in a car seat or booster and ride in the back seat through age 8. From age 9, a properly fitting seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward 2+ yr Booster < 9 yr Belt 9+ yr

C.R.S. § 42-4-236 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 2
Booster until: Age 9
Front seat: Back seat under 9

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 Colorado's legal minimum. Colorado's 2025 update moved the law closer to these recommendations, including back seat use through age 8.

Every stage, by the law

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

Colorado car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 2 yr	—	or 40 lb / 18 kg	C.R.S. § 42-4-236
Forward-facing	2 yr – 9 yr	—	—	C.R.S. § 42-4-236
Booster	until 9 yr	—	—	C.R.S. § 42-4-236
Seat belt	9 yr +	—	—	C.R.S. § 42-4-236
Back seat / front seat	under 9 yr	—	—	C.R.S. § 42-4-236

Rear-facing C.R.S. § 42-4-236

Age: Birth – 2 yr
Weight: or 40 lb / 18 kg

Forward-facing C.R.S. § 42-4-236

Age: 2 yr – 9 yr

Booster C.R.S. § 42-4-236

Age: until 9 yr

Seat belt C.R.S. § 42-4-236

Age: 9 yr +

Back seat / front seat C.R.S. § 42-4-236

Age: under 9 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Colorado in 2026?

Under the law effective January 1, 2025, children under 2 must ride rear-facing unless they weigh 40 pounds or more. Children must be in a car seat or booster and ride in the back seat through age 8. From age 9, a properly fitting seat belt is allowed.

Did Colorado's car seat law change?

Yes. A new age-based child passenger safety law took effect January 1, 2025. It requires back seat use and a car seat or booster through age 8, with a properly fitting seat belt allowed from age 9.

When can my child stop using a booster seat in Colorado?

Colorado requires a car seat or booster through age 8. A child must be in a booster or a properly fitting seat belt from age 9. Colorado uses age, not a 4 feet 9 inch height rule, so there is no statutory height that ends booster use.

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

In Colorado, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. Children under 9 (ages 0 through 8) must ride in the back seat if one is available. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Colorado.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Colorado compares

Where Colorado 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
#19 of 56 · 60 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#1 of 32, tied · Age 2
Booster seat laws by state
#4 of 52, tied · Age 9
Car seat fines by state
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
#8 of 21, tied · Age 9

See all car seat law rankings →

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