Car seat & booster law
Delaware
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Delaware
A car seat or booster is required until your child is taller than 4'9".
A child under 2 and under 30 pounds rides rear-facing; under 4 and under 40 pounds in a 5-point harness; then a booster until they outgrow it (about 4 feet 9 inches); a seat belt is required through age 15.
Car seat law checker
The legally required restraint, by state.
General information, not legal advice.
SeatCheckerRequired 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
- 4'9"
- Back seat
- Not required
Pediatricians recommend
AAP — safer, not the law
- Rear-facing until
- To seat limit (often age 2+)
- Booster until
- 4'9" — typically age 8–12
- Back seat
- Until age 13
AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Delaware's legal minimum. Delaware already ties the booster stage to the seat's manufacturer limit, which lines up well with the recommendations.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Delaware.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 2 yr | — | or 30 lb / 14 kg | 21 Del. C. § 4803 |
| Forward-facing | Toddler (per seat) | — | — | Guidance |
| Booster | — | < 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Guidance |
| Seat belt | — | or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Guidance |
| Back seat | Recommended < 13 | — | — | Guidance |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Weight
- or 30 lb / 14 kg
- Age
- Toddler (per seat)
- Age
- —
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- —
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- Recommended < 13