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Car seat & booster law

District of Columbia

Verified · JUN 2026

Quick answer · District of Columbia

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old.

A child under 2 must ride rear-facing (unless they are both 40 pounds and 40 inches). A child under 3 must be in a child restraint seat, and a child under 8 must be in an infant, convertible, or booster seat. From age 8 through 16, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
D.C. Code § 50-1703 Read the statute

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The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

General information, not legal advice.

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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 8
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 the District'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 District of Columbia.

Rear-facing D.C. Code § 50-1703
Age
Birth – 2 yr
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster D.C. Code § 50-1703
Age
until 8 yr
Seat belt D.C. Code § 50-1703
Age
8 yr +
Back seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Washington, DC in 2026?
A child under 2 must ride rear-facing (unless they are both 40 pounds and 40 inches). A child under 3 must be in a child restraint seat, and a child under 8 must be in an infant, convertible, or booster seat. From age 8 through 16, a seat belt is allowed.
When can my child stop using a booster in DC?
At age 8, when a child may use a seat belt. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.
At what age does my child have to ride rear-facing in Washington, DC?
A child under 2 must ride in a rear-facing child restraint seat. DC law only lets you turn a child forward-facing before age 2 if the child is both 40 pounds and 40 inches, so most children stay rear-facing until at least their second birthday. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows.
Do children have to ride in the back seat in DC?
No. DC law does not require children to ride in the back seat. It is still recommended for every child under 13, since the back seat is the safest place for kids to ride.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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