Car seat & booster law

Florida

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

Children 5 and younger must be in a federally approved child restraint device. Ages 0 through 3 must use a car seat; ages 4 and 5 may use a car seat or a booster. From age 6, a seat belt is legal.

Q: Is the Florida car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Florida car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children 5 and younger must ride in a federally approved child restraint device: a car seat for ages 0 through 3, and a car seat or booster for ages 4 and 5. Florida sets no rear-facing age, no 4'9" rule, and no back-seat requirement, and a seat belt is legal from age 6. A 2026 bill, HB 233, would have required certain children to ride in a child booster seat, but it died in the House Government Operations Subcommittee on March 13, 2026, so it did not change the law.

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

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

Q: Does Florida require booster seats until 4'9" or age 8?

No. Florida's child restraint law ends at age 5, with no 4 foot 9 inch rule and no age-8 booster requirement. Pediatricians still recommend a booster until the seat belt fits, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Q: Does Florida require a rear-facing car seat, and until what age?

Florida law does not set a rear-facing age. The statute only requires a federally approved child restraint device for children 5 and younger. Pediatricians still recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, until the child reaches the highest weight or height the manufacturer permits.

Q: Are taxis and Uber or Lyft exempt from Florida's car seat law?

No. Florida's child restraint requirement has only narrow exceptions and does not broadly exempt taxis or rideshare. Children 5 and younger still need a child restraint device in a taxi or an Uber or Lyft. Plan ahead, since these vehicles do not provide one.

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · Florida

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

Children 5 and younger must ride in a federally approved child restraint device: a car seat for ages 0 through 3, and a car seat or booster for ages 4 and 5. Florida sets no rear-facing age, no 4'9" rule, and no back-seat requirement, and a seat belt is legal from age 6.

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

Fla. Stat. § 316.613 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 Florida's legal minimum, which is notably lighter: it ends at age 6 with no height rule. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in each stage much longer.

Every stage, by the law

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

Florida 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	—	—	Fla. Stat. § 316.613
Seat belt	6 yr +	—	—	Fla. Stat. § 316.613
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Guidance

Age: Infant (per seat)

Forward-facing Guidance

Age: Toddler (per seat)

Booster Fla. Stat. § 316.613

Age: until 6 yr

Seat belt Fla. Stat. § 316.613

Age: 6 yr +

Back seat / front seat Guidance

Age: Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Florida in 2026?

Children 5 and younger must be in a federally approved child restraint device. Ages 0 through 3 must use a car seat; ages 4 and 5 may use a car seat or a booster. From age 6, a seat belt is legal.

Is the Florida car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Florida car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children 5 and younger must ride in a federally approved child restraint device: a car seat for ages 0 through 3, and a car seat or booster for ages 4 and 5. Florida sets no rear-facing age, no 4'9" rule, and no back-seat requirement, and a seat belt is legal from age 6. A 2026 bill, HB 233, would have required certain children to ride in a child booster seat, but it died in the House Government Operations Subcommittee on March 13, 2026, so it did not change the law.

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

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

Does Florida require booster seats until 4'9" or age 8?

No. Florida's child restraint law ends at age 5, with no 4 foot 9 inch rule and no age-8 booster requirement. Pediatricians still recommend a booster until the seat belt fits, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Does Florida require a rear-facing car seat, and until what age?

Florida law does not set a rear-facing age. The statute only requires a federally approved child restraint device for children 5 and younger. Pediatricians still recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, until the child reaches the highest weight or height the manufacturer permits.

Are taxis and Uber or Lyft exempt from Florida's car seat law?

No. Florida's child restraint requirement has only narrow exceptions and does not broadly exempt taxis or rideshare. Children 5 and younger still need a child restraint device in a taxi or an Uber or Lyft. Plan ahead, since these vehicles do not provide one.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How Florida compares

Where Florida 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
#10 of 28 · $60
Back seat laws by state
No back-seat law, not ranked

See all car seat law rankings →

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