Car seat & booster law
Illinois
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Illinois
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old.
Children under 2 must ride rear-facing unless they weigh 40 pounds or are 40 inches tall. Children under 8 must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system, which includes a booster. From age 8, a seat belt is legal.
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
- 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 Illinois'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 Illinois.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 2 yr | or 40 in / 102 cm | or 40 lb / 18 kg | 625 ILCS 25/4 |
| Forward-facing | 2 yr – 8 yr | — | — | 625 ILCS 25/4 |
| Booster | until 8 yr | — | — | 625 ILCS 25/4 |
| Seat belt | 8 yr + | — | — | 625 ILCS 25/4 |
| Back seat | Recommended < 13 | — | — | Guidance |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Height
- or 40 in / 102 cm
- Weight
- or 40 lb / 18 kg
- Age
- 2 yr – 8 yr
- Age
- until 8 yr
- Age
- 8 yr +
- Age
- Recommended < 13