Car seat & booster law

Kansas

Q: Is the Kansas car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Kansas car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 4 must be in a child safety seat. Children 4 to 7 who are under 80 pounds or under 4 feet 9 inches must be in a safety seat or booster. From age 8, or once more than 80 pounds or more than 4 feet 9 inches tall, a seat belt is allowed.

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

Kansas 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 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Kansas.

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

Once the child is 8 years old, weighs more than 80 pounds, or is more than 4 feet 9 inches tall. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly.

Q: Does Kansas require a rear-facing car seat until a certain age?

No. Kansas law does not set a rear-facing age, though the restraint must meet federal safety standard No. 213. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, until the child reaches the highest weight or height the seat's manufacturer permits.

Q: Are taxis and Uber or Lyft rideshares exempt from Kansas car seat rules?

No. Kansas's child restraint requirement applies to passenger vehicles, and there is no general taxi or rideshare exemption from the child seat rules. A child riding in a taxi or rideshare still needs the correct car seat or booster for their age, weight, and height.

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Kansas

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".

Children under 4 must be in a child safety seat. Children 4 to 7 who are under 80 pounds or under 4 feet 9 inches must be in a safety seat or booster. From age 8, or once more than 80 pounds or more than 4 feet 9 inches tall, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr

Kan. Stat. § 8-1344 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 8 or 4'9"
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 Kansas'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 Kansas.

Kansas 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 8 yr	≤ 4'9" / 145 cm	≤ 80 lb / 36 kg	Kan. Stat. § 8-1344
Seat belt	8 yr +	or > 4'9" / 145 cm	or > 80 lb / 36 kg	Kan. Stat. § 8-1344
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Guidance

Age: Infant (per seat)

Forward-facing Guidance

Age: Toddler (per seat)

Booster Kan. Stat. § 8-1344

Age: until 8 yr
Height: ≤ 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: ≤ 80 lb / 36 kg

Seat belt Kan. Stat. § 8-1344

Age: 8 yr +
Height: or > 4'9" / 145 cm
Weight: or > 80 lb / 36 kg

Back seat / front seat Guidance

Age: Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Kansas in 2026?

Is the Kansas car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Kansas car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 4 must be in a child safety seat. Children 4 to 7 who are under 80 pounds or under 4 feet 9 inches must be in a safety seat or booster. From age 8, or once more than 80 pounds or more than 4 feet 9 inches tall, a seat belt is allowed.

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

Kansas 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 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Kansas.

When can my child stop using a booster in Kansas?

Once the child is 8 years old, weighs more than 80 pounds, or is more than 4 feet 9 inches tall. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly.

Does Kansas require a rear-facing car seat until a certain age?

No. Kansas law does not set a rear-facing age, though the restraint must meet federal safety standard No. 213. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, until the child reaches the highest weight or height the seat's manufacturer permits.

Are taxis and Uber or Lyft rideshares exempt from Kansas car seat rules?

No. Kansas's child restraint requirement applies to passenger vehicles, and there is no general taxi or rideshare exemption from the child seat rules. A child riding in a taxi or rideshare still needs the correct car seat or booster for their age, weight, and height.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Kansas compares

Where Kansas 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
#29 of 56, tied · 42 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
No statutory age, not ranked
Booster seat laws by state
#10 of 52, tied · Age 8
Car seat fines by state
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
No back-seat law, not ranked

See all car seat law rankings →

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