Skip to content
SeatChecker.org

Car seat & booster law

Kentucky

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Kentucky

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

A child 40 inches or shorter must be in a child restraint. A child under 8 who is between 40 and 57 inches must be in a booster. A child taller than 57 inches, or age 8 or older, may use a seat belt.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.125 Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

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 Kentucky'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 Kentucky.

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.125
Age
until 8 yr
Height
≤ 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.125
Age
8 yr +
Height
or > 4'9" / 145 cm
Back seat / front seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Kentucky in 2026?
A child 40 inches or shorter must be in a child restraint. A child under 8 who is between 40 and 57 inches must be in a booster. A child taller than 57 inches, or age 8 or older, may use a seat belt.
Is the Kentucky car seat law changing?
No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Kentucky car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child 40 inches or shorter must be in a child restraint. A child under 8 who is between 40 and 57 inches must be in a booster. A child taller than 57 inches, or age 8 or older, may use a seat belt.
When can my child stop using a booster in Kentucky?
Once the child is taller than 57 inches (4 feet 9 inches) or age 8 or older. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.
Does Kentucky require a rear-facing car seat to a certain age?
No. Kentucky's law is height-based and does not set a rear-facing age. Children 40 inches or shorter must be in a child restraint that meets federal standards, but the statute does not specify rear-facing. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the car seat allows.
What age can a child sit in the front seat in Kentucky?
Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Kentucky compares

Where Kentucky ranks among all 50 states, DC, and the US territories on each measure. Rankings compare legal minimums only and are not safety ratings.

See all car seat law rankings →

Keep exploring

Check your child

Enter age, height, and weight for the exact restraint.

Kentucky vs Tennessee

See which state is stricter, side by side.

Kentucky vs Virginia

See which state is stricter, side by side.

All states

Browse car seat laws for every US state.