Car seat & booster law

Oregon

Q: Is the Oregon car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Oregon car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 must ride rear-facing. Children 40 pounds or less must be in a child seat. Children over 40 pounds must use a booster until they reach age 8 or are taller than 4 feet 9 inches, when a seat belt is allowed.

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

Once the child is 8 years old or taller than 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly.

Q: Does Oregon require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Oregon a child under 2 must ride rear-facing, and a child who weighs 40 pounds or less must be in a child seat. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the manufacturer's limit.

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

Oregon 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 Oregon.

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Oregon

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

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing. Children 40 pounds or less must be in a child seat. Children over 40 pounds must use a booster until they reach age 8 or are taller than 4 feet 9 inches, when a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr

Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210 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: Age 2
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 Oregon'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 Oregon.

Oregon car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 2 yr	—	—	Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210
Forward-facing	Toddler (per seat)	—	—	Guidance
Booster	until 8 yr	≤ 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210
Seat belt	8 yr +	or > 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210

Age: Birth – 2 yr

Forward-facing Guidance

Age: Toddler (per seat)

Booster Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210

Age: until 8 yr
Height: ≤ 4'9" / 145 cm

Seat belt Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.210

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 Oregon in 2026?

Is the Oregon car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Oregon car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 must ride rear-facing. Children 40 pounds or less must be in a child seat. Children over 40 pounds must use a booster until they reach age 8 or are taller than 4 feet 9 inches, when a seat belt is allowed.

When can my child stop using a booster in Oregon?

Once the child is 8 years old or taller than 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly.

Does Oregon require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Oregon a child under 2 must ride rear-facing, and a child who weighs 40 pounds or less must be in a child seat. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the manufacturer's limit.

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

Oregon 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 Oregon.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Oregon compares

Where Oregon 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
#10 of 56, tied · 67 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#1 of 32, tied · Age 2
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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