Car seat & booster law
Puerto Rico
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Puerto Rico
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 10 years old or taller than 4'9".
A child under 4 must ride in a child safety seat. A child 4 to 9, or until 4 feet 9 inches (57 in), whichever comes first, must ride in a booster. Every child under 12 must ride in the back seat unless the vehicle has only front seats.
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
- Not specified by law
- Booster until
- Age 10 or 4'9"
- Back seat
- Required under 12
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 Puerto Rico’s legal minimum. Puerto Rico’s law is among the stronger ones, requiring a booster through age 9 and back-seat riding through age 11.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Puerto Rico.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Infant (per seat) | — | — | Guidance |
| Forward-facing | Toddler (per seat) | — | — | Guidance |
| Booster | until 10 yr | < 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Ley Núm. 22-2000, Art. 13.03 (9 L.P.R.A. § 5383) |
| Seat belt | 10 yr + | or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Ley Núm. 22-2000, Art. 13.03 (9 L.P.R.A. § 5383) |
| Back seat | under 12 yr | — | — | Ley Núm. 22-2000, Art. 13.03 (9 L.P.R.A. § 5383) |
- Age
- Infant (per seat)
- Age
- Toddler (per seat)
- Age
- until 10 yr
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- 10 yr +
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- under 12 yr