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Car seat & booster law

South Carolina

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · South Carolina

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

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing in the back seat, then in a forward-facing harness, then in a belt-positioning booster, all in the rear seat, until age 8 or 57 inches when an adult seat belt fits.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward 2+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
S.C. Code § 56-5-6410 Read the statute

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The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

General information, not legal advice.

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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
Back seat under 8

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 South Carolina's legal minimum. South Carolina's staged law, including the rear-seat requirement, already tracks the recommendations closely.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in South Carolina.

Rear-facing S.C. Code § 56-5-6410
Age
Birth – 2 yr
Forward-facing S.C. Code § 56-5-6410
Age
2 yr – 8 yr
Booster S.C. Code § 56-5-6410
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt S.C. Code § 56-5-6410
Age
8 yr +
Height
or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Back seat / front seat S.C. Code § 56-5-6410
Age
under 8 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in South Carolina in 2026?
Children under 2 must ride rear-facing in the back seat, then in a forward-facing harness, then in a belt-positioning booster, all in the rear seat, until age 8 or 57 inches when an adult seat belt fits properly.
Is the South Carolina car seat law changing?
No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the South Carolina car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 must ride rear-facing in the back seat, then in a forward-facing harness, then in a belt-positioning booster, all in the rear seat, until age 8 or 57 inches when an adult seat belt fits.
When can my child stop using a booster in South Carolina?
Once the child is 8 years old or at least 57 inches tall and the adult seat belt fits correctly. Pediatricians recommend a booster until the belt fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.
Does South Carolina require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?
Yes. In South Carolina a child under 2 must ride rear-facing in the back seat, then move to a forward-facing harness and later a belt-positioning booster. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows.
What age can a child sit in the front seat in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. South Carolina requires each child restraint stage (rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster) to be used in a rear passenger seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in South Carolina.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

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