Car seat & booster law

Tennessee

Q: Is the Tennessee car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Tennessee car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 1 or 20 pounds or less ride rear-facing; ages 1 to 3 over 20 pounds forward-facing; ages 4 to 8 under 4 feet 9 inches in a booster; ages 9 to 12 (or any child through 12 who is 4 feet 9 inches) in a seat belt. Restraints go in the rear seat where available.

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

At age 9, or once the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

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

Yes. In Tennessee a child under 1, or 20 pounds or less, must ride rear-facing. After that a child rides forward-facing, then in a booster. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, beyond the legal minimum.

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

In Tennessee, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. The rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster stages must be used in the rear seat if one is available. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Tennessee.

Verified · OCT 2026

Quick answer · Tennessee

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

Children under 1 or 20 pounds or less ride rear-facing; ages 1 to 3 over 20 pounds forward-facing; ages 4 to 8 under 4 feet 9 inches in a booster; ages 9 to 12 (or any child through 12 who is 4 feet 9 inches) in a seat belt. Restraints go in the rear seat where available.

Rear-facing < 1 yr Forward 1+ yr Booster < 9 yr Belt 9+ yr

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602 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 1
Booster until: Age 9 or 4'9"
Front seat: Back seat under 9

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 Tennessee's legal minimum. Tennessee's detailed staging tracks the recommendations closely, including booster use through age 8 and rear seat use where available.

Every stage, by the law

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

Tennessee car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 1 yr	—	or while 20 lb / 9 kg or less	Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602
Forward-facing	1 yr – 9 yr	—	—	Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602
Booster	until 9 yr	< 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602
Seat belt	9 yr +	or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602
Back seat / front seat	under 9 yr	—	—	Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602

Rear-facing Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602

Age: Birth – 1 yr
Weight: or while 20 lb / 9 kg or less

Forward-facing Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602

Age: 1 yr – 9 yr

Booster Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602

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

Seat belt Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602

Age: 9 yr +
Height: or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm

Back seat / front seat Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602

Age: under 9 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Tennessee in 2026?

Is the Tennessee car seat law changing?

No. As of October 6, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Tennessee car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 1 or 20 pounds or less ride rear-facing; ages 1 to 3 over 20 pounds forward-facing; ages 4 to 8 under 4 feet 9 inches in a booster; ages 9 to 12 (or any child through 12 who is 4 feet 9 inches) in a seat belt. Restraints go in the rear seat where available.

When can my child stop using a booster in Tennessee?

At age 9, or once the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.

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

Yes. In Tennessee a child under 1, or 20 pounds or less, must ride rear-facing. After that a child rides forward-facing, then in a booster. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, beyond the legal minimum.

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

In Tennessee, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. The rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster stages must be used in the rear seat if one is available. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Tennessee.

Sources

Verified · OCT 2026

How Tennessee compares

Where Tennessee 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
#9 of 56 · 72 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#26 of 32, tied · Age 1
Booster seat laws by state
#4 of 52, tied · Age 9
Car seat fines by state
#11 of 28, tied · $50
Back seat laws by state
#8 of 21, tied · Age 9

See all car seat law rankings →

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