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Car seat & booster law

U.S. Virgin Islands

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · U.S. Virgin Islands

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

A child under 1 year (or under 20 pounds) must ride rear-facing in a back seat. A child 1 to 5 and at least 40 pounds must ride in a child restraint system. A child who has outgrown a forward-facing seat, or who is 40 to 80 pounds, under 8, and under 4 feet 9 inches, must use a booster. Children 13 and under must ride in the rear seat of any vehicle with airbags.

Rear-facing < 1 yr Forward 1+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
20 V.I.C. § 466 Read the statute

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3 yrs

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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 1
Booster until
Age 8 or 4'9"
Front seat
Back seat under 14

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 the U.S. Virgin Islands legal minimum. The V.I. law is fairly detailed, requiring rear-facing for infants and a booster to 80 pounds / 4 feet 9 inches, and is close to pediatric guidance through the booster years.

Every stage, by the law

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

Rear-facing 20 V.I.C. § 466
Age
Birth – 1 yr
Forward-facing 20 V.I.C. § 466
Age
1 yr – 8 yr
Booster 20 V.I.C. § 466
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt 20 V.I.C. § 466
Age
8 yr +
Height
or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Back seat / front seat 20 V.I.C. § 466
Age
under 14 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2026?
A child under 1 (or under 20 pounds) must ride rear-facing, a child 1 to 5 and at least 40 pounds must be in a child restraint, and a child up to 80 pounds / under 8 / under 4 feet 9 inches must use a booster. Children 13 and under must ride in the rear seat when airbags are present.
Is the U.S. Virgin Islands car seat law changing?
No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the U.S. Virgin Islands car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child under 1 year (or under 20 pounds) must ride rear-facing in a back seat. A child 1 to 5 and at least 40 pounds must ride in a child restraint system. A child who has outgrown a forward-facing seat, or who is 40 to 80 pounds, under 8, and under 4 feet 9 inches, must use a booster. Children 13 and under must ride in the rear seat of any vehicle with airbags.
How much is the fine for a car seat violation in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
$75 to $500 for a first violation, $100 to $400 for a second, and $200 to $500 (plus possible license suspension) for three or more within three years.
When can my child stop using a booster in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
A child can stop using a booster at age 8, or once they reach 4 feet 9 inches (about 57 inches), whichever comes first. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly across the shoulder and hips.
What age can a child sit in the front seat in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. Children 13 and under must always ride in the rear seat of a vehicle equipped with airbags (20 V.I.C. § 466(c)(4)). Infants must be rear-facing in a rear seat regardless. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

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