Car seat & booster law
U.S. Virgin Islands
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · U.S. Virgin Islands
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".
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.
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
- Age 1
- Booster until
- Age 8 or 4'9"
- Back seat
- Required under 14
Pediatricians recommend
AAP — safer, not the law
- Rear-facing until
- To seat limit (often age 2+)
- Booster until
- 4'9" — typically age 8–12
- Back seat
- Until age 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.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 1 yr | — | — | 20 V.I.C. § 466 |
| Forward-facing | 1 yr – 8 yr | — | — | 20 V.I.C. § 466 |
| Booster | until 8 yr | < 4'9" / 145 cm | — | 20 V.I.C. § 466 |
| Seat belt | 8 yr + | or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm | — | 20 V.I.C. § 466 |
| Back seat | under 14 yr | — | — | 20 V.I.C. § 466 |
- Age
- Birth – 1 yr
- Age
- 1 yr – 8 yr
- Age
- until 8 yr
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- 8 yr +
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- under 14 yr