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Car seat & booster law

Utah

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · Utah

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

A child younger than 8 must be in a child restraint device unless they are 57 inches or taller. From age 8, a seat belt is required through age 16.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
Utah Code § 41-6a-1803 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
Not specified by law
Booster until
Age 8 or 4'9"
Front seat
No age set in law

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 Utah's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in each stage longer than the law requires.

Every stage, by the law

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

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster Utah Code § 41-6a-1803
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt Utah Code § 41-6a-1803
Age
8 yr +
Height
or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Back seat / front seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Utah in 2026?
A child younger than 8 must be in a child restraint device unless they are 57 inches or taller. From age 8, a seat belt is required through age 16.
Is the Utah car seat law changing?
No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Utah car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child younger than 8 must be in a child restraint device unless they are 57 inches or taller. From age 8, a seat belt is required through age 16.
What age can a child sit in the front seat in Utah?
Utah law sets no minimum age for riding in the front seat. The child restraint rules still apply: a car seat or booster is required until age 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Utah.
When can my child stop using a booster in Utah?
Once the child is 8 years old or 57 inches (4 feet 9 inches) tall. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly.
Does Utah require rear-facing car seats?
Utah law does not set a rear-facing age. It requires a child younger than 8 to be in a child restraint device unless the child is 57 inches or taller. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, well beyond what Utah law requires.
Are taxis and Uber or Lyft exempt from Utah's car seat law?
No. In a taxi or a rideshare vehicle, the accompanying adult supervising the child must provide the child restraint device, so the requirement still applies.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

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