Car seat & booster law
Vermont
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Vermont
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old.
Children under 2 ride rear-facing with a harness; under 5 in a forward-facing harness; under 8 in a booster; under 18 in a seat belt. Children under 13 must ride in the rear seat when practical.
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 2
- Booster until
- Age 8
- Back seat
- Required under 13
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 Vermont's legal minimum. Vermont's staged law, including rear seat use through age 12, 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 Vermont.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 2 yr | — | — | 23 V.S.A. § 1258 |
| Forward-facing | 2 yr – 8 yr | — | — | 23 V.S.A. § 1258 |
| Booster | until 8 yr | — | — | 23 V.S.A. § 1258 |
| Seat belt | 8 yr + | — | — | 23 V.S.A. § 1258 |
| Back seat | under 13 yr | — | — | 23 V.S.A. § 1258 |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Age
- 2 yr – 8 yr
- Age
- until 8 yr
- Age
- 8 yr +
- Age
- under 13 yr