Skip to content
SeatChecker.org

Car seat & booster law

Vermont

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick 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.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward 2+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
23 V.S.A. § 1258 Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

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 2
Booster until
Age 8
Front seat
Back seat 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 to 12
Front seat
Back seat until 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.

Rear-facing 23 V.S.A. § 1258
Age
Birth – 2 yr
Forward-facing 23 V.S.A. § 1258
Age
2 yr – 8 yr
Booster 23 V.S.A. § 1258
Age
until 8 yr
Seat belt 23 V.S.A. § 1258
Age
8 yr +
Back seat / front seat 23 V.S.A. § 1258
Age
under 13 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Vermont in 2026?
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.
Is the Vermont car seat law changing?
No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Vermont car seat law is scheduled. Current law: 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.
When can my child stop using a booster in Vermont?
At age 8, when a child may move to a seat belt. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.
What age can a child sit in the front seat in Vermont?
In Vermont, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. A child under 13 must, if practical, ride in a rear seat of the vehicle. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13.
Are taxis exempt from Vermont's car seat law?
Yes. A vehicle regularly used to transport passengers for hire is exempt, except a vehicle owned or operated by a child care facility. Vehicles without safety belts and ordered evacuations are also excepted.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How Vermont compares

Where Vermont ranks among all 50 states, DC, and the US territories on each measure. Rankings compare legal minimums only and are not safety ratings.

See all car seat law rankings →

Keep exploring

Check your child

Enter age, height, and weight for the exact restraint.

Vermont vs Massachusetts

See which state is stricter, side by side.

Vermont vs New York

See which state is stricter, side by side.

All states

Browse car seat laws for every US state.