Car seat & booster law

Wyoming

Q: Is the Wyoming car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Wyoming car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child who has not reached their 9th birthday must be secured in a child safety restraint system in a seat other than the front seat. From age 9, a seat belt is allowed.

Q: When can my child stop using a booster in Wyoming?

At age 9. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.

Q: Does Wyoming require rear-facing car seats?

Wyoming law does not set a rear-facing age. It requires a child who has not reached their 9th birthday to be secured in a child safety restraint system. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the manufacturer's limit.

Q: What age can a child sit in the front seat in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. A child under 9 must be secured in a seat other than the front seat, unless the vehicle has only one row of seats or all rear belts are in use by other child passengers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Wyoming.

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · Wyoming

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 9 years old.

A child who has not reached their 9th birthday must be secured in a child safety restraint system in a seat other than the front seat. From age 9, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 9 yr Belt 9+ yr

Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1303 Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

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: Not specified by law
Booster until: Age 9
Front seat: Back seat under 9

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 Wyoming's legal minimum. Wyoming already requires a restraint and a non-front seat through age 8, which 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 Wyoming.

Wyoming car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Infant (per seat)	—	—	Guidance
Forward-facing	Toddler (per seat)	—	—	Guidance
Booster	until 9 yr	—	—	Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1303
Seat belt	9 yr +	—	—	Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1303
Back seat / front seat	under 9 yr	—	—	Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1303

Rear-facing Guidance

Age: Infant (per seat)

Forward-facing Guidance

Age: Toddler (per seat)

Booster Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1303

Age: until 9 yr

Seat belt Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1303

Age: 9 yr +

Back seat / front seat Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-1303

Age: under 9 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Wyoming in 2026?

A child who has not reached their 9th birthday must be secured in a child safety restraint system in a seat other than the front seat. From age 9, a seat belt is allowed.

Is the Wyoming car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Wyoming car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child who has not reached their 9th birthday must be secured in a child safety restraint system in a seat other than the front seat. From age 9, a seat belt is allowed.

When can my child stop using a booster in Wyoming?

At age 9. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.

Does Wyoming require rear-facing car seats?

Wyoming law does not set a rear-facing age. It requires a child who has not reached their 9th birthday to be secured in a child safety restraint system. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the manufacturer's limit.

What age can a child sit in the front seat in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. A child under 9 must be secured in a seat other than the front seat, unless the vehicle has only one row of seats or all rear belts are in use by other child passengers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Wyoming.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How Wyoming compares

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

Strictest car seat laws by state
#45 of 56 · 35 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
No statutory age, not ranked
Booster seat laws by state
#4 of 52, tied · Age 9
Car seat fines by state
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
#8 of 21, tied · Age 9

See all car seat law rankings →

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