Florida Child Car Seat Laws - What You Need To Know

Approximately 189,000 children were injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout the nation in 2019 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Furthermore, more than 1,050 of these accidents resulted in the death of a child, making car accidents the leading cause of death among children under the age of 14.

In addition to these statistics, it's important to consider the impact of motorcycle accidents. While motorcycles are less common than cars, they can be involved in particularly hazardous accidents. According to recent motorcycle accident statistics, a notable percentage of road traffic accidents involving children also include motorcycles. These accidents are often more severe due to the exposed nature of motorcycles, leading to a higher risk of serious injury or fatality. The data indicates a pressing need for enhanced safety measures and education for both motorists and motorcyclists to protect young road users from these potentially devastating motorcycle accidents.

The importance of child safety seats cannot be overstated. A child riding in a vehicle cannot be fully protected by a seat belt alone because they are either too short or too light in weight. In fact, if a child seat is not being properly used at the time of an accident, seatbelts alone can be fatal to children. When used properly, a child seat can reduce a child's risk of death or injury by up to 71% for infants and by up to 54% for toddlers. Additionally, a seatbelt increases the chances of survival in a motor vehicle accident by over 45% for children between the ages of 4 and 12. 

Here’s everything parents, grandparents, babysitters, and anyone else transporting children needs to know about child car seat laws in Florida. 

Child Car Seat Laws Specific To Florida 

In addition to the national laws that govern the use of child safety seats, each state has the right to enact its own child car seat laws. This is because all children should be buckled up or in a child safety seat that has been properly installed. According to Florida law, child safety seats must comply with the following requirements.

• Child safety seats that have been crash tested and are federally approved are required for all children under the age of 5 years old. 

• In the case of children ages four and five, a separate child carrier, an integrated child seat, or a booster seat may be used. 

• When a child is between the ages of 0 and 3, they must be restrained by a child restraint device, which may be a separate carrier or an integrated child seat offered by the manufacturer. 

• Recalled child seats, booster seats, or carriers are not allowed to be used to secure a child in a vehicle. 

• When using a motor vehicle, a child safety seat must be properly fitted to the child and the vehicle. 

• Children 4’9” and above are permitted to transition to a car seat or booster seat under Florida law, unless they are under the age of 5. 

• Parents are able to find additional information about child safety seats by referencing the Florida Driver’s License Handbook. 

When Can Kids Sit In The Front Seat In Florida 

Many children see sitting in the front seat of the car as a right of passage. However, there are front seat requirements and age restrictions that apply. The following are Florida seatbelt and car seat laws that must be adhered to:

• Until the age of 12, no child is allowed to ride in the front seat of the vehicle, due to the fact that airbag deployment can be deadly to anyone younger. 

• It is mandatory that children aged 6 to 8 remain in the rear seat and wear a seatbelt at all times while in the vehicle.

• Seatbelts or child restraint devices are mandatory for all Florida drivers and passengers under the age of 18 in motor vehicles that are actively moving. 

• It is a primary offence in Florida to fail to wear a seatbelt, which means that if a law enforcement officer observes an individual under 18 not wearing a seatbelt, they may be able to actively pull them over and issue a citation.

• To learn more about the age limits for children sitting in the front seat of a vehicle, drivers can refer to the Florida Driver’s License Handbook.  

Front Seat Requirements in Florida 

Front seat requirements in Florida apply to everyone, not just children. The following are Florida requirements pertaining to sitting in the front driver or passenger seat. 

• All front-seat passengers must wear a seatbelt, regardless of age. Any passenger under the age of 18, no matter where they are in the car, must wear a seatbelt. 

• Children who are under the height of 4’9” are too short for airbags and seatbelts to function properly, and they could sustain serious injuries if sitting in the front seat.