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Car seat laws in Utah

What Utah law requires at each stage, from rear-facing to the front seat, next to what NHTSA and the AAP recommend. Plus the fine and where to get a free car seat check.

Checked October 2026 · 11 sources · Not legal advice

Short answer

Children younger than 8 must ride in a child restraint device used per the manufacturer's instructions, unless they are 57 inches or taller. Children 8 to 15 must wear a seat belt.

Sources: Utah State Legislature; Utah Highway Safety Office. Data as of October 2026.

What does Utah car seat law require at each age?

The law sets the minimum. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping each stage until your child outgrows the seat, which usually means longer.

Utah car seat law at each stage, beside NHTSA and AAP guidance
StageWhat Utah law requiresNHTSA and AAP guidance

Rear-facing car seat

No state rule

No rear-facing requirement in state law.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping your child rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. A child under age 1 should always ride rear-facing, and most convertible seats allow rear-facing for 2 years or more.

Forward-facing seat with a harness

No state rule

No separate harness stage in law. A child under 8 must be in a child restraint device used per the manufacturer's instructions.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend using a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether once your child outgrows the rear-facing limits, for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height the seat's manufacturer allows.

Booster seat

Best practice goes further

Each person younger than 8 must be in a child restraint device (car seat or booster). A child under 8 who is 57 inches or taller is exempt and must wear a seat belt.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend using a belt-positioning booster seat after your child outgrows the harnessed seat, until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach about 4 feet 9 inches tall and are 8 to 12 years old.

Seat belt

The driver must secure each child 8 and older (and under 16) in a properly adjusted seat belt. Passengers 16 and older must buckle up themselves.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend moving to the seat belt alone only when it fits: the lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt crosses the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or face. Children big enough for the belt alone should always use a lap and shoulder belt.

Back seat

No state rule

No back-seat requirement in law.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping all children younger than 13 in the back seat.

The law: Utah Code § 41-6a-1803, in effect since May 1, 2024.

Sources: Utah State Legislature; Utah Highway Safety Office; Utah Department of Public Safety (Click It Utah); National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Data as of October 2026.

What are the fines and exemptions in Utah?

First offense

up to $45

Infraction with a maximum fine of $45. The court must waive the whole fine for a first child-restraint violation with proof of acquiring, renting or buying a child restraint. No points. Several unrestrained occupants count as one offense.

Exemptions

Vehicles made before July 1, 1966 or not required to have belts; a person with a physician or physician assistant's written verification; a passenger when all seats are occupied; public transit vehicles over 10,000 pounds. In a taxi or rideshare, the supervising adult passenger is responsible for the child's restraint.

Questions about the law

This is general information, not legal advice. For how the law applies to you, ask Utah Highway Safety Office.

The statute's belt clause reads 'at least eight years old and no less than 16 years old', an apparent drafting error for 'younger than 16'. H.B. 574 (2026) would have added rear-facing, harness and booster stages and a back seat rule for under-13s; it was not enacted (the code still shows only the 2024 version of 41-6a-1803 and the 2018 version of 41-6a-1805). The Highway Safety Office's own car seat page returned 404; its FAQ confirms the $45 citation and that Utah law does not say where a child must sit.

Where can you get your car seat checked for free?

Certified child passenger safety technicians check car seats at inspection stations nationwide. NHTSA says they inspect seats free of charge in most cases and show you how to install and use the seat correctly, and some locations offer virtual inspections. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code or city (it can filter for Spanish-speaking technicians), or find a technician through Safe Kids Worldwide. Utah lists its own fitting stations.

Find a seat check in Utah How to get a free car seat

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)

Where are the car seat inspection stations in Utah?

NHTSA's locator lists 61 car seat inspection stations in Utah, in 47 cities and towns. Ogden and Richfield have the most (3 each). NHTSA flags 9 of them as Spanish-speaking.

61

inspection stations in NHTSA's locator

NHTSA, October 2026

47

cities and towns with a station

NHTSA, October 2026

9

flagged as Spanish-speaking

NHTSA, October 2026

0

of 61 records updated since 2023

Newest: September 20, 2022

Cities with the most stations

  1. Ogden3 stations
  2. Richfield3 stations
  3. American Fork2 stations
  4. Clearfield2 stations
  5. Heber City2 stations
  6. Lehi2 stations
  7. Logan2 stations
  8. Salt Lake City2 stations

Plus 39 more cities and towns. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code for the ones near you.

Spanish-speaking stations are listed in Brigham City, Coalville, Delta, Manti, Mount Pleasant, Ogden, Park City and Price, and 1 more places. Use the locator's Spanish-speaking filter to see them.

Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Data as of October 2026.

Choosing and getting a car seat

Infant vs convertible car seat: which to buy firstInfant vs convertible car seat, compared with AAP and NHTSA guidance: rear-facing limits, portability, when to switch, installation and free seat checks.How to get a free car seatWhere to get a free infant car seat in 2026: Medicaid plan extras, Safe Kids coalitions and 211, plus free installation checks and when a used seat isn't safe.

Questions about car seat laws in Utah

When can a child face forward in a car seat in Utah?

No rear-facing requirement in state law. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping your child rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. A child under age 1 should always ride rear-facing, and most convertible seats allow rear-facing for 2 years or more.

When can a child stop using a booster seat in Utah?

Each person younger than 8 must be in a child restraint device (car seat or booster). A child under 8 who is 57 inches or taller is exempt and must wear a seat belt. NHTSA and the AAP recommend going further: using a belt-positioning booster seat after your child outgrows the harnessed seat, until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach about 4 feet 9 inches tall and are 8 to 12 years old. The AAP says an adult seat belt fits when: the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly; and the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with knees bent over the edge of the seat without slouching, and can stay that way for the whole trip. NHTSA uses the same lap-belt and shoulder-belt checks. The 5-step test, which California writes into law from January 1, 2027, asks: 1) Does the child sit all the way back against the seat? 2) Do the knees bend over the edge of the seat? 3) Does the shoulder belt snugly cross the center of the chest and shoulder, not the neck? 4) Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs? 5) Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

How old does a child have to be to sit in the front seat in Utah?

No back-seat requirement in law. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping all children younger than 13 in the back seat.

What is the fine for a car seat violation in Utah?

Infraction with a maximum fine of $45. The court must waive the whole fine for a first child-restraint violation with proof of acquiring, renting or buying a child restraint. No points. Several unrestrained occupants count as one offense.

Where can I get a car seat inspection in Utah?

NHTSA's locator lists 61 car seat inspection stations in Utah, in 47 cities and towns. Ogden and Richfield have the most (3 each). NHTSA flags 9 of them as Spanish-speaking. Certified technicians check seats for free in most cases. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code and call the station before you go.

More for parents in Utah

Sources

  1. 1.Utah Code § 41-6a-1803, Driver and passengers - Seat belt or child restraint device required (effective 5/1/2024) Utah State Legislature. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. 2.Utah Code § 41-6a-1804, Exceptions Utah State Legislature. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. 3.Utah Code § 41-6a-1805, Penalty for violation Utah State Legislature. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. 4.H.B. 574 (2026 General Session), Child Car Seat Requirements Utah State Legislature. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  5. 5.Frequently Asked Questions Utah Highway Safety Office. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  6. 6.Car Seat Inspection Stations Utah Department of Public Safety (Click It Utah). Accessed October 14, 2026.
  7. 7.Car Seats and Booster Seats National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  8. 8.Car Seats: Information for Families (last updated 4/16/2026) American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Accessed October 14, 2026.
Show all 11 sources
  1. 9.California Vehicle Code § 27363 (exemptions; current version and version operative January 1, 2027) California Legislative Information. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. 10.Car Seat Inspection (inspection station locator) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. 11.Car Seat Inspection Locator API (CSSIStation) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 16, 2026.

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