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Car seat laws in Vermont

What Vermont 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 · 9 sources · Not legal advice

Short answer

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing with a harness, children under 5 in a harnessed seat (rear- or forward-facing), and children under 8 in a booster if not in a harnessed seat. Children under 18 must otherwise wear a seat belt, and children under 13 ride in the back seat when practical.

Sources: Vermont General Assembly; Vermont Department of Health. Data as of October 2026.

What does Vermont 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.

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

Rear-facing car seat

Best practice goes further

A child under 2 must be secured in a federally approved rear-facing child restraint with a harness.

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

Best practice goes further

A child under 5 not in a rear-facing seat must be in a forward-facing harnessed seat until reaching the seat's weight or height limit.

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

A child under 8 who is not in a harnessed car seat must be secured in a booster seat. There is no height exemption.

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

A child under 18 who is not in a harnessed seat or booster must be restrained in a seat belt.

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

Matches best practice

A child under 13 must always, if practical, ride in a rear seat. A rear-facing seat may not be placed in front of an active passenger airbag.

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

The law: 23 V.S.A. § 1258, in effect since July 1, 2024.

Sources: Vermont General Assembly; Vermont Department of Health; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Data as of October 2026.

What are the fines and exemptions in Vermont?

First offense

$25

Civil penalty of $25 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third or later violation.

Exemptions

Type I school buses; vehicles regularly used to carry passengers for hire (except child care facility vehicles); vehicles manufactured without belts; and evacuations ordered by an enforcement officer, firefighter or civil authority.

Questions about the law

This is general information, not legal advice. For how the law applies to you, ask Vermont Department of Health (Be Seat Smart).

Current rules took effect July 1, 2024 (2023 Acts 85 and 165, Adj. Sess.). IIHS describes the harness stage as '3 through 4'; the statute covers every child under 5 who is not rear-facing.

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. Vermont lists its own fitting stations.

Find a seat check in Vermont 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 Vermont?

NHTSA's locator lists 50 car seat inspection stations in Vermont, in 40 cities and towns. Montpelier, Morrisville, Rutland and South Burlington have the most (3 each).

50

inspection stations in NHTSA's locator

NHTSA, October 2026

40

cities and towns with a station

NHTSA, October 2026

0

flagged as Spanish-speaking; ask when you call

NHTSA, October 2026

34

of 50 records updated since 2023

Newest: September 12, 2024

Cities with the most stations

  1. Montpelier3 stations
  2. Morrisville3 stations
  3. Rutland3 stations
  4. South Burlington3 stations
  5. Brattleboro2 stations
  6. Chelsea2 stations

Plus 34 more cities and towns. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code for the ones near you.

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 Vermont

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

A child under 2 must be secured in a federally approved rear-facing child restraint with a harness. NHTSA and the AAP recommend going further: 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 Vermont?

A child under 8 who is not in a harnessed car seat must be secured in a booster seat. There is no height exemption. 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 Vermont?

A child under 13 must always, if practical, ride in a rear seat. A rear-facing seat may not be placed in front of an active passenger airbag. That matches NHTSA and AAP guidance: keeping all children younger than 13 in the back seat.

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

Civil penalty of $25 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third or later violation.

Where can I get a car seat inspection in Vermont?

NHTSA's locator lists 50 car seat inspection stations in Vermont, in 40 cities and towns. Montpelier, Morrisville, Rutland and South Burlington have the most (3 each). 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 Vermont

Sources

  1. 1.23 V.S.A. § 1258, Child restraint systems; individuals under 18 years of age Vermont General Assembly. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. 2.VT Law (Be Seat Smart child passenger safety program) Vermont Department of Health. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. 3.Car Seat Assistance Stations (free inspection locations) Vermont Department of Health. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. 4.Seat belt and child seat laws (table dated October 2026) Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  5. 5.Car Seats and Booster Seats National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  6. 6.Car Seats: Information for Families (last updated 4/16/2026) American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Accessed October 14, 2026.
  7. 7.California Vehicle Code § 27363 (exemptions; current version and version operative January 1, 2027) California Legislative Information. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  8. 8.Car Seat Inspection (inspection station locator) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 14, 2026.
Show all 9 sources
  1. 9.Car Seat Inspection Locator API (CSSIStation) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 16, 2026.

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