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What are the height and weight requirements for a child to sit in the front seat in California?
I just moved, and I was wondering if California has laws regarding a child’s height and weight when it comes to letting them ride in the front seat of a car.
Sarah Gray · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congratulations on your move! Many states have different laws regarding height and weight requirements for children to sit in the front seat, but California bases its restrictions for front seat passengers on age.
To ensure you’re adhering to the law and keeping your child as safe as possible, keep all children 8 years of age or younger properly secured in the back seat of your car unless any of the following apply:
- Your vehicle has no rear seats, or the rear seats are side-facing
- The rear seats are rear facing
- The child restraint system cannot be properly installed in the rear seat
- Your child has a medical reason (written by a pediatrician) for not being restrained in a back seat.
Though California law allows children to ride in the front seat once they’re over 8 years old, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends all children ride in the back seat until they’re at least 13 years of age.
Vehicle manufacturers also design their safety equipment with adults who are at least 5 feet tall and 150 pounds in mind, so until she meets those criteria, see if thinking of you as her personal chauffeur will calm her urges to sit in the front.
Whether your kids are sitting in the front or back,
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