What are Florida Car Seat Laws?

Welcome to the Florida Car Seat Law Explained in Simple, Plain English!

There are better things to do than looking up car seat laws for the state of Florida.

Look:

As parents, we need to do our very best to keep our kids safe. I have a lot of experience with car seats, laws and everything between. You see, I’m a mother of 3 perfect angels (as long as they are sleeping), plus I used to be a paralegal before.

This is why it’s so easy for me to find the right laws in a jiffy, and I can interpret them because I speak lawyer jargon.

I’ve done the heavy lifting for you because I’ve created this article so that even the most sleep-deprived parent understands it. That’s right, I’ve only used simple language that can be put into action with ease.

Now, if you are looking for some specific questions for what’s the booster seat law, when a child can be in a forward-facing car seat or do taxis need a car seat. I have the answers for all of these and more just scroll, and you will find it.

Let’s get started already!

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By reading this article you agree that it’s for informational purposes and I can’t be held liable for the best advice ask the appropriate person.

Florida Booster Seat Laws

According to the booster seat law in the state of Florida, between the ages of 4-5, kids should be using a booster seat or an integrated car seat that has been crash tested and federally approved.

Experts suggest something contrary. In the 4-5 age range, kids should still be using forward-facing car seats. Plus, they also recommend keeping kids in a booster seat until the age of 8.

With each car seat upgrade, the child gets less and less protection.

Florida Rear-facing Car Seat Laws

There’s no dedicated law for rear-facing car seats, only the blanket law that says that kids under the age of 3 should be in the appropriate car seat.

Now experts recommend keeping kids in rear-facing until the age of 2; however, some people upgrade after their child has reached age 1 or 20 pounds.

As we know, rear-facing is the safest for kids, so keep it as long as possible.

Florida Forward-facing Car Seat Laws

Again there’s no exact law when a child should start forward-facing. Typically in other states, this happens around the age of 2-4 years.

Florida Taxi Car Seat Laws

According to the law, taxis are exempt from the above-mentioned car seat laws. However, it’s the parent’s job to keep their child safe. So for this instance, I highly recommend bringing your own car seat even for short trips as well.

When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Florida?

There are no laws that would regulate when a child can sit in the front. Experts agree that the safest age is at 13, when a child could sit in the front seat.

Florida Car Seat Laws at a Glance

Here you can find the entire law in one place:

Car Seat Law (316.613)

Law: Kids have to be secured the following way:

If your child is under 3, they must be secured by a crash-tested federally approved car seat.
Suppose your child is between the ages of 4 and 5 must be secured either by a crash-tested federally approved car seat or an integrated child seat or booster seat.
If your child is above the age of 6, they have to be secured with a seat belt.

Location in car: There are no laws that would say where and when a child can sit.

Taxi: Taxis are exempt from the car seat laws mentioned above. This means that you have brought your own car seat if you want to keep your kids safe on short rides.

RideSafer legal: Yes. The Ride Safer travel vest qualifies for children at least age 3 and 30 pounds.

Fines: $60

Seat Belt Law

Law: According to the law, all front occupants have to wear a seat belt and also anybody younger than 18.
Fine: $30
RVs: The RV seat belt laws are very similar to the general one as in all front occupants have to wear a seat belt, and kids between 6-17 have to wear a seat belt. For younger kids, the car seat laws apply.

What is the law concerning Leaving kids in the Car in Florida?

According to the law, it’s illegal to leave kids under the age of 6 unattended in a vehicle that is running. Also, the allowed to leave a child unattended in a stopped vehicle is 15 minutes.

Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Florida?

There’s no law that would ban smoking while driving children. I strongly suggest holding off to smoking while driving kids because secondhand smoke causes disease.

Conclusions on Florida Car Seat Laws

We have reached the end of this article. By now, you should’ve found the answers you’ve been looking for. And as I promised, I’ve kept everything simple and to the point.

Maybe you have some questions, or you have spotted something that I’ve missed? No problem, just send me a message, and I will do my best to reply and help you out.

Maybe you can help me out by sharing this post so other parents can know exactly how to keep their kids safe and avoid fines in the process. Thank You!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does my 7-year-old need a car seat in Florida?

No, according to Florida state law, kids above the age of 6 can be secured with a seat belt.

What are the height and weight requirements for a booster seat in Florida?

The height and weight requirement for a booster seat in the state of Florida is 40 pounds and 40 inches on the lower end. For the upper limit, the height is set to 57 inches, and the weight varies between 90 and 100 pounds.

Does an 8-year-old need a booster seat in Florida?

No, according to Florida state law, kids above the age of 6 can be secured with a seat belt.

Does my 5-year-old need a car seat in Florida?

Yes, according to the car seat laws for the state of Florida, between the ages of 4 and 5, kids need to be secured in a booster seat. Only after 6 years of age can you transition them into the seat belt.

Who’s a car seat safety technician?

A car seat safety technician is a person who has taken and got certified on a car seat safety course. Also they can help you properly install child safety seats and teach you proper car seat usage to minimize damage during car accidents.

Is there a dedicated section for booster seats in the florida car seat laws?

The there’s a separate section for booster seats in the florida car seat laws. According to florida law if a child is between the ages of 4-5 they need the proper car seat based on weight and height. This can be a integrated car seat or a separate car seat like booster seats. According to florida law car seat safety is the most important thing. For youngsters the rear facing car seat such as the convertible car seat is the safest because it provides the most protection. Child car seats have to be federally approved according to florida law.

What are the Florida child seat laws?

According to the Florida child seat laws, kids have to be secured the following way:

If your child is under 3, they must be secured by a crash-tested federally approved car seat.
Suppose your child is between the ages of 4 and 5 must be secured either by a crash-tested federally approved car seat or an integrated child seat or booster seat.
If your child is above the age of 6, they have to be secured with a seat belt.

What are the booster seat requirements in Florida?

The booster seat law in the state of Florida says that between the ages of 4-5, kids should be using a booster seat or an integrated car seat that has been crash tested and federally approved. However, experts suggest something different. They say that kids in the 4-5 age range should still be using forward-facing car seats.

What are the penalties for not following car seat rules in Florida?

If you are caught not following the car seat rules in Florida, you can be fined up to $60.

Are fl car seat laws really strict?

No, the car seat laws in Florida are not really strict. In fact, they are very similar to the car seat laws in other states. The only difference is that kids under the age of 3 must be secured by a federally approved car seat.

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley