What are the Illinois Car Seat Laws?

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

You have just found the perfect place to brush up on your car seat laws for the state of Illinois. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

Look:

I’m a mom of 3 adorable angles (when they are sleeping), and we are traveling a lot so I have to know all the car seat laws. Luckily I used to be a paralegal, so I know exactly how to access all the right laws instantly.

Also, I speak high lawyer jargon and have the skills to translate this foreign language into something easily understood by all people.

This is why I’ve put together this article to help you out. By reading it to the end, you will know exactly how to keep your kids safe and avoid the fines.

It’s possible that you need answers to just a few specific questions, such as what is the booster seat law, or when a child can use a forward-facing seat or if you need a car seat in a taxi. By reading everything below, you will find the answers.

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.

Illinois Booster Seat Laws

There’s no specific booster seat law for the state of Illinois. The law is a blanket law that states that all kids under the age of 8 have to be secured with the appropriate car seat.

In this case, between the ages of 4 and 8, a booster seat is required if the child meets all weight and height requirements.

Also depending on which authority you’re looking at, some recommend using a booster seat until the age of 12. In these circumstances, you should choose that restraint option that offers the most protection.

Illinois Rear-facing Car Seat Laws

According to the law, all kids under the age of 2 weighing less than 40 pounds or being shorter than 40” have to ride in a rear-facing car seat.

As we know, rear-facing car seats offer the most protection, so you don’t have to hurry with the upgrade and keep your child in rear-facing until they have outgrown their seat.

Illinois Forward-facing Car Seat Laws

Since the law is a blanket type, it means that after the child has outgrown a rear-facing car seat, they can be upgraded to a forward-facing car seat.

This usually happens between the ages of 2 to 4. Also, if a child is above the 40-pound weight limit, they can be secured with a seat belt.

Illinois Taxi Car Seat Laws

According to law, a taxi is a commercial vehicle transporting less than 10 people is exempt from the above-mentioned car seat laws, so they are exempt. Now, if you want to keep your child secure on short rides, it means that you have to bring your own car seat.

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

There are no exact laws determining when a child could sit in the front seat. However, if we check with experts, they all recommend that only kids over the age of 13 should be sitting in the front.

Illinois Car Seat Laws at a Glance

Here you can find the entire law in one place:

Car Seat Law (625 ILCS 25/4 Child Passenger Protection Act)

Law: According to the law, all kids under the age of 8 have to be secured by the appropriate federally approved car seat.

A child has to be rear-facing until the age of 2, however, there’s an exception that says that they can upgrade if they are taller than 40 inches or weigh more than 40 pounds.
Also, according to the law, parents are responsible for getting the right car seat if the children are traveling with somebody else.
If a child weighs more than 40 pounds, they can sit in the back seat with a lap-only belt if there’s no lap-shoulder belt available.

Location in car: There are currently no laws that dictate where kids can sit.

Taxi: Taxis companies are exempt from the car seat laws mentioned above. So it’s your responsibility to bring a car seat if you want your kids to be safe.

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

Fines: $75

Seat Belt Law

Law: According to the law, all occupants within the vehicle have to wear a seat belt, including kids between the ages of 8 and 16.
Fine: $25
RVs: The RV car seat law follows the general law as in all occupants have to wear the seat belt, including kids in the age range of 8 and 16. For younger kids, the car seat laws apply.

What is the law concerning Leaving kids in the car in Illinois?

According to the law, if a child is under 6, they can’t be left unattended in a vehicle for more than 10 minutes without having at least a 14-year-old with them.

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

Yes, it’s illegal to smoke in a vehicle while transporting kids below 18. I strongly agree with this law because secondhand smoke is known for health risks.

Conclusions on Illinois Car Seat Laws

We have reached the end of this article. I bet that you have already found the answers you’ve been looking for.

As I’ve promised, I’ve kept everything simple and easy to understand. However, you might still have questions, so no biggie, all you have to do is reach out, and I’m glad to help a fellow parent 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:

What are the age and weight requirements for a booster seat in Illinois?

In the state of Illinois, the booster seat requirements are the age of 4 and the weight lower limit of 40 pounds.

When can a child legally sit in the front seat in Illinois?

There’s no law that would ban a child in the front seat. However, according to experts, only kids having 13 years and above should be sitting in the font.

Can a 4-year-old sit in a booster seat in Illinois?

Yes, a 4-year-old can sit in a booster seat in Illinois if it’s appropriate for them. This means that the child meets both minimum weight and height requirements stated by the manufacturer.

What is a child passenger safety technician and what do they do?

A child passenger safety technician is a certified expert who know how to install properly a child safety seat or child restraint system. Maybe you have a problem with securing a forward facing car seat (child safety seat) or a rear facing car seat (child restraint system) they can help you out. Plus their main priority is child passenger safety. Also they can tell you if the safety belt is the right choice or you should wait a bit.

You might also like: iowa child seat laws

According to the Illinois car seat laws how long should you keep a rear facing child restraint system?

According to the illinois car seat laws you have to keep your child in a rear facing child restraint system until the age of 2. Since child passenger safety and child safety it is top on the list for many parents I would suggest that keep your child rear facing as long as possible because it’s the safest.

When can my child use a safety belt?

According to the law the safety belt can be used from the age of 8 and above. Before upgrading to the safety belt check if it’s the right fit because child passenger safety and child safety is important.

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley