What are the Missouri Car Seat Laws?
Welcome to the Missouri Car Seat Law Explained in Simple, Plain English!
You have found the perfect place to brush up on your car seat laws for the state of Missouri.
Look:
Being a mom of 3 and traveling a lot forced me to get acquainted with the car seat laws of many states. Plus, before I became a mom, I used to be a paralegal, so I knew how to find the right laws fast. Also, I know how to translate high lawyer jargon into a text that the most sleep-deprived parent understands.
This is why I’ve created this article to make things easy for you. This would be the first and last article you will have to read about car seat laws in Missouri.
Maybe you need answers to specific questions about booster seats, or when you can move a child to the front seat, or will you need a car seat if traveling by taxi.
All this and more questions are answered below.
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.
Missouri Booster Seat Laws
According to the booster seat laws in Missouri, kids in the age range of 4 to 8 and weighing 40 to 80 pounds should be secured in a booster car seat.
If the child is the 80 pounds weight limit and taller than 57 inches, they can still use a booster seat if it’s appropriate, and the car seat belt doesn’t offer adequate protection.
Missouri Rear-facing Car Seat Laws
The rest of the car seat law in the state of Missouri is a blanket one that states that old children below the age of 4 have to be secured with the appropriate car seat. This means we have to check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The minimum requirements for rear-facing car seats are one year old and 20 pounds. However, experts suggest that we keep our little ones rear-facing until the age of 2 simply because it provides the most protection.
Missouri Forward-facing Car Seat Laws
Again it’s a blanket law, so under the age of four, we have to use the appropriate car seat. In this case, typically, kids upgrade to forward-facing car seats when they turn 2 or reach the weight of 20 pounds.
The forward-facing car seat can be used until four or 40 pounds depending on the brand and model.
Missouri Taxi Car Seat Laws
Taxis are exempt from the car seat laws mentioned above. However, if you want to keep your kids safe, even on short trips, you must bring your own car seat.
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Missouri?
There are no exact laws dictating when a child can sit in the front. In most cases, experts recommend that kids above the age of 13 should be sitting in the front.
Missouri Car Seat Laws at a Glance
Here you can find the entire law in one place:
Law: According to the law, kids need to be secured the following way:
- If your child is under the age of 4 and at any weight, they have to be secured by a car seat that is appropriate for them.
- Suppose your child weighs less than 40 pounds at any age. They have to be secured by a car seat that is appropriate for them.
- If your child is in the age range of 4 and 8 and weighs between 40 and 80 pounds and their height is below 57 inches, then they have to be secured in the appropriate car seat or booster seat.
- Suppose your child weighs more than 80 pounds and is taller than 57 inches. They can be secured with the seat belt or the booster seat, which is appropriate for the child.
Location in car: There are no specifications on where a child can sit at a certain age.
Taxi: Taxis are exempt from the car seat rules mentioned above. This means that if you want to keep your child safe on short trips, you need to bring your own car seat.
RideSafer legal: Yes. The Ride Safer travel vest qualifies for children who are at least age 3 and 30 pounds.
Fines: $50
Seat Belt Law
- Law: According to the law, front occupants and all kids between the ages of 8 and 16 have to wear a seat belt.
- Fine: $10; $50 for passengers age 8 to 15
- RVs: The RV seat belt law follows the general seat belt law as in all front occupants have to wear the seat belt, and for kids, car seat laws apply.
What is the law concerning Leaving kids in the Car in Missouri?
There’s a law concerning this in Missouri. According to a lawyer if a child under the age of 10 left unattended causes an accident, then you can be charged with a class A felony. If the accident proves to be fatal, that it’s a Class C felony.
Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Missouri?
There are no laws banning smoking in vehicles while kids are around. However, I’ve strongly suggested that you hold off smoking while you’re driving your kids because secondhand smoke is known to cause disease.
Conclusions on Missouri Car Seat Laws
We have reached the end of this article. By now, you should’ve found all the answers to your questions.
As promised, I skipped the lawyer talk and only used plain language to understand and put it into action. Now, if you have other questions, let me know by sending me a message, and I will try my best to reply.
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!
Related: Illinois car seat laws
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does a child have to weigh to sit in the front seat in Missouri?
There’s no exact law on how much should child weigh to sit in the front seat in Missouri. However, experts recommend that kids above the age of 13 sit in the front.
When can a child be out of a booster seat in Missouri?
If your child is above the age of 8 or weighs more than 80 pounds, or being taller than 57” can sit without a booster seat in Missouri.
Does an 8-year-old need a booster seat in Missouri?
According to the booster seat laws in Missouri, an 8-year-old wouldn’t need a booster seat. The booster seat has to be used for kids below the age of 8 or kids who weigh less than 80 or are shorter than 57.”
You might also like: What are the Iowa Car Seat Laws?
Who is a child passenger safety technician and what can they do?
A child passenger safety technician is a certified professional who can help you pick the child passenger restraint system let it be rear facing child safety car seats or forward facing child safety seats. Also a child passenger safety technician can help you install properly a child passenger restraint system according to the law in missouri. As you know there’s a different law in missouri for 4 years old and 8 years old in a motor vehicle. So this is what a child passenger safety does.
At how many years old should a child stay rear facing?
According to the car seat law in missouri there’s no exact limit set. However experts agree that 2 years old is the minimum for rear facing.
Does the missouri car seat laws say when can a child ride without car seats?
Yes car seats and child passenger restraint system can be left behind when a child reaches either the age of 8, weight of 80 pounds or height of 57 inches.
Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley
