What are the South Carolina Car Seat Laws?

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

You have found the most recent and up-to-date car seat laws for the state of South Carolina so you can keep your kids safe and avoid those fines.

Look:

I’m a mother of 3 sweet angels (when they are asleep), and we travel a lot. So I know how important it is to know the car seat laws. Luckily I have a paralegal past, so it’s easy for me to find the right laws and translate them from high legal jargon to something that is understood by anyone.

This is the reason why I’ve written this article to help you, sleep-deprived parents, out. After reading this article, you won’t have to pay a high-priced lawyer to explain the law to you.

Maybe you want some answers to simple questions such as what is the booster seat law? Or when can you upgrade a child from rear-facing to forward-facing? Or are taxis exempt from the car seat law?

All these questions and more 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.

South Carolina Booster Seat Laws

According to the booster seat laws in South Carolina, kids who are above the age of 4 or have outgrown their forward-facing car seats can transition into a booster seat.

The booster seat with the lap-shoulder belt is used until the age of 8 or when they reach the height of 57 inches.

South Carolina Rear-facing Car Seat Laws

According to the law, all kids under the age of 2 have to ride in a rear-facing car seat that meets all federal safety standards until they have outgrown the manufacturer’s stated maximum weight and height limits.

South Carolina Forward-facing Car Seat Law

According to the law, all kids between the ages of 2 and 4 must sit in a forward-facing car seat until they have outgrown them by reaching the maximum weight and height stated by the manufacturer.

South Carolina Taxi Car Seat Laws

According to the law, a taxi is a commercial vehicle, so it’s exempt from the above-mentioned car seat laws. This means that you have to bring your car seat if you want to keep your kids safe, even on short rides.

When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in South Carolina?

According to the law, all kids below the age of 8 have to sit in the back seat if it’s available. However, experts strongly suggest that only kids above the age of 13 should sit in the front.

South Carolina Car Seat Laws at a Glance

Here you can find the entire law in one place:

Car Seat Law (Title 56 Chapter 5 Article 47 SECTION 56-5-6410)

Law: According to the law, all kids under the age of 8 have to be secured the following way:

If you have a child under the age of 2, they can be secured in a rear-facing car seat that meets all federal safety standards. They have to use these rear-facing seats until they have reached the maximum allowed weight or height stated by the manufacturer.
Suppose your child is over the age of 2 or has outgrown their rear-facing seat then they can be upgraded to a forward-facing car seat in the back row. And they should keep using this forward-facing car seat until they have reached the maximum weight and height allowed by the manufacturer.
If your child has at least 4 years of age and has outgrown their forward-facing car seat, then they can be upgraded into a belt-positioning booster seat which has to be secured in the back row with the lap-shoulder belt. They should ride in this booster seat until they meet the requirements of the car seat belt.
Suppose your child is at least 8 years old or at least 57 inches tall, then you can transition them to the seat belt restraint if it fits properly.

Location in car: According to the law, all kids under the age of 8 have to seat in the back seat if available.

Taxi: Taxis are exempt from the car seat laws mentioned above. If you want to protect your kids, you have to bring your own car seat, even for a short trip.

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

Fines: $150

Seat Belt Law

Law: The law states that all occupants have to wear a seat belt.
Fine: $25
RVs: The RV law is the same as the general seat belt law. It says that all RV occupants have to wear the seat belt, and for kids, the car seat laws apply.

What is the law concerning Leaving kids in the car in South Carolina?

There is no law that would ban leaving a child unattended in the car. However, you can still be charged with neglect if the officer sees it fit.

Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in South Carolina?

There are no laws in place that would ban smoking while driving kids. I strongly suggest holding off smoking when transporting kids because secondhand smoke can and will cause disease.

Conclusions on South Carolina Car Seat Laws

We have reached the end of this article. I hope you have found the info useful and found the answers to what you’ve been looking for. I’m glad that I could help a fellow parent out.

Maybe you have other questions, or something is out of date. No, worries, just send me a message, and I’ll get back to you.

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!

Are you traveling to Florida with your kids?

As safety conscious parents it’s our duty to know exactly what are the Florida car seat laws and apply them when we’re out of state.

Related State: NC car seat laws

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the booster seat law in South Carolina?

The booster seat law in South Carolina is as follows: kids between the ages of 4 and 8 who have outgrown their forward-facing car seats can use a belt-positioning booster seat until the age of or reaches the height of 57 inches.

How tall should a child be in SC to sit without a booster seat?

A child should be at least 57 inches tall in SC to travel without a booster seat.

When can a child stop using a booster seat?

A child can stop using a booster seat in SC when they either reach the age of 8, or they are 57 inches tall.

Does my 8-year-old need a car seat?

In the state of South Carolina, an 8-year-old won’t need a car seat if they can securely use a seat belt.

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 choose the appropriate car seat let it be convertible car seat, car safety seats for your motor vehicle. Also they can explain the south carolina law (south carolina car seat laws), child passenger safety laws and seat belt laws in detail. They can also show you when you can upgrade to the lap belt, safety belt (lap and shoulder belt) and not need any more car seats in a motor vehicle.

When can south carolina children sit in the front seat?

According to the law kids older than 8 years old can sit in the front seat in a motor vehicle. Younger kids have to sit in the rear seat (rear seats) because that’s the safest for them. However experts agree that only 13 years old and above should be sitting in the front seat. At age 8 car seats are not necessary and kids can upgrade from the rear seat and use the lab belt safety belt.

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley