What are the Tennessee Car Seat Laws?

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

It’s not the most fun thing to do when you have to catch up with car seat laws in the state of Tennessee…

Look:

There are probably a million better things to do than making sense of lawyer jargon. You’re in luck because I used to be a paralegal before having kids, so I know how to easily translate lawyer speak into something easy and actionable.

Since I have 3 amazing kids (typically angel-like when they are asleep) and we travel a lot, I had to learn all the car seat laws so I could keep them safe.

This is why I’ve created this article to help fellow parents out. By reading it to the end, you will know exactly how to keep your kids safe without the need for a high-priced lawyer explaining it to you.

Also, if you have specific questions like what’s the booster seat law, or when can a child legally sit in the front or are taxis exempt from car seat laws, I have the perfect answers for them. Scroll a bit, and you will find them.

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.

Tennessee Booster Seat Law

According to the booster seat laws in the state of Tennessee, kids between the ages of 4 and 8 have to be secured with a belt-positioning booster seat.

The exception from the rule happens if the child is above 57 inches.

Tennessee Rear-facing Car Seat Law

According to the law, babies under the age of one and weighing less than 20 pounds have to be secured with a rear-facing car seat.

However, I strongly suggest keeping your child rear-facing until the age of 2 because that’s the safest way for them to travel.

Tennessee Forward-facing Car Seat Law

According to the law, kids between the ages of 1 and 3 have to be secured with a forward-facing car seat.

They can be upgraded into a forward-facing car seat when they weigh 20 pounds or more.

Tennessee Taxi Car Seat Law

According to the law, taxis are exempt from the car seat rules mentioned above. This means that you have to bring a car seat to keep your kids safe on short trips.

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

According to the law, kids under the age of 12 should be secured in the back seat. This means that above the age of 12, they can legally sit in the front in Tennessee.

Tennessee Car Seat Laws at a Glance

Here you can find the entire law in one place:

Car Seat Law (T.C.A. 55-9-602)

Law: Kids have to be properly secured the following way:

If your child is under the age of 1 or weighs less than 20 pounds, they have to be secured by a federally approved rear-facing car seat in the back seat.
Suppose your child is in the age range of 1 and 3 and weighs more than 20 pounds. They have to be secured in a federally approved forward-facing car seat in the back seat.
If your child is between 4 and 8 and shorter than 57 inches, they must be secured by a federally approved belt-positioning booster seat in the back seat.
Suppose your child is between 9 and 12 and is taller than 57 inches. They have to be secured by the seat belt in the back.
If your child is between 13 and 15, they must be secured by the seat belt.

Location in car: According to the law, kids under the age of 12 should be secured in the back seat.

Taxi: Taxis are exempt from the car seat laws listed above.

RideSafer legal: Yes. The RideSafer travel vest, a federally approved child restraint system, qualifies for children who are at least age 3 and 30 pounds.

Fines: $50

Seat Belt Law

Law: According to the law, all occupants in the front have to wear a seat belt.
Fine: $30
RVs: The RV law follows the general seat belt law as in all front 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 Tennessee?

It’s illegal to leave a child under the age of 7 unattended in a vehicle unless at least 13 years or older in the vehicle. This law was passed because there were many fatalities because of overheating.

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

At the moment, there are no laws that would ban smoking in a car while driving kids. I strongly suggest holding off smoking while transporting kids because secondhand smoke causes disease.

Conclusions on Tennessee Car Seat Laws

We have reached the end of this article. As promised, I’ve delivered the car seat laws in an easy-to-digest format. Now you know exactly how to keep your kids safe and avoid those fines.

By now, you should have found all the answers you’ve needed. Just in case I’ve missed something, let me know by sending me a message, and I will do my best to 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!

Related state: Alabama car seat laws

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the law for booster seats in Tennessee?

The booster seat law in Tennessee is as follows. Kids between the ages of 4 and 8 have to be secured with a belt-positioning booster seat. The exception is when they reach the height of 57 inches.

How old does a child have to be to be forward-facing in Tennessee?

According to the law, kids between the ages of 1 and 3 have to be in a forward-facing car seat in Tennessee. Also, they should weigh more than 20 pounds.

When can babies face forward in 2023?

Babies can face forward when they weigh more than 20 pounds, which can happen between ages 1 and 4.

Neighbour state: When can a child sit in the front seat in north Carolina?

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 right car seats, child safety seat such as booster seats, front seat, rear facing position safety seat. Plus they can help you install a convertible car seat and booster seats according to tennessee car seat laws. Now, a child passenger safety technician can explain in details the child passenger safety laws which are very similar to federal motor vehicle safety laws. Plus they can help you know when it’s the right time to upgrade from car seats to safety belts or seat belt system.

How important is rear facing with a child restraint?

The rear facing child restraint is very important because it’s the safest way for kids to ride according to the tennessee highway safety office and the tennessee child passenger safety. So yes keep your car seats rear facing as long as possible because they are the safest.

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley