What are the Vermont Car Seat Laws?

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

Looking up and interpreting laws is not fun. I can think of better ways to spend my time, and yet it’s necessary.

Look:

I will spare you from the boring and dryness of car seat laws. This is why I’ve decided to create this article to save you time and not bore you to death with legal jargon.

Before I had my three kids, I used to be a paralegal, so I’m quite skilled at understanding and interpreting law. This article will provide the answers you need to keep your kids safe and avoid potential fines.

No matter if you’re interested in booster seat laws, when can a child be in forward-facing mode or what rules apply to taxis, I have the answer for 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.

Vermont Booster Seat Laws

The booster seat law says that kids ages 8 and 18 have to be secured with either the seat belt or the booster seat, depending on which fits the best.

I’m in big favor of the booster seat because it’s typically more comfortable than the regular seat, and it’s a tad bit more secure than the seat belt.

Vermont Rear-facing Car Seat Laws

According to the law in the state of Vermont, all kids below the age of one and weighing under 20 pounds have to face in rear-facing mode in the back.

If you install them in the front, make sure that the airbag is disabled.

It wouldn’t hurt to keep your child in rear-facing mode until the age of 2 because that’s the safest way to ride.

Vermont Forward-facing Car Seat Laws

For forward-facing mode, there’s no specific law. The only thing I could find was if your child is over the age of 1 and weighs more than 20 pounds, you need to pick a car seat that fits them best.

I still recommend not rushing with forward-facing keep them in rear-facing as long as possible.

Vermont Taxi Car Seat Laws

All vehicles, including Taxis, require a child safety seat for traveling. The only exception from this law is the school bus. So make sure you bring your car seat or arrange one ahead of time.

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

There’s no exact law on when a child can sit in the front seat. The only reference I could find was that if your child is in the front, you have to disable the airbag.

Typically it’s recommended to wait until the age of 12 or 13 for your child / young adult to sit in the front.

Vermont Car Seat Laws at a Glance

Here you can see the whole Vermont car seat law at a glance:

Car Seat Law (23 V.S.A. § 1258)

Law: Every passenger under the age of 18 has to be secured with a federally approved car seat or restraint (harness) the following way:

If your child is under the age of 1 or weighs less than 20 pounds, they need to be restrained in a rear-facing car seat approved federally. And this car seat can’t be installed in the front with an active airbag so disable it.
If your child is older than 1 weighs more than 20 pounds, and is under the age of 8, they have to be restrained in a car seat suitable for their height and weight.
If your child is between 8 and 18, then they have to be secured either by the safety belt or other child restraining system that fits.
Children aged 8 up to 18 years of age shall be restrained in a safety belt system or a child passenger restraining system.

Location in car: Kids under the age of 1 should be in the back if that back seat is available, and if they are in the front, the airbag needs to be disabled.

Taxi: In Vermont, taxis are not exempt from the car seat law. This means that you either bring your own car seat or arrange it ahead of time. The only exception would be the school bus, so even ride-sharing requires a car seat.

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

Fines: $25 for first violation

Seat Belt Law

Law: All passengers let it be in the front, or the back, must wear seat belts.
Fine: $25
RVs: There’s nothing special about RVs. They have to follow the same requirements. The exception would be for children who require child restraints.

What is the law concerning Leaving kids in the Car in Vermont

There are no laws governing leaving kids in the car unattended. I highly recommend against it because you will never know what can happen.

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

According to a bill, it’s illegal to smoke in public places, including a car. So you are not allowed to smoke in your car even if there are no kids present.

Conclusions on Vermont Car Seat Laws

We have reached the end of this car seat article.

I hope you have found what you’ve been looking for. I’ve done my best to use simple and easy-to-use language so anybody can understand how to keep their kids safe and sound.

If I’ve missed something, let me know and I will update this article.

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 New Hampshire with your kids?

There shouldn’t be a trip planned without checking the New Hampshire car seat laws because in the best case you could get fined or in the worst case…

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the car seat laws in Vermont?

The car seat laws in Vermont state: All kids under the age of 1 have to be in rear-facing mode. All kids between the ages of 1 and 8 have to be secured with a federally approved safety seat, and kids between the ages of 8 and 18 should be restrained with a seat belt.

How old does a child have to be to sit in the front seat in Vermont?

There’s no exact law when a child can sit in the front. It’s highly advisable that only after the age of 13 should you let your child sit in the front. In case they are smaller, make sure you disable the airbag.

When can a child go without a car seat or booster?

A child can go without a booster as soon as they outgrow them either by height or weight. Or if they are sufficiently tall, as in 57” so the seat belt is safe for them.

What are the height and weight requirements for a car seat?

Each stage car seat has its own set of values regarding weight and height requirements, plus every brand has a different number.

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 proper car seats for your motor vehicle let it be a rear facing car seats, booster seats, convertible seats. Also they can explain in detail the vermont law regarding car seat laws. They can help you to get the car seats properly restrained let it be rear facing convertible seats, or booster seats according to vermont law. They can perform a car seat safety inspection after an accident and potentially advise a car seat replacement.

When is a car seat replacement needed?

A car seat replacement is needed when the vehicles was involved in a crash. These car seats can have invisible damages done so it’s possible that it won’t be able to protect to it’s fullest potential.

When can kids moved from the back seat to the front?

According to the law babies younger than 1 years old have to be in the back seat (rear seat). However experts recommend that only kids older than 13 years old should sit in the front. It’s clear to see that it’s recommended that only kids that don’t use car seats should sit in the front. Lap belt securing is recommended for these kids. Not even booster seats are advised.

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley