When is it safe for kids to sit in the front seat?
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Key takeaways
Deciding when your child can safely ride in the front seat is a milestone many parents look forward to. But the answer isn’t always simple. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidance, state laws, and your child’s readiness all play a role in making the safest decision.
The golden rule: Age 13 and up
The NHTSA recommends that kids under 13 ride in the back seat. This is because airbags, designed for adults, can seriously injure younger, smaller passengers in a crash. Many states follow this guideline, but local laws may differ. Always confirm your state’s requirements before making the switch.
State laws for car seats and boosters
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Each state sets its own child passenger safety laws. Below is a list of the current statutes and safety summaries for each state. Laws change, so confirm the details with your state before you travel.
State | Front-seat placement rule (rear-seat requirements, if any) |
Alabama | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Alaska | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Arizona | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Arkansas | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
California | Children 7 and younger who are under 57" must ride in the rear seat. |
Colorado | Children 8 and younger must ride in the rear seat. |
Connecticut | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Delaware | 11 and younger and ≤65" must ride in rear seat if passenger airbag is active. |
District of Columbia | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Florida | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Georgia | 7 and younger must ride in the rear seat. |
Hawaii | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Idaho | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Illinois | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Indiana | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Iowa | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Kansas | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Kentucky | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Louisiana | 12 and younger must ride in the rear seat. |
Maine | 11 and younger and <100 lb must ride in rear seat. |
Maryland | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Massachusetts | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Michigan | 12 and younger must ride in the rear seat if available. |
Minnesota | 12 and younger must ride in the rear seat if available. |
Mississippi | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Missouri | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Montana | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Nebraska | 7 and younger must ride in the rear seat. |
Nevada | Under 2 must ride in the rear seat if available; front seat permissible only with physician certification and deactivated airbag. |
New Hampshire | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
New Jersey | 7 and younger and <57" must ride in the rear seat if available; rear-facing seats cannot go in front of an active airbag. |
New Mexico | Under 1 in a rear-facing restraint must ride in rear seat if available. |
New York | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
North Carolina | Children 4 years and younger <40 pounds must be in the rear seat unless the front passenger airbag is deactivated or the restraint is designed for use with airbags. |
North Dakota | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Ohio | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Oklahoma | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Oregon | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Pennsylvania | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Rhode Island | 7 and younger must ride in the rear seat. |
South Carolina | 7 and younger must ride in the rear seat. |
South Dakota | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Tennessee | Children 8 years and younger and <57 inches must be in rear seat; rear seat recommended for children 9-12. |
Texas | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Utah | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Vermont | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Virginia | Children in rear-facing devices must be in rear seat |
Washington | 12 and younger must ride in the rear seat if practical. |
West Virginia | No explicit rear-seat placement in statute. |
Wisconsin | Children 3 and younger must be in a rear seat |
Wyoming | Children 8 years and younger must be in rear seat |
When is my child ready to sit in the front seat?
Even if your child is 13, it doesn’t automatically mean they’re ready. Think through these checkpoints:
Height and weight: A good benchmark is around 4’9” tall (57 inches) and 80–100 pounds. At this size, seat belts are more likely to rest low across the hips and across the center of the chest.
Seat belt fit test: Lap belt should stay snug on the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt should lie flat across the chest, not the neck or face.
Posture: Your child should be able to sit upright, with their back against the seat and knees naturally bent at the edge, for the entire ride.
Maturity: Can they sit still without leaning forward, slouching, or playing with seat belt straps or dashboard controls?
Safety tips for parents
If your child does ride up front, follow these stronger safety practices:
Push the front seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.
Remind kids to sit tall with their back to the seat and feet on the floor.
Make seat belt checks routine before every trip: lap belt low, shoulder belt snug.
Remove bulky coats, backpacks, or cushions that affect belt positioning.
If your vehicle allows, disable the passenger airbag for smaller or younger teens.
Model the right behavior by buckling up correctly every time—you set the example.
These steps go a long way toward reducing risk and making the front seat safer when the time is right. For more practical guidance, parents may also find it helpful to review our tips on how to prevent car accidents. And because technology plays a role in keeping families safe, see how crash detection works to add extra peace of mind both on and off the road.
FAQs
What if my child is over 13 but still small?
If the seat belt doesn’t fit correctly, it’s safest to keep them in the back until they grow.
Can kids ride in the front seat in a two-seater car?
Yes, but make sure the airbag is off if possible and the child is properly buckled.
What are the specific dangers of an airbag for a child?
Airbags deploy with great force, which can injure kids who are too small or sitting too close to the dashboard.
Make the call when the time is right
Don’t rush to move them to the front seat. Trust the guidelines, but back them up with your own judgment. When the belt fits and your kid’s ready, you’ll know. Until then, the back seat is the safest call.
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This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.
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