Car seat & booster law
Alabama
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Alabama
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 6 years old.
Infants ride rear-facing until at least 1 year or 20 pounds; then forward-facing until at least 5 years or 40 pounds; then a booster until age 6; then a seat belt until age 15.
Car seat law checker
The legally required restraint, by state.
General information, not legal advice.
SeatCheckerRequired vs recommended
What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.
The law requires
Minimum, or it's enforceable
- Rear-facing until
- Age 1
- Booster until
- Age 6
- Back seat
- Not required
Pediatricians recommend
AAP — safer, not the law
- Rear-facing until
- To seat limit (often age 2+)
- Booster until
- 4'9" — typically age 8–12
- Back seat
- Until age 13
AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Alabama's legal minimum, which ends the booster requirement at age 6. Pediatricians recommend a booster until the seat belt fits, often closer to 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Alabama.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 1 yr | — | or 20 lb / 9 kg | Ala. Code § 32-5-222 |
| Forward-facing | 1 yr – 6 yr | — | — | Ala. Code § 32-5-222 |
| Booster | until 6 yr | — | — | Ala. Code § 32-5-222 |
| Seat belt | 6 yr + | — | — | Ala. Code § 32-5-222 |
| Back seat | Recommended < 13 | — | — | Guidance |
- Age
- Birth – 1 yr
- Weight
- or 20 lb / 9 kg
- Age
- 1 yr – 6 yr
- Age
- until 6 yr
- Age
- 6 yr +
- Age
- Recommended < 13