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Car seat & booster law

Kentucky

Verified · JUN 2026

Quick answer · Kentucky

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".

A child 40 inches or shorter must be in a child restraint. A child under 8 who is between 40 and 57 inches must be in a booster. A child taller than 57 inches, or age 8 or older, may use a seat belt.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.125 Read the statute

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The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

General information, not legal advice.

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Required 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
Not specified by law
Booster until
Age 8 or 4'9"
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 Kentucky's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in each stage longer than the law requires.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Kentucky.

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.125
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.125
Age
8 yr +
Height
or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Back seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Kentucky in 2026?
A child 40 inches or shorter must be in a child restraint. A child under 8 who is between 40 and 57 inches must be in a booster. A child taller than 57 inches, or age 8 or older, may use a seat belt.
When can my child stop using a booster in Kentucky?
Once the child is taller than 57 inches (4 feet 9 inches) or age 8 or older. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.
Does Kentucky require a rear-facing car seat to a certain age?
No. Kentucky's law is height-based and does not set a rear-facing age. Children 40 inches or shorter must be in a child restraint that meets federal standards, but the statute does not specify rear-facing. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the car seat allows.
Do children have to ride in the back seat in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky law does not require children to ride in the back seat. It is still recommended for all children under 13, since the back seat is the safest place to ride.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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