Car seat & booster law
New Jersey
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · New Jersey
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".
Children under 2 and 30 pounds ride rear-facing with a 5-point harness; under 4 and 40 pounds in a 5-point harness; under 8 and 57 inches in a harness or booster. All of these must be in a rear seat.
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 2
- Booster until
- Age 8 or 4'9"
- Back seat
- Required under 8
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 New Jersey's legal minimum. New Jersey's detailed harness staging and rear-seat requirement already track the recommendations closely.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in New Jersey.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 2 yr | — | or 30 lb / 14 kg | N.J.S.A. § 39:3-76.2a |
| Forward-facing | 2 yr – 8 yr | — | — | N.J.S.A. § 39:3-76.2a |
| Booster | until 8 yr | < 4'9" / 145 cm | — | N.J.S.A. § 39:3-76.2a |
| Seat belt | 8 yr + | or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm | — | N.J.S.A. § 39:3-76.2a |
| Back seat | under 8 yr | — | — | N.J.S.A. § 39:3-76.2a |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Weight
- or 30 lb / 14 kg
- Age
- 2 yr – 8 yr
- Age
- until 8 yr
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- 8 yr +
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- under 8 yr