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Car seat & booster law

Ohio

Verified · JUN 2026

Quick answer · Ohio

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

Children under 4 years or under 40 pounds must be in a child safety seat. Children under 8 and under 4 feet 9 inches must be in a booster. From age 8, or once 4 feet 9 inches, a seat belt is legal.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.81 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 Ohio'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 Ohio.

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.81
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.81
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 Ohio in 2026?
Children under 4 years or under 40 pounds must be in a child safety seat. Children under 8 and under 4 feet 9 inches must be in a booster. From age 8, or once 4 feet 9 inches tall, a seat belt is legal.
When can my child stop using a booster in Ohio?
Once the child is 8 years old or reaches 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.
Does Ohio require rear-facing car seats?
Ohio law does not set a rear-facing age. It requires a child under 4 years or under 40 pounds to be in a child safety seat. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, well beyond what Ohio law requires.
Are taxis exempt from Ohio's car seat law?
Yes. Ohio exempts certain vehicles, such as taxis and buses, from the child restraint requirement. The safety recommendation to use a car seat or booster still applies whenever one can be used.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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