Car seat & booster law
Tennessee
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Tennessee
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 9 years old or taller than 4'9".
Children under 1 or 20 pounds or less ride rear-facing; ages 1 to 3 over 20 pounds forward-facing; ages 4 to 8 under 4 feet 9 inches in a booster; ages 9 to 12 (or any child through 12 who is 4 feet 9 inches) in a seat belt. Restraints go in the rear seat where available.
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 9 or 4'9"
- Back seat
- Required under 9
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 Tennessee's legal minimum. Tennessee's detailed staging tracks the recommendations closely, including booster use through age 8 and rear seat use where available.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Tennessee.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 1 yr | — | — | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602 |
| Forward-facing | 1 yr – 9 yr | — | — | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602 |
| Booster | until 9 yr | < 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602 |
| Seat belt | 9 yr + | or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602 |
| Back seat | under 9 yr | — | — | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-602 |
- Age
- Birth – 1 yr
- Age
- 1 yr – 9 yr
- Age
- until 9 yr
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- 9 yr +
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- under 9 yr