Car seat & booster law
Utah
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Utah
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".
A child younger than 8 must be in a child restraint device unless they are 57 inches or taller. From age 8, a seat belt is required through age 16.
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
- 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 Utah'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 Utah.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Infant (per seat) | — | — | Guidance |
| Forward-facing | Toddler (per seat) | — | — | Guidance |
| Booster | until 8 yr | < 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Utah Code § 41-6a-1803 |
| Seat belt | 8 yr + | or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm | — | Utah Code § 41-6a-1803 |
| Back seat | Recommended < 13 | — | — | Guidance |
- Age
- Infant (per seat)
- Age
- Toddler (per seat)
- Age
- until 8 yr
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- 8 yr +
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- Recommended < 13