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Car seat & booster law

Wisconsin

Verified · JUN 2026

Quick answer · Wisconsin

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

Children under 1 (or under 20 pounds) must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 (20 to 40 pounds) must be in a forward-facing harness. Children 4 to 7 (40 to 80 pounds and under 57 inches) must be in a booster.

Rear-facing < 1 yr Forward 1+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4) 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
Age 1
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 Wisconsin's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend rear-facing well past age 1 and a booster until the seat belt fits.

Every stage, by the law

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

Rear-facing Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
Age
Birth – 1 yr
Forward-facing Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
Age
1 yr – 8 yr
Booster Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt Wis. Stat. § 347.48(4)
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 Wisconsin in 2026?
Children under 1 or under 20 pounds must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 (20 to 40 pounds) must be in a forward-facing harness. Children 4 to 7 (40 to 80 pounds and under 57 inches) must be in a booster.
When can my child stop using a booster in Wisconsin?
Once the child is 8 years old, weighs more than 80 pounds, or is 57 inches or taller. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits.
Does Wisconsin require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?
Yes. In Wisconsin a child under 1, or under 20 pounds, must ride rear-facing. Children 1 to 3 ride in a forward-facing harness, and children 4 to 7 use a booster. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows.
Are taxis or Uber exempt from Wisconsin's car seat law?
No. Wisconsin's child restraint requirement applies to passenger vehicles, with no general taxi or rideshare exemption from the child seat rules.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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