When can a child legally sit in the front seat in NC? Here are the requirements
Once your child has reached a certain age, you might consider allowing them to ride in the front seat of the car. As they grow out of their car seat and then booster seat, they might express interest in moving to the front of the car alongside you.
But North Carolina has regulations governing when they’re allowed to do so.
Here’s what state laws say on when you can legally allow your child to sit in the front passenger seat:
When can a child legally sit in the front seat in NC?
A child’s eligibility to ride in the front seat depends on their age and weight.
Children younger than five years of age and who weigh less than 40 pounds “shall be properly secured in a rear seat” if the vehicle has a passenger side front air bag and a rear seat, according to North Carolina law.
BuckleUpNC, an offshoot of the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, recommends keeping kids in the back seat until they are 12 or 13.
It is legal for children to ride in the front seat if any of the following apply, according to BuckleUpNC.org:
The vehicle has no front passenger air bag
The vehicle has a front passenger air bag that is turned off with an on/off switch
The vehicle has no rear seat
The child is 5 years or older
The child weighs 40 pounds or more
“If a child needs to ride in the front seat, you should still use a car seat or booster seat where appropriate,” BuckleUpNC says. “Rear-facing car seats must always be in the back seat unless the vehicle has no front passenger airbag or unless the front passenger airbag can be turned off.”
When are car seats required for children in NC?
Car seats are required for children younger than eight years of age and who weigh less than 80 pounds, according to state law, but the law does not specify which type of seat must be used.
The only requirement under North Carolina law is that any car seat must be used correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions, according to BuckleUpNC.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing car safety seat, and that all children who have outgrown the rear-facing seats should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible.
“All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection,” the AAP says.
This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 11:31 AM with the headline "When can a child legally sit in the front seat in NC? Here are the requirements."
