​California’s Car Seat Laws

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children under the age of 4. We, as transportation providers cannot stress enough that the correct use of car seats while traveling can help decrease the risk of serious child injuries by 70%. Parents often look to their pediatricians for guidance, but when on the road, visiting a different city and in need of a taxi or limo you need to find transportation providers that can guide you as well. Ride In Bliss and its chauffeurs are certified to provide parents with that much-needed guidance every step of the way.

Do I need car seat in California?

Newborns – 2 years of age must travel Rear-Facing!

“Children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds OR is 40 or more inches tall. The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat. This section does not apply to a driver if the parent or legal guardian of the child is a passenger in the motor vehicle.”

Toddlers - 2 years – 4 years of age Rear-Facing to Forward-Facing!

“Children can move to a forward-facing car seat once they have outgrown the legal limits and manufacturer's specifications for the rear-facing car seat. Keep in mind that children under the age of 2 are 500% safer in a rear-facing car seat than a forward-facing car seat.”

It is the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that kids stay in rear-facing seats for as long as possible if they have not reached the height and weight limits.

Reaching the height and weight limits is a better indicator of what car seat is safest for your child than age is. Some kids do not reach the 40-40 dimensions until they are 4.

Once the weight and height limits have been reached children transition to a forward-facing car seat in the back of the vehicle with a five-point harness.

School Age - 5 years – 8 years of age must travel in a Booster Seat!

When children reach 65 pounds, they can transition to a booster seat provided the seat belt sits across their chest not the neck, and across their upper thighs snuggly.

Pre- Teens  - 8 years to 12 years

This is the age when children can transition to using the vehicle’s adult seatbelt provided the child is at least 4’9’’. Some kids only reach this height when they turn 12.

How to pick correct car seat for my child?

When you need to pick child car seats you have 3 options/categories to choose from.

The simplest way to choose the safest option for your child is to consider a few criteria.

Ask yourself these questions: How old is my child? How tall is my child? How much does my child weight? By knowing the answers to these questions, you can always choose the safest travel system for your children wherever you are.

When traveling to California, parents/caregivers should be mindful and check the laws regulating the use of car seats in public and private transportation. Parents are liable and may get hefty fines for not using the age and size-appropriate car seats for their children. More importantly, transportation providers can refuse to offer services or will most definitely pray on parents by charging extra car-seat fees. If you must travel to sunny California but lugging your car seat is a logistical nightmare, plan your pick-ups and drop-offs with Ride In Bliss because they are the only car service company that will provide free-of-charge car-seats for children of all ages.