How old does a child need to be to ride in a car’s front seat? What Florida law says

It’s a weekday morning and you’re running late. You need to drop your kids off at school before work, and just as you’ve gotten everyone into the car with their lunch and their backpacks, you think to yourself: Are they too young to be sitting in the front seat?

It’s back to school season in South Florida, and that means homework, hectic mornings and school commutes. If you’re wondering whether or not your kid is allowed to sit up front, you aren’t alone.

Here’s what Florida law says, and what experts recommend.

Is it illegal in Florida to put a child in the front seat?

Florida doesn’t have a law that says how old a child needs to be to sit in the front seat. So, if your kid hops into the front seat on a Monday morning, no need to worry about a cop pulling you over.

That said, Florida law does have some specific requirements for children riding in cars.

What are the Florida laws regulating kids in cars?

Florida law mandates that children under 5 years old can only ride in a car under certain conditions. The law says that:

▪ Any child 5 years old or younger must be seated in a “crash-tested” and “federally approved” car seat.

▪ If the child is 3 years old or younger, the car seat must be “a separate carrier” or “integrated child seat.”

▪ If children are 4 or 5 years old, then they can also use a booster seat.

What is the punishment for not having a car seat for a child?

Not putting your child in a car seat is treated as a moving violation in Florida. This means that if you are caught driving with a child younger than 5 who isn’t in a car seat, you could get a $60 ticket and three points on your driver’s license.

How old should a child be to ride in the front seat?

Though there is no specific Florida law about who can sit in the front seat, there are some guidelines that can help you make decisions about your child’s safety.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children below the age of 13 ride in the rear seats to increase their safety in case of a crash.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration offers similar guidelines, urging drivers to make sure children 12 years old and younger ride in the back seat “because it’s safer there.”

The U.S. Highway Administration offers more detailed guidelines for car seats on its website.