Arizona
Arizona Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 20, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 20, 2026. · 2 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Arizona law requires children under 5 to ride in a child restraint system. Children ages 5 through 8 who stand shorter than 4 feet 9 inches must also be secured in a federally approved child restraint system. A violation carries a $50 civil penalty under A.R.S. 28-907, which may be waived on proof that an approved restraint was later obtained.
A Summary of Child Car Seat Laws in Arizona
What are the Height and Weight Requirements for Car Seats in Arizona?
Children under five years old should be secured in the appropriate child restraint system.
Parents should rely on American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines when the law has not issued specifics on age, weight or height.
Children with age range 5-8 years who have a height of less than 4'9'' are required to be restrained in a federally approved child restraint system.
The state of Arizona does not state the specific requirements for children to legally sit in the front seat, although we recommend that they are over the age of 13 and tall enough that their feet can touch the floor.
What are the Rear Facing Child Car Seat Laws in Arizona?
Arizona law requires children below the age of 5 to be correctly secured in the appropriate child safety seat. While the state has yet to issue any specific laws for rear-facing seats, parents can use AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guidelines. AAP recommends infants should ride in a rear-facing seat until they turn 2 years old or exceed the manufacturer's weight (at least 20 pounds or more) and height limits. The rear-facing car seat must never be placed in the front seat or near an active airbag. To position your child safely in a rear-facing seat, the straps should lie firmly and flat on top of the shoulders.
What are the Forward Facing Car Seat Laws in Arizona?
By law, children younger than 5 years should be secured with the appropriate child restraint system. The state does not mention anything to do with infants or when forward-facing seats can be used so it is up to the parent to decide what guidelines to follow. Recommendations from AAP advise parents to graduate their children to a forward-facing car seat once they are at least one year old and weigh 20 pounds or more. The car seat manufacturer's guidelines can be used to determine whether to place a child in a forward-facing seat or to turn the seat forward in the case of a convertible seat. These types of seats must be secured at the back seat at all times and away from an active airbag.
What are the Booster Seat Laws in Arizona?
Before August 2012, the law required only children of age 5 and below to use child-safety seats. However, updates were made and now children with age range 5-8 years who have a height of less than 4'9'' are required to be restrained in a federally approved child restraint system. Again, Arizona law does not issue weight guidelines for child restraint systems. So as a parent using AAP guidelines or the manufacturer's weight and height limits may help. Typically, when children reach 40 pounds and are between 4 to 8 years, they can graduate to a booster seat. For a correctly installed booster seat, the belts should have a snug fit across the chest and upper thighs.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in Arizona?
The state of Arizona does not state the specific requirements for children to legally sit in the front seat. However, AAP and manufacturers recommend that children can use a regular seat belt if they are at least 4'9'' or taller and are 8 years or older. If a child is 8 years or older, he or she is not required to use a booster seat. However, emphasis is put on the height since manufacturers design seat belts to fit people who are 4'9'' or taller. In case you realize a car's seat belt does not fit your child, for the sake of safety you should put them in a booster seat until they are comfortable in a regular seat belt.
Are Car Seats Required in Taxis in Arizona?
Arizona requires all children under 8 years old and under 4'9″ to utilize the appropriate child safety seat. They do not have an exemption for taxis. If you are travelling in a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle in Arizona you will need to ensure that you have the appropriate child safety restraint.
Is it Illegal to Leave a Child in the Car in Arizona?
It is not recommended to leave your child alone in a vehicle regardless of location. Arizona does not have a standalone law addressing unattended children in vehicles, but depending on the circumstances, doing so can be charged under Arizona's general child abuse statute, A.R.S. 13-3623. Penalties range from a class 6 felony for negligent conduct up to a class 2 felony (class 1 if the child is under 15) for intentional or knowing conduct under circumstances likely to cause death or serious physical injury.
More Arizona Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Height and Weight Requirements for Car Seats in Arizona?
Children under five years old should be secured in the appropriate child restraint system. Parents should rely on American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines when the law has not issued specifics on age, weight or height. Children with age range 5-8 years who have a height of less than 4'9'' are required to be restrained in a federally approved child restraint system.
What are the Rear Facing Child Car Seat Laws in Arizona?
Arizona law requires children below the age of 5 to be correctly secured in the appropriate child safety seat. While the state has yet to issue any specific laws for rear-facing seats, parents can use AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guidelines. AAP recommends infants should ride in a rear-facing seat until they turn 2 years old or exceed the manufacturer's weight (at least 20 pounds or more)
What are the Forward Facing Car Seat Laws in Arizona?
By law, children younger than 5 years should be secured with the appropriate child restraint system. The state does not mention anything to do with infants or when forward-facing seats can be used so it is up to the parent to decide what guidelines to follow. Recommendations from AAP advise parents to graduate their children to a forward-facing car seat once they are at least one year old and weigh 20 pounds or more.
What are the Booster Seat Laws in Arizona?
Before August 2012, the law required only children of age 5 and below to use child-safety seats. However, updates were made and now children with age range 5-8 years who have a height of less than 4'9'' are required to be restrained in a federally approved child restraint system. Again, Arizona law does not issue weight guidelines for child restraint systems. So as a parent using AAP guidelines or the manufacturer's weight and height limits may help.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in Arizona?
The state of Arizona does not state the specific requirements for children to legally sit in the front seat. However, AAP and manufacturers recommend that children can use a regular seat belt if they are at least 4'9'' or taller and are 8 years or older. If a child is 8 years or older, he or she is not required to use a booster seat. However, emphasis is put on the height since manufacturers design seat belts to fit people who are 4'9'' or taller.
Are Car Seats Required in Taxis in Arizona?
Arizona requires all children under 8 years old and under 4'9″ to utilize the appropriate child safety seat. They do not have an exemption for taxis. If you are travelling in a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare vehicle in Arizona you will need to ensure that you have the appropriate child safety restraint.
Is it Illegal to Leave a Child in the Car in Arizona?
It is not recommended to leave your child alone in a vehicle regardless of location. Arizona does not have a standalone law addressing unattended children in vehicles, but depending on the circumstances, doing so can be charged under Arizona's general child abuse statute, A.R.S. 13-3623. Penalties range from a class 6 felony for negligent conduct up to a class 2 felony (class 1 if the child is under 15) for intentional or knowing conduct under circumstances likely to cause death or serious physical injury.
Updates
Corrected the claim that leaving a child unattended in a vehicle is a flat 'class six felony for reckless behavior' in Arizona; there is no dedicated statute, and the general child abuse law (A.R.S. 13-3623) actually ranges from a class 6 felony up to a class 2 felony depending on the circumstances and mental state. Also added the $50 civil penalty for a child-restraint violation that the page's own metadata promised but never delivered.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 28 (Transportation), Chapter 3 (TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE REGULATION), Article 15 (Miscellaneous Rules)
§ 28-907Child restraint system; civil penalty; exemptions; notice; child restraint fund; definitionsIn force
A. Except as provided in subsection H of this section, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle on the highways in this state when transporting a child who is under five years of age unless that child is properly secured in a child restraint system. B. The operator of a motor vehicle that is designed for carrying ten or fewer passengers, that is manufactured for the model year 1972 and thereafter and that is required to be equipped with an integrated lap and shoulder belt or a lap belt pursuant to the federal motor vehicle safety standards prescribed in 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.208 shall require each passenger who is at least five years of age, who is under eight years of age and who is not more than four feet nine inches tall to be restrained in a child restraint system. C. Child restraint systems shall meet the requirements of 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.213 for the performance, design and installation of child restraint systems for use in motor vehicles as prescribed in this section. D.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-09 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov
Cited in 4 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 1999
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Law v. Superior Court of State of Ariz. (Arizona Supreme Court 1988, 157 Ariz. 147)“…any general legislation mandating seat belt use. But see A.R.S. § 28-907 requiring seat belt use for children fo…”
- Garcia v. General Motors Corp. (Court of Appeals of Arizona 1999, 195 Ariz. 510)“…me situations, such as for the very young, see A.R.S. section 28-907 (1998); Idaho Code section 49-672, or f…”
- Warfel v. Cheney (Court of Appeals of Arizona 1988, 157 Ariz. 424)“…systems for children under 4 years of age, see A.R.S. § 28-907, did not forbid a defendant from showin…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 13 (Criminal Code), Chapter 36 (FAMILY OFFENSES)
§ 13-3623Child or vulnerable adult abuse; emotional abuse; classification; exceptions; definitionsIn force
A. Under circumstances likely to produce death or serious physical injury, any person who causes a child or vulnerable adult to suffer physical injury or, having the care or custody of a child or vulnerable adult, who causes or permits the person or health of the child or vulnerable adult to be injured or who causes or permits a child or vulnerable adult to be placed in a situation where the person or health of the child or vulnerable adult is endangered is guilty of an offense as follows: 1. If done intentionally or knowingly, the offense is a class 2 felony and if the victim is under fifteen years of age it is punishable pursuant to section 13-705. 2. If done recklessly, the offense is a class 3 felony. 3. If done with criminal negligence, the offense is a class 4 felony. B.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at azleg.gov
Cited in 116 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State of Arizona v. Christopher Mathew Payne (Arizona Supreme Court 2013, 233 Ariz. 484)“…e intentionally or knowingly,” it becomes a class 2 felony. A.R.S. § 13-3623(A)(1). It is a lesser offense if done n…”
- State v. Mott (Arizona Supreme Court 1997, 187 Ariz. 536)“…to produce death or serious injury, a class 2 felony. See A.R.S. § 13-3623(B) and (C). We focus on the class 2 fel…”
- State v. Jones (Arizona Supreme Court 1997, 188 Ariz. 388)“…Count Four). A person is guilty of child abuse under A.R.S. § 13-3623(B) if, while having “care or custody of…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Search our full record of US law — 2.1 million sections, every state + federal →