Missouri Car Seat Laws 2024 (Rear, Forward & Booster)

Under Missouri car seat laws, all children under the age of 16 years have to be secured in a child restraint system or a seat belt.

A violation of the law constitutes an infraction and carries a maximum penalty of $50 plus court costs. The driver will be held responsible for the violation.

Disclaimer: This content does not constitute legal advice. It is solely for informational purposes. Always check the original source of the law for the latest version.

• Rear-Facing
• Forward-Facing 
• Booster 
• Front Seat
• Seat Belt
• Taxi Seat
• Ridesharing Seat
• Replacement
• Alone in Car
• Choosing a Seat
• Installation Help

Missouri Car Seat Laws

Missouri Rear-Facing Car Seat Law

There is no specific rear-facing car seat law in Missouri. Under the child seat requirements in Missouri, all children younger than 4 years (regardless of weight) or weighing less than 40 pounds (regardless of age) must be secured in a child restraint system. (1) The system must be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. 

The rear-facing car seat age in Missouri is not legally specified. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children should stay in an infant rear-facing car seat at least till the age of 2 years or till they outgrow its upper height and weight limits. 

Though there is no Missouri rear-facing child seat law, a violation of the general car seat law carries a maximum penalty of $50 plus court costs. 

Age: Newborn to 4 years
Weight: Less than 40 pounds
Penalty: Maximum $50 plus court costs

Missouri Forward-Facing Car Seat Law

According to the forward-facing car seat law in Missouri, children less than 4 years of age or weighing less than 40 pounds have to be secured in a child restraint system. (1) It can be a forward-facing seat that is appropriate for their height and weight. 

The law does not expressly mention when to put a child in a forward-facing seat. So even though the forward-facing car seat age in Missouri is unclear, you should keep your child in a forward-facing seat till they reach its maximum limits as prescribed by the manufacturer. 

Violating the Missouri forward-facing child seat law is an infraction and carries a maximum fine of $50 plus court costs. The charges may be dropped or withdrawn if the driver can, before or at the hearing, prove that they have acquired a forward-facing seat. 

Age: Less than 4 years
Weight: Less than 40 pounds
Penalty: Maximum $50 plus court costs

Missouri Booster Seat Law

According to the child booster seat law in Missouri, children between the ages of 4 to 8 years, weighing at least 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds and shorter than 4’9” have to ride in a booster seat. (1) It must be appropriate for their height and weight. You can choose a high back or backless booster seat, based on your requirements. 

The booster seat age in Missouri is 4 to 8 years. However, the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that you keep your child in a booster seat till the vehicle lap and shoulder belt fits them perfectly. 

The driver will be held liable for disobeying Missouri booster seat requirements. A violation will constitute an infraction and will be penalized a maximum of $50 plus court costs. 

Age: 4 to 8 years
Height: Shorter than 4’9” 
Weight: 40 to 80 pounds
Penalty: Maximum $50 plus court costs

Missouri Child Front Seat Law

The child front seat law in Missouri is absent. However, according to the recommendations of the AAP, children should ride in the backseat till they are 13 years old. So even though the front seat age in Missouri is unclear, it is best to follow these recommendations. 

If it is absolutely necessary, a child can ride in the front seat in a car seat that is appropriate for their height and weight as per the car seat laws in Missouri. But you must keep certain requirements in mind. The force of the airbags can injure children.

Hence, the vehicle seat must be pushed as far back from the airbags as possible. If you are traveling with a child in a rear-facing seat, the front seat airbag must be deactivated. Following these best practices will keep your child safe.

Age: Older than 13 years (recommended)

Missouri Child Seat Belt Law

According to the child seat belt law in Missouri, all children older than 8 years and less than 16 years, who weigh at least 80 pounds or stand taller than 4’9” must wear an adult safety belt. (1) It must fit snugly across their lap and shoulders. The child has to wear it regardless of whether they are in the front seat or the backseat.

Seat belt rules in Missouri don’t apply to drivers employed by the US postal carriers during their duty and to those operating a vehicle used in agricultural work-related activities. A child who has a medical reason for not wearing a seat belt is also exempt from these requirements. (2)

A violation of Missouri children’s seat belt law carries a fine of a maximum $10. 

Age: 8 to 16 years
Height: Taller than 4’9” 
Weight: At least 80 pounds
Penalty: Maximum $10

Missouri Taxi Child Seat Law

According to the taxi child seat law in Missouri, taxis are exempt from having a child passenger restraint. 

Taxis are public carriers for hire and Missouri child seat laws clearly exempt them. (1) Hence, the taxi driver cannot be held responsible for not having a taxi child seat in Missouri

Despite the exception, it is best if you carry an appropriate and federally approved car seat for your child. If your child is younger than 4 years and weighs less than 40 pounds, they must ride in a rear-facing or forward-facing seat with a harness.

If they are between 4 to 7 years old, weigh between 40 to 80 pounds and are shorter than 4’9”, they should ride in a booster seat. 

You can install the car seat in the taxi with the help of the driver. 

Missouri Ridesharing Child Seat Law

There is no specific ridesharing child seat law in Missouri. 

Under the Missouri car seat regulations, children under the age of 8 years must be restrained in a child safety system. (1) There is no mention of ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft. 

The law does not mention who should provide the child seat. However, it places the responsibility of safely securing the child on the driver of the vehicle. 

In such a scenario, it is best for either the driver or the parent/caregivers to provide a car seat. It must meet the applicable federal safety standards and be appropriate for the child’s height and weight. If the child is not properly restrained, the driver may be fined a maximum of $50 plus court costs. 

Missouri Child Seat Replacement Law

There is no express child seat replacement law in Missouri but the NHTSA recommends child seat replacement after an accident. This especially holds weight if your vehicle is involved in a moderate or severe accident in Missouri. This is because the car seat may have defects that are not easily visible. 

In case of a low impact accident, there is no urgent need to replace the child safety seat. A crash is said to be a low impact one when no passenger sustains injuries, the airbags didn’t deploy, there was no damage to the car seat and the vehicle could be driven away from the crash site.

You must also replace the car seat after it has passed its expiry date stated by the manufacturer or your child has outgrown it. 

Leaving Child in the Car in Missouri

According to the law on leaving a child in a vehicle in Missouri, it is illegal to leave a child less than 11 years old in a car without the supervision of a person 14 years of age or older. (3)

Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle is extremely dangerous. Children are more sensitive to extreme heat and can suffer heat exhaustion and heat stroke as temperatures inside the vehicle can increase significantly in a short time. They can also set the car in motion and cause an accident.

Leaving a child in the car in Missouri can be classified into different categories. A person will be charged with a class C felony if the child is left unattended in the vehicle and fatally injures another person by causing a vehicle collision or fatally injures a pedestrian. If the child causes a vehicle collision or injures a pedestrian, the person who left the child will be charged with a class A misdemeanor. 

Choosing a Child Car Seat in Missouri

The best approach when choosing a car seat in Missouri is to follow the NHTSA recommendations. For children younger than 2 years, a rear-facing infant seat is the best car seat to use in Missouri. Once the child outgrows it, you can place them in a forward-facing seat with a harness till they surpass its limits. 

Young children shorter than 4’9” should be placed in a booster seat. You can choose either a backless or a high-back booster seat to protect the child’s head. Both these seats are used with lap and shoulder belts. A versatile all-in-one seat may be the best booster seat to use in Missouri. 

Car Seat Installation Help in Missouri

When installing a car seat, you have to refer to the car seat instructions as well as the vehicle manual. It can be a tedious task but is important to perfectly secure the car seat and ensure the safety of your child. 

To help you with the installation of child passenger safety seats in Missouri, there are different stations with certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians. Some of them are:

• Lake Saint Louis Police Department
• Jackson County Health Department
• Maryville Public Safety Department
• St. Joseph Safety and Health Council
• Lincoln County Health Department

A complete list of inspection stations in Missouri can be found on the website of the Missouri Coalition for Road Safety. 

Missouri Car Seat Safety Resources 

• Missouri Department of Transportation: The Department’s website has information on Missouri state law as well as resources in car seat safety and installation guides. 
• Missouri Coalition for Road Safety: Established in 2004, it develops and implements the highway safety plan in Missouri. It has both text and video resources for different types of seats. It also provides information on the car seat law and inspection stations across the state. 
• Lincoln County Health Department: The county’s car seat program contains steps to choose the right car seat for your child. It also has instructions for installing the seat in your vehicle and provides installation services.  

FAQ

How long should a child ride in a rear-facing car seat in Missouri? 

The law does not expressly state an age. But it is recommended that a child ride in a rear-facing car seat till the age of 2 years. 

Can you put a rear-facing car seat in the front seat in Missouri?

The law does not prohibit a child from riding in the front seat. However, it is best to put a rear-facing car seat in the back. If you do put it in front, the front seat airbag must be deactivated. 

Can you put a rear-facing car seat in the middle rear seat in Missouri?

You can put a rear-facing car seat in the middle rear seat but it must fit properly. Check the car seat as well as your vehicle’s manuals.

When can a baby face forward in a car seat in Missouri?

There is no specific age requirement. But a child can face forward after they have outgrown their rear-facing seat. This typically happens around 2 years of age.

How old for a booster seat in Missouri?

A child between 4 to 8 years old, weighing at least 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds and shorter than 4’9” can ride in a booster seat. 

When to use a backless booster seat in Missouri?

You can use a backless booster seat if your vehicle seat has a headrest and the child’s ears are not higher than the seat back. 

When can a child sit in the front seat with a booster in Missouri?

Children should ideally ride in the backseat. But if it is unavoidable, they can ride in the front seat with a booster with the front airbag deactivated and the vehicle seat pushed back. 

When can a child stop using a booster seat in Missouri?

A child can stop using a booster seat when they turn 8 years old or weigh at least 80 pounds or reach 4’9” in height. They can then start using the seatbelt. 

When can a child sit in the front seat in Missouri?

Children are safer in the backseat of the vehicle. But they can sit in the front seat in an appropriate car seat with the airbag deactivated.

When to switch from 5 point harness to a seat belt in Missouri?

When the child outgrows the height and weight limits of the 5-point harness, they can switch to wearing a seat belt in a booster seat. 

When can a child use a regular seat belt in Missouri?

Under the law, a child can start using a regular seat belt once they are 8 years old or stand at least 4’9” tall or weigh at least 80 pounds.

Do you need a car seat in a taxi in Missouri?

Taxis are not required to have a car seat. However, it is recommended that you carry an appropriate car seat for maximum protection of your child. 

Do you need a car seat in a Uber in Missouri?

The law is unclear but it makes the driver responsible for securing the children in a car seat. Thus, either the caregiver or the driver should provide an appropriate car seat. 

Do you need a car seat in a Lyft in Missouri?

The law is not clear on this issue. But either the caregiver or the driver should provide an appropriate car seat to ensure the child’s safety.