• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Safe Convertible Car Seats

MENUMENU
  • Safety Laws
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Learn
    • Types of Car Seats
    • Car Seat Stages
    • Federal Safety Standards
    • What's a Convertible Car Seat?
    • How to Choose
      • Infant vs Convertible
    • Car Seat Expiration Guide
    • Get Your Seat Checked
    • Safest Places for Car Seats
    • Toddler Unbuckling Car Seat
    • Accessories & Clothing Safety
      • Infant Car Seat Safety Accessories
      • Car Seat Head Support Safety
      • Car Seat Protector Safety
      • Car Seat Strap Covers Safety
    • Buying Used Car Seats
    • Safest Cars
  • Brands
    • Britax
      • Advocate ClickTight Review
      • Allegiance Car Seat Review
      • Boulevard ClickTight Review
      • Emblem Review
      • Marathon Clicktight Review
      • Marathon vs Advocate vs Boulevard
      • One4Life Review
      • Britax vs Chicco
      • Accessories
      • Expiration
      • Installation & Care
    • Chicco
      • Fit4 Review
      • NextFit Zip Review
      • Nextfit Sport vs Britax Marathon
    • Clek
      • Fllo Review
      • Foonf Review
      • Foonf vs Fllo
    • Cosco
      • Apt 50 Review
      • Mighty Fit 65 Review
      • Scenera Next Review
      • Installation & Care
    • Diono
      • Radian vs Rainier
      • Radian RXT Review
      • Radian 3QXT Review
      • Radian 3RXT Review
      • Radian 3RX vs Radian 3R
      • Rainier 2AX Review
      • Accessories
      • Installation & Care
    • Evenflo
      • EveryStage Review
      • Sonus Review
      • SureRide Review
      • Symphony DLX Review
      • Symphony LX vs DLX
      • Tribute Review
      • Triumph LX Review
      • Accessories
      • Installation & Care
    • Graco
      • 4Ever Review
        • 4Ever Tutorial
      • Contender 65 Review
        • Contender 65 Tutorial
      • Extend2Fit Review
      • Extend2Fit vs 4Ever
      • Milestone Review
        • Milestone Tutorial
      • My Ride 65 Review
        • My Ride 65 Tutorial
      • Sequence Review
      • Size4Me 65 Review
        • Size4Me 65 Tutorial
      • SlimFit Review
        • Slimfit Tutorial
      • Expiration
      • Installation & Care
    • Maxi-Cosi
      • Magellan Review
      • Pria 85 Review
      • Pria 85 vs 3-in-1
      • Accessories
      • Installation & Care
    • Peg Perego
    • Safety 1st
      • Continuum Review
      • Guide 65 Review
      • Grow and Go Review
      • MultiFit EX Air Review
      • Grow and Go vs Graco 4Ever
      • Accessories
      • Installation & Care
  • Buyer's Guides
    • Safest Car Seats (Top 30)
    • Best for Small Cars
    • Best for Budget
    • Best for Newborns
    • Best for Travel
  • Free Car Seats
    • Medicaid
    • WIC
    • Recycling & Donation
  • About Me

Illinois Car Seat Laws (2021): Current Laws & Safety Resources for Parents

January 15, 2021 by Sam Webster Leave a Comment

In the months of July and August of 2005, Illinois Department of Transportation conducted a survey. They found that out of 3,000 children traveling in 2,200 cars, 55% were using car seats wrong!

In 2016, 723 children aged 12 and younger died in motor vehicle crashes. Following the car seat laws can bring this number down substantially because car seats can reduce the risk of injury in a crash by 71%.

Quick Navigation
Illinois Car Seat Law:
Illinois Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law
Illinois Rear-facing Car Seat Law
Illinois Forward-facing Car Seat Law
Child Booster Seat Laws in Illinois
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Illinois?
Leaving Child in Car Law in Illinois
Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Illinois?
Taxi Car Seat Law in Illinois
Places to Get Car Seat Help in Illinois
Good Car Seat Videos for Illinoisans Parents
Resources for More Info on Illinois Car Seat Safety

Illinois Car Seat Law

According to Illinois car seat law:

“When any person is transporting a child in this State under the age of 8 years in a non‑commercial motor vehicle of the first division, a motor vehicle of the second division with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or less, or a recreational vehicle on the roadways, streets or highways of this State, such person shall be responsible for providing for the protection of such child by properly securing him or her in an appropriate child restraint system.” (Source)

Illinois Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law

Illinois law requires children under age 2 to be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system. Children must remain rear-facing until age 2.

Illinois Rear-facing Car Seat Law

Children are required to travel in rear-facing seats by Illinois laws if:


  • Under the age of 2
  • Shorter than 40 inch
  • Less than 40 pounds

Children should remain in a rear-facing safety seat for as long as possible. It can be as high as 4 years of age.

Illinois Forward-facing Car Seat Law

According to Illinois law, between the age of 4 to 8 when your child has outgrown the weight and height limit of the rear-facing car seat, you can graduate them to the forward-facing car seat that has a harness system.

Child Booster Seat Laws in Illinois

The law says that between 8 to 12 years age, children will travel in a booster seat.

When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Illinois?

There are no laws on the front seat issue in Illinois. But experts recommend it is not safe for kids to sit in the front seat before the age of 13. After the age of 13, when it’s secure to travel in a car seat belt, your child can sit in the front seat. Experts tell us that back seats are the safer part of the car and you should keep your children in the back seat for as long as possible.

Leaving Child in Car Law in Illinois

It is illegal to leave a child in a car alone for more than 10 minutes unless they are being supervised by a child no younger than 14 years.

Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Illinois?

Smoking is illegal in a car with a child passenger.

Taxi Car Seat Law in Illinois

Illinois law is a little bit vague about car seat laws and taxis. The law reads:

“The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 8 years shall provide a child restraint system to any person who transports his or her child.” (Source)

Places to Get Car Seat Help in Illinois

  • Across Illinois, State Police’s Headquarters Provide Free Car Seat Installation
  • Illinois Secretary of the State Child Safety Seat Inspection Request Form
  • NHTSA Car Seat Station Locator
  • Safe Kids Illinois Stations
  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Buckle Up Program
  • East Peoria Car Seat Checks
  • St John’s Children Hospital Child Passenger Seat Safety (Springfield)
  • City of Elmhurst Car Seat Inspections 
  • Advocate Children's Hospital Free Car Seat Checks
  • Villa Park Child Safety Seat Inspections
  • Geneva Child Safety Seat Inspection
  • Aurora Police Department of Child Safety Seat Inspections
  • Village of Roselle Child Safety Seat Inspections
  • City of Bloomington Car Seat Check Station
  • Deerfield Child Safety Seat Installation & Inspection Program
  • Wheeling, Illinois Child Safety Seats
  • Huntley Police Department Child Safety Seat Installations and Inspections
  • Glen Ellyn Police Department Child Safety Seat Inspections
  • The East Lansing Police Department provides free car seat inspections
  • Carol Stream Police Child Safety Seat Installations
  • Plainfield Police Department Car Seat Safety

Good Car Seat Videos for Illinoisans Parents

Illinois Secretary of State - Child Safety Seat - PSA

Illinois Department of Transportation – Child Seat Crash Test

American Automobile Association - Rear-Facing Seats

American Automobile Association - forward-Facing Seats

‎ American Automobile Association ‎ - Seat Belts

Cincinnati Children's Guide on How to Install a Car Seat

Car Seat Safety

NHTSA Tutorial on How to Install a Car Seat 

Resources for More Info on Illinois Car Seat Safety

  • Illinois Seatbelt Laws
  • Child Safety FAQs
  • The Chicago Police Department – Child Passenger Safety Program
  • City of Evanston Child Safety Seats
  • Things You Didn't Know About Your Child's Car Seat
  • Common Car Seat Mistakes
  •  American Automobile Association‘s‎ Car Seat Guide
  • American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations on Car Seats for Children
  • NHTSA Car Seat Recommendations
  • Rear-facing Car Seat – Why?
Sam Webster

With two kids of my own, I’m passionate about child safety! I’m a research nerd who’s on a mission to make the world a safer place for kids – starting with car seats!

To contact me directly please click here.

Filed Under: Safety Resources

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hey! I’m Sam, mom of Sadie and Xavier.

When I started searching for a convertible car seat I was overwhelmed by the choices out there.

But being a research nerd, I relished the challenge of finding the best seat for my needs. And in the process, I gathered a ton of info!

Read More About Me

SafeConvertibleCarSeats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Safety Laws
  • Learn
  • Brands
  • Buyer’s Guides
  • Free Car Seats
  • About Me