Last Updated: 24th September 2023
According to the State of Virginia, 1,005 people lost their lives in car accidents 2022, and out of those 374 people were “unrestrained”.
Virginia has laws in place to keep you and your little ones safe on the road. And we have that important information (and more) on this page:
Virginia Rear-facing Car Seat Law
Kiddos below the age of 2 will be snuggled securely in a rear-facing car seat until they outgrow the height and weight restrictions set by the seat creator. Take note, mamas, this requirement had a glow-up in July 2019, bumping up the age limit from a tiny one-year-old to an adventurous two-year-old.
Virginia Forward-facing Car Seat Law
By law, children are required to travel in a forward-facing car seat when they reach the weight and height limit of the rear-facing car seat. These limits are put in place by car seat manufacturers, which can be as high as 40-50 pounds for newer seats.
Child Booster Seat Laws in Virginia
All children under the age of 8 must travel in a child restraint system, regardless of weight or height, according to Virginia law. When the child outgrows the forward-facing seat, they must be gradated to the booster seat. Again, in law, there is no age when you can eliminate the use of the forward-facing seat. You have to refer to seat manual.
When Can My Child Sit in the Front Seat in Virginia?
According to law, your child can sit in the front seat after they are 8 years old, if they are using a seat belt. Virginia law also says you can’t put a rear-facing car seat in the front. If the car has no back seat or it is unavailable, you have to deactivate the airbags.
Leaving Child in Car Law in Virginia
There are currently no laws in Virginia regarding leaving children in the vehicle unattended, however, there exists a law that forbids leaving a child in a car if it jeopardizes their health, safety, or well-being, and particularly if the car engine is running. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) advises against leaving children under eight years old unattended in vehicles, regardless of the duration. While it might not always be illegal, leaving a child alone in a car poses significant risks, such as overheating, injury, or potential abduction. In such instances, bystanders should promptly dial 911.
Is it Illegal to Smoke in a Car with a Child in Virginia?
It is illegal to smoke in a car with a minor present. A violation of this section is punishable by a civil penalty of $100.
Taxi Car Seat Law in Virginia
Virginia is one of those states where taxis are exempt from child restraint laws.
Virginia Law Car Seat - Replacement After Accident
According to the Virginia law, if your car is in a major crash, and it is not possible to drive it away from the accident, then you have to replace the car seat. Of course, you don’t have to be a lawmaker to realize this. Car seats are not indestructible and their structural safety can get compromised with a crash.
Additional Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in Cars
Places to Get Car Seat Help in Virginia
Here are some resources that can help you with the car seat inspection and provide you further help.
Good Car Seat Videos for Virginian Parents
How the Virginia Laws Changed in 2019
What to Do - Booster Seat PSA
Do I have to? - Booster Seat PSA
Spotting Counterfeit Car Seats
Safe Rides
Child Passenger Safety - Booster Seats
Child Passenger Safety - Harness Fit
Select the Right Car Seat
Children Should Ride in the Back Seat
Rear-Facing Seat with a Seat Belt
Rear-Facing Convertible with Seat Belt
High-Back Booster Seat
Using a Backless Booster Seat
Installing a Car Seat Properly
Boost ‘em in the Back Seat and Avoid Regret
Infant car seat installation
Resources for More Info on Car Seat Safety in Virginia
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Growing up I was a carefree male going about life like there was no tomorrow. Naturally, I ‘grew’ up, settled down and started a family.
Going from an independent carefree male to a family man was somewhat of a U-turn and required a lot of learning. Luckily for me, my wife works in education and has always been the shining light always ahead of me on all factors kids related.
Initially, my wife didn’t have a driving license (luckily this has now changed and it does make life easier), and all things car related were my task. Child locks were the obvious starting point which lead me down a rabbit hole.
So far we have personally tested dozens of convertible car seats and have owned five despite neither of our kids having reached the age of 5! Simply put, a car seat can be great on paper, work great on trying out but can fail on you in real life.
This is why I have put together this website – to help inform and educate you!
Of course, as I mentioned above, at the end of the day your experience will be the best test so I’d love to hear your experiences and feedback in the comments.
To contact me personally, please do so through my contact page.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Peter
P.S. If you click a link on my site and end up buying a car seat on Amazon, I’ll get paid a small commission (or as the Amazon lawyers put it: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”)
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