The state of Florida legally requires children under the age of 5 or under 4’9” tall to be secured in a car seat or booster seat.
Children 3 years of age and younger must be secured in a rear- or forward-facing car seat with a separate harness.
But children 4 and 5 years old may be secured in a booster seat instead.
Booster Seat Requirements Florida
Children must ride in a booster seat (or car seat) in Florida until they reach ONE of the following requirements:
- Booster Seat Age Florida: 6 years
- Booster Seat Weight Limit: unspecified
- Booster Seat Height Limit: 4’9”
Where can I get my booster seat checked or installed in Florida?
Many police and fire departments in Florida (typically in metro areas) have certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians who can help you install your booster seat (or check your installation) by appointment.
General Booster Seat Laws FAQ
Are booster seats effective?
Yes. Very.
According to the CDC, “booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children age 4-8, when compared with seat belt use alone.”
When can a child use a booster seat?
A child can use a booster seat when she outgrows her forward-facing car seat with a harness.
Though the laws on front-facing car seats and booster seats differ by state, for safety’s sake your child should stay in a front-facing (harnessed) child seat until he reaches the maximum height or weight on the seat.
When can a kid stop using a booster seat?
The minimum safe height for use of a regular seat belt without a booster seat is 4’9”.
Due to this, it is recommended your child ride in a booster seat until they are at least 4’9”, regardless of their age.
Not all state laws support this.
Many states have minimum ages at which children may transition to regular seatbelts, no matter their height.
But if you want your child to be the safest they can be on the road, you should keep them in a booster seat until they are 4’9”.
What is the booster seat weight limit?
Different booster seats have different weight limits, typically 100-120 pounds.
But weight isn’t the main determiner of when a child should move from a booster seat to a seat belt.
Height is more important to a seat belt’s fit.
What’s the best booster seat?
The best booster seat is the one that will do the most effective job of keeping your child safe in the event of an accident.
According to Consumer Reports, the top-performing booster seats on the market (as of February 2023) are:
Nuna AACE
Buy at:
Graco Turbobooster Grow
Buy at:
Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120
Buy at:
But you don’t have to buy a separate booster seat if you have a convertible car seat.
For convertible toddler-booster seats and all-in-one car seats with booster functionality, see our car seat buying guide Which Car Seat To Buy: Making Sure Your Little Ones Stay Safe On The Road.
When were booster seats invented?
The very first child seats for cars were more booster seats than car seats.
They were literally designed to “boost” children up so they could see better (and so parents could see them), but they had no built-in safety features.
Booster seats as we know them today, with their focus on transitional safety between car seats and seatbelts, have only been around since the late-1990s to early 2000s when laws requiring them started being implemented.
When did booster seats become mandatory?
Booster seats are not mandatory in all states.
Some states have younger minimum ages and no height requirements for transitioning children from child seats to seatbelts.
In those states, children can typically move directly from forward-facing car seats to regular seatbelts.
As for the states that do have mandatory booster laws, the first laws (Tennessee and South Carolina) went into effect in 2001.
Bridging the Gap Between Car Seats and Seatbelts
Car seats are designed to protect the smallest of children, while seatbelts are only safe for children over a certain height (4’9”).
Booster seats bridge the gap between the two.
While booster seats are not legally required in Florida if your child is over 5 years old, for safety’s sake we recommend ignoring the minimum age requirement and keeping your kid in a booster until they reach 4’9”.
Prior to that, follow Florida’s laws regarding car seats.
For more on Florida’s car seat laws, see Florida Car Seat Laws.
And for more on child passenger safety in Florida, see Florida Front Seat Law.