Seatbelts: your cozy road trip embrace! Buckling up is the law, and as a driver, you’re on the hook if you or any under-16 passengers go beltless (yowza!). So, make sure you and your crew are snug as bugs before hitting the road.
For the grown-ups, just pull the lap belt and shoulder harness across your body and click it in place. Easy peasy! But for the little ones, it’s a tad more complicated:
Age Group | Height & Weight | Seat Requirements |
👶 Tiny tots (<2 yrs) | < 3’4″ and / or < 40 lbs | Federally-approved, rear-facing car seat in the back row. |
🧒 Kiddos (<8 yrs) | < 4’8″ | Federally-approved car seat or booster in the back. Exceptions: full back row, no back row, rear-facing back seats, or medical reasons – front seat allowed. |
🧑 Bigger kids (8+ yrs) | ≥ 4’9″ | No car or booster seat needed – they’re ready for the adult seat belt! |