West Virginia Car Seat Laws (2024) -Rules to Secure A Child Properly

What is the car seat law in West Virginia?

West Virginia Legislature in section §17C-15-46 on child passenger safety device reads: "Every driver who transports a child under the age of eight years in a passenger automobile, van or pickup truck other than one operated for hire shall, [...], provide for the protection of the child by properly placing, maintaining and securing the child in a child passenger safety device system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards: Provided, That if a child is under the age of eight years and at least four feet nine inches tall, a safety belt shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of this section."

West Virginia State Regulation

Forward-Facing

West Virginia Forward facing Car Seat Rules

Front Seat Laws

When can child sit in front seat in West Virginia

Car Seats List

Best car seat to meet West Virginia laws

West Virginia Rear-Facing Car Seat Laws

The West Virginia law does not require specifically when a child should be in a rear-facing car seat.

For this case, it is suggested to follow the NHTSA guidelines to keep a child as long as possible until they’re two years old.

West Virginia Forward Facing Car Seat Laws

The West Virginia law states that a child under eight years of age should be secured in a child restrained system. No comments on the forward-facing car seats.

If so, it’s recommended to ride a child in a harnessed forward-facing car seat as long as possible before they exceed the weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

Child Booster Seat Laws in West Virginia

What are the height and weight requirements for a booster seat in WV?

The West Virginia law does not say anything about the height and weight requirements for a child in the booster, it only requires the child under eight years of age to be secured in a child restraint system federally approved to meet the safety standards.

Then the best practices might be to follow the expert’s suggestions to use a booster after they outgrow their forward-facing car seats, which happens around six or seven years of age.

Seat Belt Laws for Child in West Virginia

The West Virginia law requires children under 18 years of age to be restrained by a safety belt meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.

When can a child sit in the front seat of a car in West Virginia?

No age requirement is mentioned in the West Virginia law when can your child sit in the front seat.

At this point, it’s recommended to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics, put your child sit in the back seat until they are 13.

Penalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in West Virginia

Violating these rules in West Virginia that not secure a child properly will receive a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $20.

West Virginia Car Seat Laws Apply for

The driver is responsible for securing a child properly in the car.

Exceptions

The drivers may not be considered in violation of the WV law:
1) If all seat belts in a vehicle are being used at the time of examination by a law officer.
2) If the vehicle contains more passengers than the total number of seat belts or other safety devices as installed in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Taxi Car Seat Law in West Virginia

The West Virginia state law doesn’t mention whether taxis are exempt from these child restraints laws.

Age, Weight, Height Requirements in West Virginia Law

The law in West Virginia does not mention the age and weight requirements for different car seats stage and types. According to the law, the child has to be restrained in a child passenger safety device system that is appropriate for the age.

There is no hard number to figure out which seat is required for a particular child at his or her age. You need to refer to car seat instructions to understand the age and weight requirements for each seat.

8 years old and 4 feet 8 inches are the only two age and height requirements mentioned in the West Virginia law.