{"id":1670,"date":"2023-11-12T15:22:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-12T15:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/?p=1670"},"modified":"2023-12-10T10:08:12","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T10:08:12","slug":"car-seat-laws-in-iowa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carseaton.com\/car-seat-laws-in-iowa\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Seat Laws in Iowa (2024) – Age, Weight, Height Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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According to the Iowa State Law, children under 6 years of age should travel in a child restraint system that is in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. That means, a 6-year-old child still needs a car seat in Iowa.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the Car Seat Law in Iowa?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tIowa State Legislature for Motor Vehicles and Law of the Road Section \u00a7321.446 on Child Restraint System reads: \n\u201cA child under one year of age and weighing less than twenty pounds who is being transported in a motor vehicle subject to registration, except a school bus or motorcycle, shall be secured during transit in a rear-facing child restraint system [...]. A child under six years of age who does not meet the description in paragraph \u201ca\u201d\n[...] that is used in accordance with the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Iowa Car Seat Laws Rear-Facing<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Iowa law section \u00a7321.446 1. a. requires infants and toddlers under the age of 12 months and less than 20 pounds to ride in a rear-facing car seat until the child reaches the highest weight or height limit set by the manufacturer.<\/p>

The rear-facing car seats<\/a> should be installed and used based on the manufacturer’s instructions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Iowa Forward Facing Car Seat Laws <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Iowa law does not state the age, weight, or height requirements on a forward-facing car seat.<\/p>

It just says that children under 6 years old should be secured in a child restraint system.<\/p>

It’s best to follow the guidelines from NHTSA – You should secure your child in a forward-facing car seat after they exceed the weight or height limit<\/a> of the rear-facing car seat.<\/p>

You need always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and car seat user manual to use the forward-facing seat. Experts recommend using a forward-facing car seat until the age of 4.<\/p>

However, it’s better to stick to a forward-facing car seat for as long as possible.<\/p>

Most forward-facing car seats, including convertible, harnessed booster, or all-in-one car seats, feature a harness with a weight limit up to 65 pounds and a height limit up to 49 inches.<\/p>

That typically happens around age 5-6.<\/p>

When can a child be forward-facing in Iowa?<\/strong><\/p>

The law does not answer this question directly. But according to the law in section \u00a7321.446 1. a and 1. b, a child who is at least one year of age or weighs 20 pounds or more can go forward-facing.<\/p>

But it’s not the safest practice. According to the research and experts, a rear-facing position is the safest for infants and toddlers younger than 2 years of age.<\/p>

Parents should keep using a rear-facing car seat until the child reaches the upper height or weight limit recommended by the manufacturer.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the law in Iowa for booster seats?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Iowa law doesn\u2019t specifically mention booster car seats or the age when your child can use a booster car seat.<\/p>

It indicates in the explanation of Section \u00a7321.446 7 in the law that a child restraint system includes a booster seat. While the law says that a child under 6 years of age is required to travel with a child restraint system.<\/p>

It’s best to use a booster seat once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat around the age of 5 or 6.<\/p>

Boosters are intended to lift the child up off the vehicle seat to improve the fit of the adult lap and shoulder seatbelt.<\/p>

So it’s a good idea to keep using a booster seat until the seat belt fits your child properly.<\/p>

Does a 6-year-old need a car seat in Iowa?<\/strong><\/h4>

That depends. The law section \u00a7321.446 2 says that children age 6 or older should use a child restraint system or a seat belt. If your child grows bigger than their peers and the seat belt can fit he or she properly, then he or she does not need a car seat and is big enough to use the vehicle’s seat belt like an adult.<\/p>

Does an 8-year-old need a booster seat in Iowa?<\/h4>

That depends. The reason is the same as above. If an 8-year-old child can wear a seat belt correctly, then he or she does not need a booster seat or other child restraint devices. Otherwise, the child should keep using a booster until they’re tall enough to be secured with a seat belt.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Seat Belt Laws for Child in Iowa<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Iowa law in section \u00a7321.446 2 makes it clear that children who are at least 6 years of age but less than 18 years old shall be secured with a child restraint system or a safety belt based on the car seat and vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.<\/p>

The law states the minimum age regulations of 6 years old to use a seat belt.<\/p>

But it’s not the best practice. You should keep using a booster seat for your child until they’re within the safety limit of their booster seats.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Penalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in Iowa<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tViolating the Iowa rules to properly secure a child in the child restraint system is punishable by a fine of $100. \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Iowa Car Seat Laws Apply for<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The drivers have the responsibility to make sure a child passenger’s safe in the car.<\/p>

Exceptions<\/strong>:<\/p>