How to Pick a Honda Car Seat
Follow local and national guidelines to find the best car seat for your Honda, and remember to check your owner’s manual before installing a seat.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- How to choose a car seat for a Honda
- Installing a car seat in a Honda
- The best family Hondas for car seats
- Car seat laws by state
- How to find affordable Honda insurance
Load full table of contents
Picking the right car seat for your Honda will be a fairly simple matter of familiarizing yourself with local and national guidelines, reading your owner’s manual, and purchasing the type that best suits the needs of you and your baby.
Every parent’s top priority is to protect their child, so selecting a car seat can be a bit anxiety-inducing if you’re not familiar with what’s bad and what’s good. With the overwhelming details of safety ratings, recall numbers, convenience, aesthetics, and price point, finding the right car seat—one that will keep your child protected in any situation—can seem like a major ordeal.
But here to save you from the stress is the
car insurance
super app Jerry
, with a handy guide to finding the right car seat for your Honda. If you don’t quite know where to start, then you’ve come to the right place! We’ll help you choose and install the perfect car seat, and we’ll even take a look at some of the best Honda models for families with young children. We'll even show you how Jerry can help you keep your
Honda insurance costs
low, so keep reading!How to choose a car seat for a Honda
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) decides the standard regulations for car seats for children aged 0 to 12. The seat that will best suit your child will vary depending on their height, weight, and age, meaning that it can often be a bit difficult to find the perfect one.The NHTSA recommends you use a rear-facing seat until your child has surpassed the manufacturer’s maximum height and weight specifications. This will usually happen somewhere around your tot’s third birthday. At some point between the ages of four and seven, you’ll want to switch to a front-facing seat, then finally to a booster seat until age12 or your child is taller than 4 foot, 9 inches.
If you’re still not quite sure what sort of car seat your child needs, you can refer to our snazzy table below for some more detailed guidelines.
Category | Age groups | Features | Types |
|---|---|---|---|
Rear-facing | 0-12 months and up to three years | Protects neck and spinal cord during crashes | Infant car seat, convertible seat (for 12+ months), or all-in-one seat (for 12+ months) |
Forward-facing | Four to seven years OR over manufacturer’s weight and height limits for rear-facing seats | Uses a harness and tether to limit forward movement during crashes | Convertible seat, all-in-one seat, or combination seat |
Booster seat | Seven to 12 years OR over manufacturer’s weight and height limits for front-facing seats | Raises the child so the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly | Combination seat, all-in-one seat, high back booster seat (for cars without headrests), or backless booster seat (for cars with headrests) |
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.717k Ratings5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
The best car seats for Honda owners
The right car seat for your child will need to check a number of boxes. Here are some of the top-rated car seats for Honda owners. Remember to check the dimensions of your rear seats before purchasing one, though!
Another fantastic resource is the NHTSA’s
Car Seat Finder
. With it, you can compare ease-of-use ratings for specific seats in each category. Alternatively, try the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) booster ratings
for comparisons on booster seats. Installing a car seat in a Honda
All Hondas have connection points on certain seats where you can install car seats. These connections conform to international ISOFIX standards. ISOFIX, or LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), has been a requirement for all cars sold in the U.S. since 2002.
There are
detailed instructions
for installing all sorts of car seats available on the NHTSA website, but the steps will be the same regardless of what seat you’re installing in your Honda: - First thing’s first—read the instruction manuals for both the car seat and the vehicle you’re installing it in
- Attach the car seat or seat base using either a seat belt or ISOFIX/LATCH lower anchors
- Test the seat’s movement and secure it by tightening if it moves more than an inch
- Buckle your child in tightly
Experts generally argue that behind the front passenger seat is the safest choice for car seat placement. The middle rear seat might be most insulated from damage in the event of a side-impact crash, but there are other advantages that the outer seats have over the middle that make them the best choice:
- Outer rear seats tend to be the ones equipped with the standard LATCH attachment anchors required to meet safety regulations. If you install a car seat in the center position without LATCH anchors, you will be putting your child at risk.
- You’ll be able to see your child easily by checking your rearview mirror, minimizing distractions.
- Installing the car seat behind the passenger seat means you’ll always take your child out on the right side of the car. It will be easier to get them out of the car if they’re on the right if you’re parked on the street.
Whatever you do, don’t put your child’s car seat in the front seat beside you. While you might feel like you have easier access, rear-facing seats are never designed to work in the front seat—you’ll be putting your baby in danger. Plus, it is illegal.
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now
The best family Hondas for car seats
While any new Honda since 2002 is equipped with standard ISOFIX/LATCH anchors, there are a few specific models that rise above the rest as perfect family vehicles. The following are the three best Hondas for families with young children.
Honda Accord Sedan
Starting price: $25,470
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good+ (2022 Top Safety Pick+)
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Good+
The
Honda Accord
sedan is one of the top-rated family cars around. It has a perfect five-star NHTSA crash test rating and standard safety features that are among the best available on the domestic market. The Accord boasts 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space and has LATCH attachments on all three back row seats—one of the few vehicles in its class to feature this. It also has an award-winning hybrid option and is simply one of the best-rated vehicles of 2022 for families.
Honda Odyssey Minivan
Starting price: $33,040
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good+ (2022 Top Safety Pick+)
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Good+
SUVs may be overtaking the humble minivan as the best family vehicle, but the
Honda Odyssey
insists that minivans can still be relevant, practical, stylish, and safe. If your family is growing and moving at full speed, the Odyssey can keep up and will keep your little posse safe. The Honda Odyssey comes with the best-in-class Honda Sense driver-assistance feature and includes a rear-seat reminder in case you make that classic mistake no parent wants to admit—absentmindedly leaving a child in the car.
The Odyssey is and always will be a minivan legend. It can attach a total of five car seats, making it one of the only great choices for a big family that just seems to keep growing.
Honda Passport SUV
Starting price: $37,870
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Acceptable
For the adventurous family, the
Honda Passport
is the winning pick. Named the “Best 2-Row SUV for Families”by U.S. News and World Report, the Passport brings you everything you need in an SUV. With a whopping 77.7cubic feet of cargo space, you’ll be able to pack everything your family needs for that weekend camping trip. Plus, you can be sure that when the road gets rough and the chorus of “Are we there yet?” and “I’m hungry!” erupts from your back seat, you’ll be able to conquer that sketchy dirt road and make it to the cabin!
The Honda Passport doesn’t score as highly with IIHS regarding car seat ease of use, so ideally, the Passport is the perfect option for the family with elementary-age kids who have graduated to front-facing car seats, booster seats, and beyond.
Car seat laws by state
Wondering if your Honda car seat measures up to your state’s laws and regulations? So were we, so we scoured the internet and compiled all the information in this detailed table! Just scroll through and click on your state for more detailed regulations.
State | Minimum requirements for adult seat belt | Maximum base fine |
|---|---|---|
6+ years | $25 | |
7+ years OR 57 inches or 65+ pounds | $50 | |
5+ years AND 57+ inches | $50 | |
6+ years OR 60+ pounds | $100 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $100 | |
8+ years | $81 | |
8+ years AND 60+ pounds | $50 | |
8+ years OR 66+ pounds | $25 | |
6+ years | $60 | |
57+ inches | $50 | |
4+ years AND 57 inches or 40+ pounds | $100 | |
7+ years | $79 | |
8+ years OR 40+ pounds where only a lap belt is available | $75 | |
8+ years | $25 | |
6+ years | $25 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $60 | |
57+ inches | $50 for children restraint, $30 for booster seat | |
9+ years OR above manufacturer’s height and weight restrictions | $100 | |
57+ inches OR 80+ pounds | $50 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $10 | |
8+ years AND 57+ inches | $25 | |
65+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $50 if child is under 80 pounds or 57 inches; $10 for others | |
6+ years | $100 | |
8+ years | $25 | |
6+ years | $500 | |
7+ years OR 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years or 57+ inches | $75 | |
7+ years | $25 | |
8+ years | $100 | |
8+ years OR 40-80 pounds in seats without shoulder belts | $25 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years | $75 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $115 | |
8+ years | $75 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $85 | |
South Carolina | 8+ years OR 57+ inches *only if* belt fits correctly | $150 |
5+ years OR 40+ pounds | $25 | |
9+ years or 57+ inches | $50 | |
8+ years | $25 (minimum) | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $25 | |
8+ years AND 20+ pounds | $25 | |
8+ years | $50 | |
57+ inches OR 4+ years where only a lap belt is available | $124 | |
8+ years OR 57+ inches | $20 | |
8+ years OR 80+ pounds and 57+ inches | $75 | |
9+ years | $50 |
MORE:8 pro tips for long car rides with kids
How to find affordable Honda insurance
No matter what car seats end up in your family’s Honda, there’s more to being prepared to take on the road with kids than a sturdy car seat. It’s easy to overlook, but you’re going to want to make sure your insurance coverage is doing the most for you, too. (You deserve it—parenting is hard!)
Take a minute (if you can find one) to download the
Jerry
app and shop for the best possible car insurance policy at the most affordable price. Trust us, it’ll be worth it—the average Jerry user saves $800+ a year on car insurance!Don’t let cost be a barrier to securing the insurance you and your family need. Our
trustworthy super app
scans quotes from over 50 top providers and delivers the best deals straight to you. Once you make your pick, we’ll even secure your new insurance and help cancel your old policy. 
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”
Patricia W.
Reviewed on 5/28/2023
Does Honda have Isofix?
Every Honda model is outfitted with the regulated ISOFIX/LATCH anchors for securing your child’s car seat. However, they’re easier to find and use in some models. Check your model’s
IIHS child seat anchor
ratings to see how accessible the LATCH system is in your vehicle.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
