How to Pick a Jeep Car Seat
Check local guidelines to find the best car seat for your Jeep, and be sure to refer to your owner’s manual before installing it.
Written by Sarah Williams
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- How to choose a car seat for a Jeep
- Installing a car seat in a Jeep
- The best family Jeeps for car seats
- Car seat laws by state
- How to find affordable Jeep insurance
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Jeeps might be designed for off-roading, but if you’re driving one every day, you still want it to be safe for your family. That’s why it’s important to use a quality car seat. To be sure you have the right car seat, refer to local guidelines and the owner’s manual for your specific vehicle.
Having kids is one of the greatest joys in a parent’s life, but navigating all the ins and outs of keeping them safe can be stressful. With so many options available—not to mention safety ratings, recall numbers, comfort, price, etc.—it can feel impossible to find the right car seat.
That’s why the
car insurance
experts at Jerry
have created a guide to help you choose and install your Jeep car seat. We'll even show you how to keep your Jeep insurance costs
low, so you'll have more in your pocket for your family! Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversHow to choose a car seat for a Jeep
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
sets standards for car seats. Your child's type of car seat depends on their age, weight, and height. The NHTSA recommends using a rear-facing seat from birth to around age three. Once your child outgrows the height and weight specifications, they’ll transition to a front-facing seat. Front-facing seats are generally used between ages four and seven. After that, they will use a booster seat until they are either 12 years old or taller than 4’9”.
Still feeling unsure of which seat is right for your child? Check out the table below for more details:
Category | Age groups | Features | Types |
|---|---|---|---|
Rear-facing | Birth to three years | Protects the neck and spinal cord | Infant car seat (up to 12 months); convertible seat or all-in-one seat (12+ months) |
Forward-facing | Four to seven years | Limits forward movement during crashes | Convertible seat, all-in-one seat, or combination seat |
Booster seat | Seven to 12 | Raises the child so the regular seat belt fits properly | Combination seat, all-in-one seat, high back booster seat (for cars without headrests), or backless booster seat (for vehicles with headrests) |
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The best car seats for Jeep owners
Because some Jeeps can be driven without doors or a roof, crashes can have more serious outcomes than with a regular car. Given the additional safety considerations, it’s important to find the right car seat when driving a Jeep.
To compare ratings for specific car seats suitable for your child, use the NHTSA’s
Car Seat Finder
. If you're looking for a booster, use the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
. 
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Installing a car seat in a Jeep
For your carefully selected car seat to do its job, you need to install it properly. Every Jeep comes equipped with special attachment points for car seats that conform to international ISOFIX standards. In the US, ISOFIX (also sometimes called LATCH, which stands for “Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children”) has been required in all vehicles since 2002.
The NHTSA provides
detailed instructions
for installing different types of car seats, but the basic steps are the same regardless of which seat you are putting in your Jeep: - First, read the instruction manuals for both the specific car seat and Jeep you’re installing it in
- Place the car seat on one of the back row seats of your Jeep and lift the clamp in the middle—you should see two slits on either side
- Connect the car seat or seat base using either the seat belt or ISOFIX lower anchors
- Test the car seat’s movement and tighten the stap if it moves more than an inch
- Press down the clamp in the middle and now you should be able to press the car seat onto the base (once it’s locked in, you will hear a “click”)
- Buckle your child in snugly
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The best family Jeeps for car seats
As a family car, Jeeps are not always your safest option. They are more prone to roll-overs and have less structural protection in the case of an accident. If your heart is set on taking your family off-roading, here are some Jeep options for families with young children:
Cherokee
Starting price: $31,590
NHTSA safety rating: 4 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Good plus
The
Jeep Cherokee
is a sporty option with a high capacity for towing and off-roading. If you’re looking for a safe Jeep for the family, the Cherokee comes with driver-assistance technology, a 4-star NHTSA rating, and an impressive “good plus” for the ease of use with its child seat anchors. This is a safer option that can still handle the adventures of the Jeep life. Grand Cherokee
Starting price: $40,120
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS safety rating: Good
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Marginal
If you’re looking for style and comfort, the
Grand Cherokee
is a good option. Car and Driver rates in a 9/10 and awarded it an Editor’s Choice Award. With a posh interior and the rugged exterior loved by Jeep enthusiasts, the Grand Cherokee is a good-looking car with high-end features. In regards to safety, it’s a mixed bag. While the standard safety tech is impressive, the car seat latch ease of use only scored marginal. In addition, most of the IIHS safety ratings were good, but the passenger side airbags are not up to standard, ranked at poor.
Wrangler
Starting price: $31,590
NHTSA safety rating: not rated
IIHS safety rating: Good
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Good plus
The
Wrangler
has it all: style, adventure, and safety. With its convertible styling, this Jeep displays the classic Jeep aesthetic. It also delivers when it comes to off-roading on the trails, making it the perfect car for adventure. And finally, its IIHS safety ratings hit the mark, even earning a good plus when it comes to ease of use for car seats. Car seat laws by state
Make sure your Jeep car seat is in compliance with your state’s laws with Jerry’s table below:
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 |
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How to find affordable Jeep insurance
If you’re taking your family adventuring in your Jeep, you’ll want to ensure that you are all protected with the best possible
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How many car seats fit in a Jeep?
The average Jeep can fit 2-3 car seats depending on the Jeep. Before you commit, look up the manufacturer information about how many anchors are in the Jeep and the recommended usage for car seats. In most cases, you won’t be able to fit more than two car seats in a two-door Jeep.
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