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Can kids ride in the front seat in California?

For the last few months, my son has been begging to ride in the front seat. My husband and I have always told him no, but we might be starting to cave! He just turned nine this month—is he allowed to ride in the front seat in California?

avatar
Samuel Todd · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
According to state law, children in
California
can ride in the front seat as long as they’re older than 8 years old and taller than 4’ 9”.
However, safety experts are a little more cautious with their rules. Most recommend the following:
  • Kids under 13 should ride in the back seat, where they’ll be better protected from collisions. 
  • Drivers should place children who weigh more than 65 pounds in a
    booster seat
    , which will help their seat belts work properly.
The bottom line: If your son is taller than 4’9”, he’s allowed to ride in the front. If he isn’t quite that tall yet (or if you want to be a little cautious), you can let him know that he needs to wait just a bit longer before he can ride up front.
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