Safety belts and child restraints

Key points

1. All occupants must use a safety belt or a federally approved child restraint.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “The law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to be restrained with a safety belt, or a federally approved child passenger restraining system.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

2. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged 3 to 14.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged 3 to 14.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

3. A child under 2 must ride in a rear facing car seat with a harness, never in front of an active airbag.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “A child under two years of age must be properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing child car seat with a harness. • A child in a rear-facing car seat must not ride in front of an active airbag.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

4. A child over 2 but under 5 must ride in a rear or forward facing car seat with a harness.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “A child over 2 but under five years of age must be properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing or forward-facing car seat with a harness.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

5. A child under 8 not in a harnessed car seat must ride in a booster seat.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “A child under eight years of age who is not properly secured in a harnessed car seat must be properly secured in a booster seat.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 63

6. A child under 13 must ride in the back seat when practical.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “A child under 13 years of age must, if practical, ride in the back seat.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 63

7. A child under 18 not in a car seat or booster must wear a seat belt.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “A child under 18 years of age who is not properly secured in a harnessed car seat or booster seat must be wearing a seat belt.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 63

8. Never tuck a shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Never tuck a shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.”
   Vermont Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Vermont practice test

1. 1. How must a child under two years old ride in a Vermont vehicle?

   1. Properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing child car seat with a harness
   2. In a booster seat
   3. In a forward-facing seat with a harness
   4. On a parent's lap with the seat belt
   Show answer

   Properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing child car seat with a harness. Under 23 V.S.A. 1258, a child under two years of age must be properly secured in a federally approved rear facing child car seat with a harness, and a child in a rear facing car seat must not ride in front of an active airbag. A child over two but under five may ride rear or forward facing with a harness, a child under eight not in a harnessed seat needs a booster, and a child under 13 must, if practical, ride in the back seat. A booster or a lap does not meet the rule for a child under two.

2. 2. In Vermont, a child under eight who is not in a harnessed car seat must ride how?

   1. With the adult seat belt only
   2. In the front seat
   3. Properly secured in a booster seat
   4. In any seat with the belt behind the arm
   Show answer

   Properly secured in a booster seat. A child under eight years of age who is not properly secured in a harnessed car seat must be properly secured in a booster seat. The adult belt alone, a front seat, or a belt tucked behind the arm does not satisfy that rule, and the manual warns never to tuck a shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back. Children under two ride rear facing with a harness, a child under 13 must, if practical, ride in the back seat, and a child under 18 not in a harnessed car seat or booster seat must wear a seat belt.

3. 3. Under what age must a Vermont child ride in the back seat when practical?

   1. Under 13
   2. Under 8
   3. Under 5
   4. Under 16
   Show answer

   Under 13. A child under 13 years of age must, if practical, ride in the back seat. The manual also warns never to place a child safety seat in front of an air bag. Vermont's restraint law also requires a harnessed rear facing seat under age two, a booster for children under eight who are not in a harnessed seat, and a seat belt for everyone else.

Source: the Vermont Driver's Manual, Chapter 9: Vehicle Ownership. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.