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. A child under two years of age must be properly secured in a federally approved rear facing child car seat with a harness. Rear facing spreads crash forces across the back and protects the neck. 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 should ride in the back seat if practical.

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 booster raises the child so the lap belt sits on the hips and the shoulder belt crosses the chest instead of the neck. Children under two ride rear facing with a harness, and a child under 13 should ride in the back seat if practical.

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. Front air bags deploy with enough force to injure a small passenger, and the back seat is the safest position in most crashes. 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.