BC Child Passenger Law

The laws related to child passengers are contained in two different sections:

  • children under 9 years old
  • children over 9 years old

For children under 9 years old, the law is contained in Division 36 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. For children between 9 and 16 years old, the law is contained in section 220 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act. Following is a summary of these two sections:

Up to 1 year

Infant/child seat

A child must be secured in a rear-facing child car seat.

A child car seat must not be used in a front passenger seat that has an active airbag.


1 to 9 years

Between 9 kg (20 lb) to18 kg (40 lb)

Infant/child seat

Infant/child/booster seat

  A child can be secured in a forward-facing child car seat using the harness straps.A child may remain rear-facing until they outgrow the rear-facing weight and height limits of the child seat.

Note: BCAA RSF recommends you keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.

Over 40 lb Under 145 cm (4’9″)

Infant/child/booster seat

Booster seat with child

 A child can be secured in a booster seat, in a seating position equipped with a lap/shoulder seat belt. When a shoulder belt is not available, a child must be secured in the lap belt only without the booster seat.A child may remain forward-facing using the harness straps until they outgrow the forward-facing weight and height limits of the child seat.

Note: BCAA RSF recommends children under 4 years old remain in a child car seat with harness straps.

Over 145 cm (4’9”)

A child can be secured in a lap/shoulder seat belt. The only time your child can be secured in a lap only seat belt is when:

  • There are no lap/shoulder seat belts in the vehicle
  • All lap/shoulder seat belts in the vehicle are being used by other children

Over 9 years

Child in booster seat

Child in seat belt only

  A child can be secured in a lap/shoulder seat belt.A child can remain in a booster seat until they have outgrown the weight and height limits of the seat.Note: BCAA RSF recommends children remain in a booster seat until they are over 145 cm (4’9″).

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