The general expert recommendation in the U.S. is that children should wait until they are at least 13 years old before sitting in the front seat of a car. This is primarily because airbags, while protective for adults, can be dangerous to younger children in a crash. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the CDC both advise that children under 13 ride in the back seat for maximum safety
. Legally, the minimum age to sit in the front seat varies by state. Many states have no specific law, leaving the decision to parents, but some states set minimum ages ranging from 2 years (with weight minimums) up to 8 years or older. For example, Texas requires children to be at least 8 years old to sit in the front seat, while other states recommend waiting until 13
. In the UK, children aged 3 to 12 years or up to 135 cm (about 4'5") tall must use a child seat or booster seat in either the front or back seat. Children under 3 can sit in the front only if there is no space in the back and the airbag is disabled. Booster seats are required until children reach about 150 cm tall to safely sit in front of an airbag
. Summary:
- U.S. expert recommendation: Wait until age 13 to sit in the front seat.
- U.S. laws: Vary by state; some require minimum ages (often 8 or older), many have no law.
- UK law: Children 3-12 or under 135 cm must use child/booster seat; under 3 can sit front only if no back seat and airbag off.
- Safety advice: Always ensure proper restraint, disable airbags if using rear-facing seats in front, and consider child's size and maturity.
Thus, while legally children can sometimes sit in the front seat at younger ages depending on location, safety experts strongly recommend waiting until at least 13 years old for front seat travel
