Ontario does not set a single minimum age for a child to sit in the front passenger seat. A child may be legally allowed to sit in the front seat once they no longer need a booster seat, but Ontario recommends that children under 13 travel in the back seat.
Our MyChoice team reviewed Ontario’s guide to child car seats, its seatbelt safety page, Ontario Regulation 613, and Transport Canada’s guide to choosing a child’s safety seat to clarify what is recommended and what is required. We explain when kids can buckle up on their own, airbag rules, and what to do when you do not have or cannot use a back seat.
When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat In Ontario?
There is no single age at which kids should always sit in the front, but the child’s seat or booster must match their size and age. Children who need booster seats should not sit facing an active airbag in Ontario.
Ontario recommends that children under 13 travel in the back seat. The safest option is to have a child in the back if you have an appropriate place for them to sit.
| Question | Ontario rule or recommendation |
|---|---|
| Is age 13 the legal front-seat minimum? | No. Ontario recommends that children under 13 sit in the back seat. |
| When can a child use a seatbelt without a booster? | When your child turns 8, weighs 36 kg, or measures 145 cm. |
| Can a child who needs a booster sit before an active front airbag? | In Ontario, if a child who needs a child restraint or booster is riding in the front seat, Regulation 613 requires the airbag in that seat to be deactivated. If it’s not possible to turn the airbag off, the child must ride in a different seating position. |
| Can a child sit in front because the back is unavailable? | The back seat is always the safest place for a child. They may sit in the front only if they have the appropriate child restraint installed correctly and follow airbag rules and the vehicle owner’s manual. |
Ontario Child-Restraint Rules By Stage
Restraints change as the child grows. Follow the manufacturer’s limits, even if the child has reached a legal threshold for the next stage.
| Stage | Ontario requirement and placement check |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Infant (under 9 kg) – must be in an infant car seat. Never place an infant car seat in front of an active airbag. |
| Forward-facing child seat | Ontario: Toddler from 9 kg to under 18 kg must be restrained. Continue to use the harness until your child exceeds the height or weight limits of the child safety seat. |
| Booster seat | If your child is under 8 years of age, weighs at least 18 kg but less than 36 kg, and is less than 145 cm tall, you must use a booster seat unless exempted by the Regulation. |
| Vehicle seatbelt | Proper belt fit is still required. In Ontario, a child can use a seatbelt without a booster when they turn 8, weigh 36 kg, or are 145 cm tall. |
How Do You Know The Seatbelt Fits?
If your child does not pass every one of the following points, continue to use an age-, height-, and weight-appropriate approved booster.
Test the seatbelt on your child in the vehicle seat they will be riding in:
- Can your child sit with their back against the vehicle seat and knees bent over the edge of the vehicle seat without slouching?
- Can your child remain in that position for the duration of the drive?
- Does the lap belt lie on the child’s hips, not their belly?
- Does the shoulder belt lie on the middle of the child’s shoulder and chest rather than their face or neck?
Do not allow the child to place the shoulder belt behind their back. Do not allow the child to tuck the shoulder belt under their arm.
Read More: Review Ontario’s Booster-Seat Rules
What Should You Check Before Using The Front Seat?
Use this order:
- Use the back seats if they can accept the required restraint;
- Follow the vehicle’s manual for child restraints and passenger airbags.
- Turn off the front passenger airbag if a child who needs a child restraint or booster must ride there.
- Make sure that:
- the child is within the size/weight limits for the particular restraint;
- the restraint is installed properly for that seating position;
- the front seat is positioned as far back as allowed by the vehicle’s manual; and
- the child will sit upright.
Penalties For An Improper Child Restraint
Failure to use the proper child car seat can result in a $240 fine in Ontario. A conviction carries two demerit points.
The driver is responsible for making sure passengers under 16 are properly restrained.
Read More: Understand the Risks of Seat-Belt Non-Use in Canada