Five-Step Seat Belt Test
Answer the five yes-or-no checks from California's new law (AB 435, from 1 January 2027) to see whether the adult seat belt fits your child or a booster is still needed.
A child passes the five-step seat belt test only if all five are true: back against the seat, knees bent at the seat edge, shoulder belt across the chest and shoulder (not the neck), lap belt low on the thighs, and able to sit like that for the whole trip. From 1 January 2027 California requires it for ages 8 to 15 (AB 435).
Five-Step Seat Belt Test
This is a fit check, not legal advice. The five steps are the wording of California Vehicle Code 27360.5(c) as amended by AB 435 (Chapter 434, Statutes of 2025), operative 1 January 2027: from that date a child who is 8 or older but under 16 must ride in a child seat or booster unless "properly restrained by a safety belt", which means passing all five steps. Children under 8 still need a car seat or booster unless they are 4 ft 9 in or taller. The base fine in Vehicle Code 27360.6 is $100 for a first offence and $250 for a later one. KPBS reported fines of $490, more than the base fine in the statute. Other states set their own rules; see the state-by-state table. The bill text was read on the CalMatters Digital Democracy copy because leginfo.legislature.ca.gov refused the request; checked 2 November 2026.
Worked example
With the starting values (Step 1: Is your child sitting all the way back against the vehicle seat? Yes; Step 2: Do your child's knees bend over the edge of the seat? Yes; Step 3: Does the shoulder belt snugly cross the centre of the chest and shoulder, not the neck? Yes; Step 4: Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs? Yes; Step 5: Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip? Yes), the Five-Step Seat Belt Test gives:
Worked out on 2 November 2026 from the tool's default inputs. Change any input above to get your own result.
Read the guide
Tool data last changed on 2 November 2026. How we build and check our tools.
Frequently asked
What ages does California's five-step test apply to?
From 1 January 2027, to a child who is "eight years of age or older, but less than 16 years of age" (Vehicle Code 27360.5 as amended by AB 435). Some news reports say 8 to 16, but the statute stops before the 16th birthday, so it covers ages 8 to 15.
What is the fine in California?
The base fine set by Vehicle Code 27360.6 is $100 for a first offence and $250 for a second or later one; a court can reduce or waive it for a defendant who cannot pay and refer them to a child passenger safety class. KPBS reported fines of $490, which is more than the base fine written in the statute.
Does my child pass if the answer to four steps is yes?
No. The law says a child is properly restrained by a safety belt only if all five requirements are met. If any step fails, keep the booster and test again in a few months.
Does the test apply outside California?
The California law applies only in California. Louisiana's law also refers to the 5-step test for children leaving a booster; most other states set their rules by age, height or weight. The fit check itself works in any car.
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