Every child who is transported in a motor vehicle must not be on a DOT-approved child restraint system until they are

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The safety rule here centers on keeping young passengers properly restrained in a vehicle. In California, a child must ride in a DOT-approved child restraint until they reach eight years of age, unless they are tall enough to fit properly in a seat belt, which generally means about 4'9" tall. This requirement exists because younger children don’t have a long enough torso and hips to sit correctly against a seat belt, so a car seat or booster helps position the belt over the strongest parts of the body and reduces injury risk in a crash. Therefore, the minimum age at which a child can stop needing a dedicated child restraint is eight years old (provided they meet the height condition). The other ages would imply finishing the restraint requirement sooner or later than the standard, which isn’t the rule. Remember to check both age and height, since a child who is eight but not tall enough should still use a booster until they fit the seat belt properly.