Zoom into the 2026 New York VTL Challenge – Rev Up Your Road Knowledge!

In New York, children must be properly restrained in a vehicle. This means using the correct device for the child’s size and age—car seats for younger kids and booster seats for older ones who aren’t tall enough for a proper seat belt yet. The goal is to position the belt correctly and keep the child protected in a crash, which a regular adult seat belt alone can’t do safely for smaller children. Riding unrestrained is illegal, and toddlers also need appropriate restraints rather than relying on an adult belt. Once a child is tall enough and old enough to fit the seat belt properly, they may use the belt, but until then the device that fits their size must be used. So the best rule is that children must be in appropriate restraints or booster seats as required.