Child Passenger Safety

Keeping children safe on West Virginia’s roadways is a priority for the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP). The GHSP Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Program receives federal funding that provides the educational materials, training, and supplies the program needs. Many certifie​​d instructors and technicians all across the state are trained to install car seats properly.

Each of our GHSP regional coordinators are CPS certified, and have a list of technicians that can assist you with your child safety seat. You may also check our CPS seat fitting stations directory to find a location where you can have your child safety seat inspected for defects, recalls, proper use, and proper installation.

The current West Virginia Child Passenger Safety Law states that all children up to the age of eight must be properly secured in a federally approved child safety seat, which does include a booster seat. The only size provision to the law is that if the child reaches the height of four feet and nine inches tall (4' 9")before their eighth birthday, a seat belt becomes legally sufficient. The CPS law is a primary enforcement law, meaning law enforcement can pull you over if they suspect your child is not properly restrained in a child safety seat. For more details on the law click here.

For the latest and complete list of recalls and defects regarding child safety seats and vehicle restraints, please click here.

For questions about the CPS Program please contact the GHSP via email at dmvghsp@wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.