Finding the right car seat is a priority for parents—and once you do, Tesla makes it easy to install. All Teslas come with car seat attachment points that adhere to international ISOFIX or LATCH standards.
Elon Musk disrupts the status quo. He’s elevated the electric vehicle, redefined space travel, and boosted Silicon Valley. And sure, all of that’s incredibly impressive. But when you’re driving around your little one, your main interest is your child’s safety. Is your Tesla up for the task?
Here to equip your Tesla with a reliable car seat is Jerry
, your favorite pocket-sized car insurance
broker. We’ve scoured the market for the best car seats out there—so no matter which Tesla you own, you can rest assured that you and your baby can drive safely in style. We'll even throw in tips on how to keep your Tesla insurance costs
low, so keep reading! 4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars 4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers How to choose a car seat for a Tesla
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
sets car seat standards for children ages 0 to 12. To know which seat is right for your child, you have to consider their age, weight, and height. From there, you have some options. The NHTSA often recommends your child use a rear-facing seat until they exceed the manufacturer's weight and height maximums—which usually happens around age three. When your child is between the ages of four and seven, they’ll move up to a front-facing seat. From there, they’ll usually transition to a booster seat, which they can use until the age of 12 or until they’re about 4’ 9”.
Want to know which seat is right for your kid? Here’s a handy table with the guidelines.
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| 0-12 months and up to three years | Protects neck and spinal cord during crashes | Infant car seat, convertible seat (for 12+ months), or all-in-one seat (for 12+ months) |
| Four to seven years OR over manufacturer’s weight and height limits for rear-facing seats | Uses a harness and tether to limit forward movement during crashes | Convertible seat, all-in-one seat, or combination seat |
| Seven to 12 years OR over manufacturer’s weight and height limits for front-facing seats | Raises the child so the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly | Combination seat, all-in-one seat, high back booster seat (for cars without headrests), or backless booster seat (for cars with headrests) |
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The best car seats for Tesla owners
With so many car seats out there, it can be hard to know where to begin your search. To help get you started, here are a few of the top seats recommended for Tesla drivers. Note: don’t forget to check your rear seat dimensions before you buy!
Be sure to check out the NHTSA’s nifty Car Seat Finder
to compare the ease-of-use scores of different car seats. If you’re in the market for a booster seat, then take a look at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) booster ratings
. Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning nowInstalling a car seat in a Tesla
A car seat can only do its job if it’s installed properly. To do so, you first need to find your vehicle’s attachment points. All Teslas come with car seat attachment points that adhere to international ISOFIX, or LATCH (“Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children”) standards, which have been mandatory since 2002.
If you want a full breakdown of how to install your car seat, you can check out the NHTSA’s detailed instructions
. For now, here’s a general breakdown of the process: Read the instruction manuals (seriously) for both your car seat and your vehicle
Connect the car seat tightly by using either the seat belt or ISOFIX/LATCH lower anchors
Test the seat’s movement—if it moves more than an inch, tighten it further
Buckle your child in securely
For maximum safety, it’s best to install the car seat behind the front passenger seat. You might think that the middle rear seat would be most insulated. But the outer rear seats actually offer more protection. Here’s why:
Outer rear seats typically have the standardized LATCH system—installing the car seat in the middle seat where there is no LATCH could compromise your child’s safety
You can view your child with minimal distraction.
When your car seat is on the passenger side, you will be protected from traffic while taking your child out
Word to the wise: never place your child in the passenger seat. Sure, your child would be more accessible in the front. But the front seat is not designed for a car seat, and putting one in the front puts your child at risk for danger.
The best Teslas for car seats
All Teslas are equipped with a LATCH system, but does that make Tesla a kid-friendly vehicle? Well, it depends on the model. Some Teslas redefine what a kid-friendly vehicle can be, while others are a bit too tight and best left to the solo riders.
Overall, parents seem to recommend the Model X and Model Y for families with young children. Unlike the Model S and Model 3, they offer a bit more space in the back for car seats and kiddos. Here’s how the Model X and Model Y stack up.
Model X
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS LATCH ease of use: N/A
The Model X
is the carpool parent’s dream electric car. It’s just as sleek as any other Tesla model, yet its SUV style is equipped to carry around the whole gang. The Model X base model seats 5, but it can have up to 7 seats for an additional cost. The falcon-like doors on the Model X are bound to excite any kid (or adult). Plus, its touchscreen entertainment system is so dynamic that it will satisfy everyone in the family.
Model Y
NHTSA safety rating: 5 stars
IIHS LATCH ease of use: Acceptable
The Model Y
is somewhere between Tesla’s Model 3 sedan and the Model X. It's a compact SUV, so it’s a bit tighter than the Model X but there’s still enough room to toss in a car seat or two without cramping your leg space. Like all Teslas, the entertainment system is hard to beat with an endless music library and touchscreens that can display shows during long car rides.
Car seat laws by state
Before you hit the road, you should confirm that Tesla’s car seat complies with state laws. To save you time, the team at Jerry has created this handy table. Simply click on your state’s name, and you’ll see the detailed regulations.
| Minimum requirements for adult seat belt | |
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| 7+ years OR 57 inches or 65+ pounds | |
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| 4+ years AND 57 inches or 40+ pounds | |
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| 8+ years OR 40+ pounds where only a lap belt is available | |
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| 8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | |
| | $50 for children restraint, $30 for booster seat |
| 9+ years OR above manufacturer’s height and weight restrictions | |
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| 8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | $50 if child is under 80 pounds or 57 inches; $10 for others |
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| 8+ years OR 40-80 pounds in seats without shoulder belts | |
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| 8+ years OR 80+ pounds OR 57+ inches | |
| 8+ years OR 57+ inches *only if* belt fits correctly | |
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| 57+ inches OR 4+ years where only a lap belt is available | |
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| 8+ years OR 80+ pounds and 57+ inches | |
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MORE: 8 pro tips for long car rides with kids
How to find affordable Tesla insurance
If you’re driving your family around in a Tesla, you’re going to want some seriously good car insurance. So while you wait for your Model X’s wing doors to lower, why not download the #1 rated insurance app, Jerry
? Jerry makes car insurance easy. Just download our trustworthy super app
, answer a few questions, and in less than a minute you’ll have a list of customized quotes from some of the top insurers in the country Jerry will even handle the paperwork to switch you over and help cancel your old policy. Plus, Jerry keeps an eye on the market so if any better deals come up, you’ll be the first to know!
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