How old do you have to be to sit in the front of the car?

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that children should ride in the rear seat of a car until they are 13 years old. Around 25 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 13 sit in the front seat rather than in the rear seat, according to researchers.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death among American children aged 3 and older, and thousands of children are injured each year in car accidents. The risks to children can be minimized by using proper car or booster seats for younger children and by seating children under 13 in the back seat of the car.