{"id":86270,"date":"2023-06-30T04:57:08","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T11:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=86270"},"modified":"2023-09-22T04:09:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T11:09:47","slug":"is-it-illegal-to-leave-your-kids-in-the-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/is-it-illegal-to-leave-your-kids-in-the-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Illegal To Leave Your Kids in the Car?"},"content":{"rendered":"\nReading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n

You must not leave your child without adult supervision in any situation. That bit of common sense applies doubly to leaving them inside a car where so many things can go wrong. But now and then, an emergency requires you to leave. Perhaps your child is asleep, and the chore won’t take more than a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At what age can you leave a child in the car unattended? And for how long? Can a 12-year old stay in the car alone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is It Illegal To Leave Your Kids in the Car?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There isn’t any federal law that makes it illegal to leave a child unattended in a car. However, many states passed legislation called hot car laws that made it illegal after a tragic case where a kid died in such a situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, states that don’t enforce a hot car law might still prosecute offenders through other appropriate legal means, especially if a child was harmed because of negligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Might Happen if You Leave Your Kids in the Car?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any parent knows that children can easily find trouble even under watchful supervision. One of the worst places you want to leave them alone in is a car, especially if the engine is running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the most common and serious risks if you leave your kids in the car without adult supervision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n