As you may or may not know, a new bill passed by the Colorado Legislature concerning automobile insurance coverage for the replacement of child restraint systems in motor vehicle accidents. This new law went into effect on January 1st, 2026. As your insurance provider, we strive to help you understand your coverage and how this will impact you.
The Colorado Division of Insurance explains the coverage and requirements below.
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The Colorado legislature passed House Bill 25-1179, which requires insurers to pay the cost to replace a child restraint system, as defined in Section 42-4-236 (1) (a.5), C.R.S., if the child restraint system was in a motor vehicle at the time of an automobile accident and to which coverage in the applicable policy is available.
Effective January 1, 2026, at the time a claim is submitted to the insurer, the insurer shall ask if a child restraint system was in the motor vehicle at the time of the loss. The Division’s position is that if there was a child restraint system in the vehicle at the time of loss, regardless of occupancy, the insurer shall pay the cost to replace the child restraint system under any of the following circumstances:
- The claimant has made a claim under his/her collision coverage, which is applicable and payable.
- The claimant has made a claim under his/her comprehensive coverage, which is applicable and payable due to a collision with an animal.
- The claimant has made a claim under the at-fault party’s liability property damage coverage, and the insurer has accepted liability.
- The claimant has made a claim under his/her Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) coverage, which is applicable and payable.
In summary, if you have full coverage (comprehensive/collision coverage) on your vehicle, and uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) you may be covered. Additionally, if a third-party claim has been successfully established under the at-fault party’s liability coverage, with that insurer formally accepting responsibility for the loss, that party may be responsible. If you only have liability coverage on your vehicle, you may be required to pay out of pocket, for the child restraint system, in the event of a accident.
If you have further questions regarding this new law or your insurance coverage, we are always just a phone call away.