Where on my vehicle are the Lower Anchor LATCH components?

Since 2003, two rear-seating positions are required to be equipped with lower anchors. In most vehicles, the two outboard rear seating positions are equipped with these anchors. The rear center seat in most vehicles does not feature lower anchors. Find out more information about using LATCH in the rear center seating position.

For vehicles with more than 2 rear-seating positions, the vehicle manufacturer has decided if and where to position additional anchors.

Lower anchors are usually located directly in the vehicle seat bight, in the crack where the seat bottom meets the seat back. Some are located on the seat back, an inch or two above the bight, or on the seat bottom, an inch or two in front of the bight. Where there is a designated LATCH position, the lower anchors are spaced 11 inches (280mm) apart from each other.

In most vehicles, the lower anchors are not visible to people looking at the vehicle seat. Most seats mark the anchor position using plastic dots--small emblems with a picture of a child riding in a restraint (see photo)--or with tags that say LATCH on the seat cushion directly above the location of the anchor. Perhaps thinking the lower anchors were unsightly, many manufacturers went to great lengths to conceal them. In some vehicles you must lift up a flap in the vehicle's seat cushion, in others you must swing the anchors from a horizontal position to a verticle position, while in still others you must remove a small cut out piece of vehicle cushion.

If the vehicle has no rear seat, or insufficient rear seat space to accomodate a rear-facing child restraint, AND the vehicle has an airbag on/off switch as original equipment, then one LATCH system must be provided in one front seating position.

Reading your vehicle's owners manual will show you how to find the anchors, no matter what type of vehicle you drive.