Alabama car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Alabama specifies rear-facing, harness and booster stages; the booster requirement runs until age six.
| Stage | What Alabama law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Until at least age 1 or 20 lb |
| Child seat | Until at least age 5 or 40 lb |
| Booster seat | Until age 6 |
| Seat belt | Until age 15 |
Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency: verbatim text of Code of Alabama §32-5-222 (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness stages
ALEA publishes the statutory thresholds as at least age one or 20 lb for rear-facing infant/convertible seats, and at least age five or 40 lb for forward-facing harness seats. These are the law’s stated thresholds, not recommendations to turn or change seats at the earliest threshold.
Booster and seat belt
A booster is required until age six. The child-restraint law then specifies seat-belt use until age fifteen. Use a restraint appropriate to the child’s size.
Exceptions and scope
Section 32-5-222 excludes taxis and vehicles with seating capacity for eleven or more passengers. Its covered vehicles include passenger cars, pickups, SUVs and vans seating ten or fewer.
Choose another stateAlaska car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Alaska uses age, height and weight together, including a booster rule for smaller children over four and under eight.
| Stage | What Alaska law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 1, or under 20 lb |
| Child seat | Age 1 to under 4 and 20 lb or more |
| Booster seat | Over 4, under 8, under 57 in and 20 to under 65 lb |
| Seat belt | Over 4 and over booster height or weight limit |
Source: Alaska Statutes AS 28.05.095 (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and child restraints
Children under one, or children age one or older weighing under 20 lb, require rear-facing restraints. Ages one to under four at 20 lb or more require an approved child restraint.
Booster and older children
Children over four but under eight who are under 57 inches and weigh 20 to under 65 lb require a booster or another approved child restraint. Over-four children exceeding the booster height or weight criteria must use a belt. Ages eight to under sixteen use an appropriate restraint or belt.
Exceptions and scope
The driver is responsible for passengers under sixteen. The cited state summaries are not an exhaustive guide to the vehicle and other exceptions in AS 28.05.095; confirm an unusual transport situation with the state.
- Alaska Legislature: AS 28.05.095 (opens in a new tab)
- Alaska DMV driver manual: child passenger safety (opens in a new tab)
- Alaska DFCS: summary of AS 28.05.095 (opens in a new tab)
Arizona car seat laws
Verified against official sources
A child restraint is required under five, and for ages five to under eight when no taller than 4 ft 9 in.
| Stage | What Arizona law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 5, or under 8 and 4 ft 9 in or shorter |
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes §28-907 (opens in a new tab)
Under five
A child under five must be properly secured in a child restraint system. The system must meet the federal standard specified in §28-907.
Ages five to seven
The additional requirement covers children at least five but under eight who are not more than 4 ft 9 in tall, in the passenger vehicles described by the statute. Reaching age five does not by itself permit a seat belt alone.
Exceptions and scope
Section 28-907(H) includes specified older vehicles, recreational vehicles, commercial drivers, medical emergencies and limited-space situations. The limited-space exception requires restraining as many children as reasonably possible; it is not a blanket carpool exemption.
Choose another stateArkansas car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Children under six and under 60 lb require a child safety seat; the law also covers restraint use under fifteen.
| Stage | What Arkansas law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 6 and under 60 lb |
| Seat belt | Age 6 or 60 lb |
Child safety seat
A child who is both younger than six and lighter than 60 lb must use a child safety seat secured to the vehicle.
Seat-belt threshold
At age six or 60 lb, a properly secured vehicle belt satisfies the stated statutory threshold. That legal threshold does not establish that an adult belt fits the child correctly without a booster.
Exceptions and scope
The quoted Child Passenger Protection Act applies to children under fifteen in passenger automobiles, vans and pickups other than those operated for hire. The Department of Education document also contains separate childcare rules; do not apply those additional rules to every private trip.
- Arkansas Department of Education: Child Passenger Protection Act, §27-34-104 (opens in a new tab)
- Arkansas Legislature: Act 1776 of 2003, amending §27-34-104 (opens in a new tab)
California car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Under-eight children generally need a rear-seat restraint; under-two rear-facing and a scheduled 2027 belt-fit change need separate checks.
| Stage | What California law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, unless at least 40 lb or 40 in |
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, in a rear seat |
| Seat belt | Age 8, or 4 ft 9 in or taller |
| Front seat | Under 8 must ride in a rear seat, with exceptions |
Source: California Vehicle Code Article 3.3 (§§27360 to 27368) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing
Children under two must ride rear-facing unless they weigh at least 40 lb or are at least 40 inches tall. The restraint’s manufacturer height and weight limits still apply.
Booster and seat belt
Children under eight generally use a car seat or booster in the back seat. Under the rules in operation in September 2026, age eight or a height of 4 ft 9 in permits a properly worn safety belt as the legal minimum.
Exceptions and scope
Vehicle Code §27363 contains specific medical, emergency, lap-belt and front-seat exceptions. For example, the front-seat exceptions address an unavailable or unsuitable rear seat; they do not give general permission to place a rear-facing seat before an active airbag.
What changes in California on January 1, 2027?
AB 435 changes the safety-belt fit definition. For ages eight through fifteen, the amended rule permits an appropriate child restraint or a belt meeting five conditions: sitting fully back, knees bending over the seat edge, shoulder belt snugly centered on the chest and shoulder rather than the neck, lap belt as low as possible on the thighs, and maintaining that position throughout the trip. It does not require every child to use a booster until sixteen.
Chaptered AB 435, Section 6 (opens in a new tab)- California Highway Patrol: child safety seats (opens in a new tab)
- California Legislature: Vehicle Code §§27360 to 27368 (opens in a new tab)
- California Vehicle Code §27363 and AB 435 (opens in a new tab)
Colorado car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Since January 1, 2025, Colorado requires a car seat or booster under nine and rear-seat placement when one is available.
| Stage | What Colorado law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 and under 40 lb |
| Child seat | Age 2 to under 4 and 20 lb or more |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 9 and at least 40 lb |
| Seat belt | Age 9 to under 18, belt or child restraint |
Rear-facing
Children under two weighing less than 40 lb must ride rear-facing. At 40 lb or more, the statute allows rear-facing or forward-facing use within the restraint’s limits. Ages two to under four at 20 lb or more require a rear-facing or forward-facing restraint.
Booster and belt
The booster option applies to children age four to under nine who weigh at least 40 lb. Children remain in a car seat or booster until nine. Ages nine to under eighteen must use a safety belt or child restraint system according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Back seat
The statute requires the rear seat, if one is available, for children under two, ages two to under four at 20 lb or more, and ages four to under nine at 40 lb or more. CDOT describes the rule as covering all children under nine. Every restraint must suit the child’s age, height and weight and be installed as instructed.
Exceptions and scope
The rear-seat requirement applies when one is available. Front installation must be permitted by the vehicle and restraint manufacturers. Section 42-4-236 includes a medical or life-threatening emergency exception for under-nine children when no child restraint is available; other special vehicle exceptions require the full statute.
- Colorado DOT: current child passenger safety law (opens in a new tab)
- Colorado DOT: child passenger safety questions (opens in a new tab)
- Colorado HB 24-1055: signed law effective January 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Colorado SB 26-026: vehicle weight limit, effective August 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Connecticut car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Connecticut’s age and weight categories overlap: the more protective applicable requirement controls.
| Stage | What Connecticut law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 or under 30 lb |
| Child seat | Age 2 to under 5, or 30 to under 40 lb |
| Booster seat | Age 5 to under 8, or 40 to under 60 lb |
| Seat belt | At least age 8 and 60 lb |
Source: Connecticut General Statutes §14-100a (current) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing
Children under two or weighing less than 30 lb must ride rear-facing. Both the age and weight thresholds matter before moving beyond this requirement.
Harness and booster
Ages two to under five, or children weighing 30 to under 40 lb, need a rear- or forward-facing five-point harness. Ages five to under eight, or children weighing 40 to under 60 lb, need a harness or booster.
Seat belt
A child at least eight and at least 60 lb may use a belt or booster. If the age and weight fall into different categories, the DMV says to follow the more restrictive category.
Exceptions and scope
The DMV summary does not enumerate every exemption. Consult §14-100a for a medical or unusual vehicle situation rather than assuming that the general adult seat-belt exemptions also exempt a child.
- Connecticut General Statutes §14-100a (opens in a new tab)
- Connecticut DMV: child passenger safety laws (opens in a new tab)
- Connecticut driver manual: overlapping age and weight categories (opens in a new tab)
Delaware car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Delaware specifies rear-facing and harness stages, followed by booster use tied to the manufacturer’s limits.
| Stage | What Delaware law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 and under 30 lb |
| Child seat | Under 4 and under 40 lb |
| Booster seat | Until the booster’s height or weight limit |
| Seat belt | After outgrowing booster, under 16 |
| Front seat | Under 12 and 5 ft 5 in or less, not before airbag |
Source: Delaware Code Title 21 §4803 (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
Children under two and under 30 lb need a rear-facing five-point harness. Children under four and under 40 lb need a rear- or forward-facing five-point harness, used within its limits.
Booster and belt
The law requires a belt-positioning booster until its upper height or weight limits are reached, then a properly secured belt for children still under sixteen. The exact manufacturer limits matter.
Front passenger seat
A child under twelve and no taller than 5 ft 5 in generally cannot sit before an active passenger airbag. The statute specifies exceptions and qualifying airbag designs.
Exceptions and scope
The child-restraint duty excludes charter buses, limousines and taxis as defined in Delaware law. Front-seat exceptions include no rear passenger seat or rear seats already occupied by other qualifying children. See §4803 for the precise conditions.
Choose another stateDistrict of Columbia car seat laws
Verified against official sources
DC requires a child seat under eight and uses both weight and height in its under-two rear-facing rule.
| Stage | What District of Columbia law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, if under 40 lb or under 40 in |
| Car seat or booster | Under 8 |
| Seat belt | Age 8 to under 16, restraint or belt |
Source: D.C. Code §50-1703 (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing
A child under two must ride rear-facing if the child weighs less than 40 lb or measures less than 40 inches. This is an OR condition between the size measures.
Child seats and boosters
Under-three children require a child restraint seat. Under-eight children must use an installed infant, convertible or booster seat according to its instructions. A booster requires both a lap and shoulder belt.
Older children
Children under sixteen must be properly secured in an approved child restraint system or seat belt.
Exceptions and scope
Section 50-1703(c) has a narrow provision for a parent or guardian carrying more of their own children under sixteen than available belted positions. It is a legal exception, not an endorsement of carrying a child unrestrained.
Choose another stateFlorida car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Florida requires child restraints through age five, with different permitted restraint types through age three and at ages four to five.
| Stage | What Florida law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Age 5 or younger |
| Child seat | Through age 3, carrier or integrated seat |
| Booster seat | Age 4 through 5, child seat or booster |
Source: 2026 Florida Statutes §316.613 (opens in a new tab)
Ages zero to three
Children through age three must use a separate child carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat. The statute requires a federally approved, crash-tested restraint.
Ages four and five
A separate carrier, integrated child seat or booster is permitted. A booster’s own fit requirements still apply; this is not a claim that every four-year-old fits one.
Exceptions and scope
For ages four and five, §316.613 allows specified belt-only cases involving a free ride from a non-immediate-family driver, a medical emergency or a documented medical condition. It also addresses for-hire transport and excluded vehicle types; responsibility can remain with the parent or guardian.
Choose another stateGeorgia car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Children under eight generally need an appropriate restraint in the rear seat; the height exception is strictly over 4 ft 9 in.
| Stage | What Georgia law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, unless over 4 ft 9 in |
| Seat belt | Age 8, or over 4 ft 9 in |
| Front seat | Under 8 in a rear seat, with exceptions |
Child seat or booster
Children under eight need a federally approved restraint appropriate to their height and weight and used according to the manufacturer. A parent who shows the child is over 4 ft 9 in may use the statutory belt exception.
Rear seat and older children
The child generally rides in the rear seat. A correctly restrained front-seat position is allowed if there is no suitable rear position or all suitable rear positions are occupied by other children. Minors eight and older must use a belt.
Exceptions and scope
The law excludes taxis and public transit and recognizes a physician’s written medical statement. A child at least 40 lb may use a lap belt only in the specified circumstances where lap-and-shoulder belts are absent or occupied by other children.
- Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety: child passenger law (opens in a new tab)
- Georgia GOHS: §40-8-76 text (opens in a new tab)
Hawaii car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Hawaii requires child restraints under ten, with a height exception limited to ages seven through nine.
| Stage | What Hawaii law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 |
| Child seat | Age 2 to under 4 |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 10, unless 7+ and over 4 ft 9 in |
| Seat belt | Age 7 to under 10 if over 4 ft 9 in |
Source: Hawaii Revised Statutes §291-11.5 (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
Under-two children require a rear-facing restraint with a harness. Ages two to under four require a rear- or forward-facing harnessed restraint.
Booster stage
Ages four to under ten require a harnessed restraint or booster. A child at least seven but under ten may instead use a correctly worn lap-and-shoulder belt only when taller than 4 ft 9 in.
Exceptions and scope
The statute exempts operators of emergency, commercial and mass-transit vehicles and allows additional exemptions through transportation rules. The height exception does not apply to every child under ten; its age-seven minimum is part of the rule.
Choose another stateIdaho car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Idaho requires an appropriate child safety restraint for children age six or younger.
| Stage | What Idaho law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Age 6 or younger |
Source: Idaho Code §49-672 (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint
Idaho Transportation Department states that all children six and younger must be properly secured in an appropriate child safety restraint. The requirement continues through age six, not merely until the sixth birthday.
Choosing the mode
ITD separately provides recommendations for rear-facing, harness, booster and belt use. Those recommendations should not be mistaken for additional age thresholds written into the basic under-seven restraint requirement.
Exceptions and scope
The ITD overview does not enumerate the exceptions in Idaho Code §49-672. This summary does not establish an exemption for a particular vehicle, seating shortage or caregiving situation; consult the statute before relying on one.
- Idaho Legislature: Idaho Code §49-672 (opens in a new tab)
- Idaho Transportation Department: child safety seats (opens in a new tab)
Illinois car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Illinois requires an appropriate restraint under eight and rear-facing under two unless a stated size exception applies.
| Stage | What Illinois law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, unless at least 40 lb or 40 in |
| Car seat or booster | Under 8 |
Source: 625 ILCS 25/4 (Child Passenger Protection Act) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing
Children under two must ride rear-facing unless they weigh at least 40 lb or are at least 40 inches tall.
Child seat and booster
Children under eight must be properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system, which the statute defines to include a booster seat. IDOT advises that a booster should never be used with a lap-only belt.
Exceptions and scope
If the rear seat has no lap-and-shoulder belts, a child weighing more than 40 lb may be secured in the rear seat with a lap belt without a booster. This specific exception does not make a lap-only belt suitable for using a booster.
- Illinois General Assembly: 625 ILCS 25/4 (opens in a new tab)
- Illinois DOT: child passenger safety (opens in a new tab)
- Illinois Secretary of State: child passenger safety requirements (opens in a new tab)
Indiana car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Indiana requires a child restraint under eight and a restraint or belt from age eight until sixteen.
| Stage | What Indiana law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8 |
| Seat belt | Age 8 to under 16, restraint or belt |
Source: Indiana Code 2022, Title 9 (IC 9-19-11-1 to 9-19-11-3.7), published on in.gov (opens in a new tab)
Under eight
Children younger than eight must use a federally approved child restraint, which may include a belt-positioning booster. It must be used according to the manufacturer’s age, height and weight instructions.
Ages eight to fifteen
Children at least eight but under sixteen must use a child restraint or seat belt in all seating positions. Moving to a belt because the law permits it does not confirm good belt fit.
Exceptions and scope
The agency overview gives the general requirements. The full IC 9-19-11 includes vehicle, medical and lap-belt provisions; confirm their conditions before treating an unusual transport arrangement as exempt.
- Indiana Code 2022, Title 9: IC 9-19-11 (in.gov) (opens in a new tab)
- Indiana Criminal Justice Institute: child passenger law (opens in a new tab)
- Indiana State Police: child passenger safety (opens in a new tab)
Iowa car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Iowa requires child restraints under six; under-one children weighing less than 20 lb must ride rear-facing.
| Stage | What Iowa law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 1 and under 20 lb |
| Car seat or booster | Under 6 |
| Seat belt | Age 6 to under 18, restraint or belt |
Source: Iowa Code 2026 §321.446 (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and child seats
A child under one and under 20 lb must use a rear-facing restraint according to the manufacturer. Other children under six require a child restraint used as instructed; the definition includes suitable boosters.
Ages six to seventeen
A child at least six but under eighteen must use a child restraint, approved safety belt or harness. The age-six legal threshold alone does not show that a vehicle belt fits.
Exceptions and scope
Section 321.446 specifies exemptions including certain older and emergency vehicles, buses, defined motor-home positions, certified medical conditions and occupied rear belts. Taxi and rideshare provisions can place responsibility on the accompanying adult rather than waive the child’s restraint requirement.
Choose another stateKansas car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Kansas requires child restraints under four and generally a child seat or booster at ages four through seven.
| Stage | What Kansas law requires |
|---|---|
| Child seat | Under 4 |
Source: Kansas Statutes §8-1344 (2025-26 Revisor of Statutes) (opens in a new tab)
Under four
Children under four require an appropriate child passenger safety restraint meeting the federal standard.
Ages four to seven
Kansas Highway Patrol explains that a booster is required unless the child weighs more than 80 lb, is taller than 4 ft 9 in, or only a lap belt is available. A belt is required when the statutory exception is used.
Older children
Section 8-1344 covers belt use from age eight to under fourteen. Continuing a suitable booster remains appropriate when the vehicle belt does not yet fit correctly.
Exceptions and scope
The statute includes a limited exception when all available child-securing positions are occupied by children, and a lap-only-belt exception to the ages-four-to-seven provision. Read the exact age and size wording in §8-1344 when near a boundary.
- Kansas Highway Patrol: child passenger safety (opens in a new tab)
- Kansas Legislature: §8-1344 (opens in a new tab)
Kentucky car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Kentucky uses height for child restraints and combines age and height for its booster rule.
| Stage | What Kentucky law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | 40 in or shorter |
| Booster seat | Under 8 and between 40 and 57 in |
Source: Kentucky Legislature: KRS 189.125 (effective July 15, 2016) (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint and booster
Children 40 inches tall or shorter require an approved child restraint. Children under eight who are between 40 and 57 inches tall require a booster. The statute exempts children taller than 57 inches from its booster requirement.
Seat belt
The general belt rule covers the driver and passengers in vehicles manufactured after 1981, except children correctly secured in a required child restraint. Reaching a legal threshold does not establish that an adult belt fits.
Exceptions and scope
The statute’s vehicle definition excludes motorcycles, motor-driven cycles and qualifying agricultural farm trucks. Its separate seat-belt exceptions are not a general exemption from the child-restraint rule.
- Kentucky Legislature: KRS 189.125 (opens in a new tab)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: child passenger safety law (opens in a new tab)
Louisiana car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Louisiana combines age, seat limits and belt fit, and requires the more protective category when categories overlap.
| Stage | What Louisiana law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, until the seat’s height or weight limit |
| Child seat | At least 2 and past the rear-facing limit |
| Booster seat | At least 4 and past the forward-facing limit |
| Seat belt | At least 9 or outgrown booster; belt must fit |
| Front seat | Under 13 must ride in rear seat when available |
Source: Louisiana Legislature: RS 32:295 (last amended Acts 2019, No. 51) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
Under two: use a rear-facing seat until its height or weight limit. At least two and at the rear-facing limit: use a forward-facing internal harness until its limit. At least four and beyond the forward-facing limit: use a booster with a lap-and-shoulder belt.
Belt fit and rear seat
At least nine, or after outgrowing the restraint or booster, the adult belt must fit correctly across the hips and chest with knees bending at the seat edge. Children under thirteen ride in an available rear seat. Where age or weight puts a child in two categories, the more protective category applies.
Exceptions and scope
RS 32:295 lists excluded vehicles, including taxis and specified buses/commercial vehicles, plus medical and emergency exceptions and a provision for insufficient restraints. These exceptions do not make unrestrained travel a safety recommendation.
Choose another stateMaine car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Maine has a rear-facing rule under two and an internal-harness requirement for children two or older who weigh under 55 lb.
| Stage | What Maine law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2; convertible may face forward past limit |
| Child seat | Age 2 or older and under 55 lb |
| Booster seat | Under 8, under 80 lb and under 57 in |
| Seat belt | Under 18 when no child restraint rule applies |
| Front seat | Under 12 must ride in rear seat if possible |
Source: Maine Legislature: Title 29-A, §2081 (data extracted 10/20/2025) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
Under two: ride rear-facing. A convertible seat may face forward if its rear-facing height or weight limit is exceeded. At two or older and under 55 lb, use an internal harness; if the child exceeds the restraint’s height limit, the law requires a federally approved belt-positioning seat.
Booster, belt and seating
After those earlier rules, a child who is under eight, under 80 lb and under 57 inches needs a booster or other child restraint. All three conditions matter. Other passengers under eighteen must wear a seat belt. Children under twelve must ride in the rear seat if possible.
Exceptions and scope
A medical need for a different restraint requires a written opinion from a professional specified in §2081(4)(A-2), identifying the safer alternative and the reason. The child must use the recommended restraint correctly.
Choose another stateMaryland car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Maryland requires a child safety seat below age eight and 4 ft 9 in, with a separate rear-facing rule under two.
| Stage | What Maryland law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, until the seat’s height or weight limit |
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, unless 4 ft 9 in or taller |
| Seat belt | Under 16, seat belt or child safety seat |
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Transportation §22-412.2 (opens in a new tab)
Child safety seats
A child under eight must use a child safety seat unless at least 4 ft 9 in tall. A child under two must ride in a rear-facing seat until reaching its manufacturer’s height or weight limit. Installation and use must follow both vehicle and restraint instructions.
Older children
Children under sixteen who are no longer covered by the child-seat rule must use a seat belt or an appropriate child safety seat. Each restraint is for one person. Maryland’s Highway Safety Office recommends the back seat for children under thirteen; its guidance distinguishes this from a statutory front-seat prohibition.
Exceptions and scope
A physician’s written certification can address a child for whom a safety seat is impractical because of size, physical unfitness or another medical reason. The statute specifies covered passenger, truck and multipurpose vehicle classes, including equivalent out-of-state vehicles.
- Maryland General Assembly: Transportation §22-412.2 (opens in a new tab)
- Maryland Highway Safety Office: restraint and back-seat guidance (opens in a new tab)
Massachusetts car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Massachusetts requires a child restraint for children under eight unless they are taller than 57 inches.
| Stage | What Massachusetts law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, unless taller than 57 in |
| Seat belt | Under 13 when no child restraint is required |
Source: Massachusetts General Laws: Chapter 90, §7AA (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint
Children under eight must be secured in a child passenger restraint according to its manufacturer’s instructions, unless they measure more than 57 inches. The statutory height exemption says more than 57 inches; exactly 57 inches is not that exemption.
Seat belts
Children under thirteen who are outside the child-restraint requirement must wear a properly adjusted and fastened belt. This section does not specify a separate rear-facing age. Follow the restraint’s size limits and instructions when choosing its direction and mode.
Exceptions and scope
Exceptions include school-bus passengers, qualifying vehicles made before July 1, 1966 without belts, and a physician-certified inability to use a conventional or special-needs restraint. The fine does not apply to the operator of a licensed taxi that is not equipped with a child restraint; that is not a child-safety recommendation.
Choose another stateMichigan car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Michigan’s requirements changed on April 2, 2025, adding explicit stages and rear-seat rules for children under thirteen.
| Stage | What Michigan law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Until age 2 or the seat’s limit, whichever is first |
| Child seat | Until age 5 or the harness limit, whichever is first |
| Booster seat | Until age 8 or 4 ft 9 in, whichever is first |
| Seat belt | Past the booster stage and under 13 |
| Front seat | Under 13 in rear seat unless rear full of children |
Restraint stages
The statutory thresholds are rear-facing until age two or the seat’s height/weight limit; then an internal harness until age five or its limit; then a booster with a lap-and-shoulder belt until age eight or 4 ft 9 in. Each stage ends when the child meets either condition. Each restraint must still fit the child and follow manufacturer instructions. The law recommends remaining in a protective restraint within its limits.
Seat belt and rear seat
Children under thirteen must use a rear seat when available. After the earlier restraint stages, they must wear a properly adjusted belt. If rear seats are occupied by other children, front seating is permitted; a rear-facing seat requires the passenger airbag to be deactivated. Children thirteen to under sixteen are also covered by the belt law.
Exceptions and scope
The statute excludes buses, school buses, taxis, mopeds, motorcycles and vehicles not federally required to have belts. Authorized rules may provide alternatives for medical conditions, physical unfitness or body size.
- Michigan Legislature: MCL 257.710d (opens in a new tab)
- Michigan State Police: 2025 legal update (opens in a new tab)
Minnesota car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Minnesota requires the more protective applicable stage and checks adult-belt fit, not just a birthday.
| Stage | What Minnesota law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, until the seat’s height or weight limit |
| Child seat | At least 2 and past the rear-facing limit |
| Booster seat | At least 4 and past the forward-facing limit |
| Seat belt | At least 9 or outgrown booster; belt must fit |
| Front seat | Under 13 must ride in rear seat when available |
Car-seat stages
Under two: a rear-facing seat with an internal harness until its limit. At least two and beyond its rear-facing limit: a forward-facing harness until its limit. At least four and beyond the forward-facing limit: a booster and safety belt. Manufacturer limits determine when a seat is outgrown.
Belt fit and seating
At least nine or beyond the restraint/booster limit, the belt must fit correctly: lap belt across hips and thighs, shoulder belt across the chest, back against the seat and knees bending at its edge. Children under thirteen use an available rear seat. The more protective category applies when age or weight overlaps categories.
Exceptions and scope
The statute details medical documentation, emergency and police transport, vehicles for hire, specified school buses and insufficient-restraint situations. A rental or borrowed family vehicle is not included in the vehicle-for-hire exception.
Choose another stateMississippi car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Mississippi requires child restraints under four and boosters for qualifying children ages four through six.
| Stage | What Mississippi law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 4 |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 7, under 4 ft 9 in or under 65 lb |
Source: Mississippi Legislature: HB 558 (2008), enacted text of §63-7-301 (opens in a new tab)
Child safety seat
Children younger than four must use a child safety seat or other approved child-restraint system. Select and install the restraint using the child’s size and both the seat and vehicle instructions.
Booster
Children at least four but under seven require a booster if they are shorter than 57 inches or weigh less than 65 lb. The statutory provision uses an OR condition for height and weight. Check both measurements before changing the restraint.
Exceptions and scope
When more than two children need boosters and the vehicle has only two rear lap-and-shoulder belts, §63-7-301 permits the remaining children to use a lap belt only. A belt-positioning booster is designed for use with a lap-and-shoulder belt. The section cross-references §63-2-1 for vehicle scope and exclusions.
- Mississippi Legislature: §63-7-301 in enacted HB 558 (2008) (opens in a new tab)
- Mississippi State Department of Health: child passenger safety requirements (opens in a new tab)
Missouri car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Missouri requires a child restraint under four or below 40 lb, then combines age, weight and height for boosters.
| Stage | What Missouri law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 4, or under 40 lb |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 8, 40 to under 80 lb and under 4 ft 9 in |
| Seat belt | At least 80 lb, or over 4 ft 9 in; belt or booster |
Source: Missouri Revisor of Statutes: §307.179 (effective August 28, 2006) (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint
Children under four need an appropriate child restraint regardless of weight. Children below 40 lb also need one regardless of age.
Booster and belt
Children four to under eight who weigh at least 40 but under 80 lb and are shorter than 4 ft 9 in need an appropriate child restraint or booster. The statute requires a vehicle safety belt or an appropriate booster at 80 lb or above, or taller than 4 ft 9 in. The driver is responsible for passengers under sixteen.
Exceptions and scope
A child otherwise needing a booster may use a rear-seat lap belt if no rear lap-and-shoulder belt is provided. The statute also addresses excess children in the immediate family, public carriers for hire and certain school-bus passengers. These are legal exceptions, not endorsements of poorer belt fit.
Choose another stateMontana car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Montana’s current law uses age-based restraint stages; older summaries of the under-six/60-lb rule are outdated.
| Stage | What Montana law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 |
| Child seat | Age 2 up to 4, rear- or forward-facing harness |
| Booster seat | Age 4 up to 8, forward-facing harness or booster |
| Seat belt | At least 9 or booster limit, whichever is first |
Source: Montana Code Annotated 2025: §61-9-420 (amd. Ch. 692, L. 2025) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
Children under two must use a rear-facing child restraint. The law describes ages two to four as requiring a rear- or forward-facing restraint with an internal harness. Restraints must meet federal standards and be installed, adjusted and used according to manufacturer instructions.
Booster and belt
The law describes ages four up to eight as requiring a forward-facing harness or a booster with a lap-and-shoulder belt, as applicable. At nine, or after outgrowing the booster’s height or weight limit, whichever comes first, the statute requires an adult safety belt.
Exceptions and scope
§61-9-421 excludes specified vehicles, including motor homes, school buses and taxis, and covers designated emergency vehicles and life-threatening emergencies. The department may establish medical or body-size exemptions by rule.
- Montana Code Annotated 2025: §61-9-420 (opens in a new tab)
- Montana Code Annotated: vehicle exceptions, §61-9-421 (opens in a new tab)
- Montana Department of Transportation: current child passenger stages (opens in a new tab)
- Montana Department of Transportation: new law effective October 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Nebraska car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Nebraska requires child safety seats before age eight, with rear-facing and rear-seat requirements for younger children.
| Stage | What Nebraska law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, until the seat’s rear-facing limit |
| Car seat or booster | Under 8 |
| Seat belt | Age 8 to under 18 |
| Front seat | Under 8 in rear seat if equipped and not full |
Source: Nebraska Legislature: Neb. Rev. Stat. §60-6,267 (opens in a new tab)
Car seat and direction
Children under eight must use a correctly installed, federally approved child restraint. Children under two must ride rear-facing until they outgrow the manufacturer’s maximum rear-facing height or weight.
Rear seat and older children
Children under eight must occupy an appropriately equipped rear seat when it is available and not already occupied by other children under eight. Children eight to under eighteen must use an occupant-protection system such as a seat belt. An older child may still need a booster for proper belt fit.
Exceptions and scope
The statute lists taxis, motorcycles, mopeds, specified unbelted pre-1964 vehicles, authorized emergency driving and lawful parades/exhibitions. A medical waiver requires a signed physician’s statement identifying the child and reason, carried by the driver or in the vehicle.
- Nebraska Legislature: §60-6,267 (opens in a new tab)
- Nebraska Department of Transportation: child passenger safety (opens in a new tab)
Nevada car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Nevada requires an appropriate child restraint below age six and 57 inches, plus rear-facing restraints under two.
| Stage | What Nevada law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 |
| Car seat or booster | Under 6 and under 57 in |
| Front seat | Under 2 rear-facing in back seat, limited exceptions |
Source: Nevada Legislature: NRS 484B.157 (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint
Children under six and shorter than 57 inches must use an approved restraint appropriate for their size and weight, installed according to the manufacturer or another NHTSA-approved method. Both age and height conditions apply.
Rear-facing and front-seat exceptions
Children under two must use a rear-facing restraint in the back seat. Front-seat use is allowed only with the passenger airbag deactivated and either a documented medical need for that position, all rear seats occupied by other under-two children, or no rear seats. The seat must remain rear-facing.
Exceptions and scope
The statute excludes public transportation, including taxis, school buses and emergency vehicles. A physician or advanced practice registered nurse may certify that the restraint would be impractical or dangerous; the signed statement must be carried in the vehicle.
Choose another stateNew Hampshire car seat laws
Verified against official sources
New Hampshire requires rear-facing restraints under two and child restraints under seven unless the child is at least 57 inches tall.
| Stage | What New Hampshire law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 |
| Car seat or booster | Under 7, unless 57 in or taller |
| Seat belt | Under 18 |
Rear-facing and child restraint
Children under two must be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint. Children under seven need an approved child restraint unless at least 57 inches tall. The law expressly requires compliance with manufacturer instructions, including height, weight, attachment, harnessing and expiration dates.
Seat belts
Passengers and drivers under eighteen must wear a properly adjusted and fastened belt when no child-restraint requirement applies. The adult seat-belt rules differ from the requirements for children; do not assume an adult exemption applies to a child.
Exceptions and scope
The statute lists vehicles regularly carrying passengers for hire, specified school buses, pre-1968 vehicles, antique motor vehicles, motorcycles and farm tractors, and authorized parades at no more than 10 mph. It also addresses an individualized education program contraindicating restraints.
Choose another stateNew Jersey car seat laws
Verified against official sources
New Jersey combines age and size for rear-facing seats, harnesses and boosters, and generally requires the rear seat.
| Stage | What New Jersey law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 and under 30 lb, with 5-point harness |
| Child seat | Under 4 and under 40 lb, rear or forward harness |
| Booster seat | Under 8 and under 57 in, harness or booster |
| Seat belt | Under 8 and at least 57 in, or age 8 to under 18 |
| Front seat | Child seats in rear seat; front only if no rear seat |
Source: New Jersey Legislature: P.L.2015, c.50 (C.39:3-76.2a and C.39:3-76.2f) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
A child under two and below 30 lb must use a rear-facing seat with a five-point harness. Under four and below 40 lb, the law permits a rear-facing harness until its limits or a forward-facing five-point harness, subject to the younger-child rear-facing rule.
Booster and seating
Under eight and shorter than 57 inches, use a forward-facing five-point harness until outgrown or an appropriate booster, subject to earlier requirements. These restraints belong in a rear seat. If the vehicle has no rear seat, front-seat installation is allowed; a rear-facing seat cannot be in front of an active passenger airbag.
Exceptions and scope
The child-restraint provision excludes school buses and covers vehicles equipped with safety belts or LATCH. Passengers under eight who are at least 57 inches tall, and ages eight to under eighteen, are covered by the seat-belt rule.
- New Jersey Legislature: P.L.2015, c.50 (39:3-76.2a) (opens in a new tab)
- New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety: child passenger safety (opens in a new tab)
New Mexico car seat laws
Verified against official sources
New Mexico uses age, weight and actual belt fit; there is no universal 57-inch booster exit rule.
| Stage | What New Mexico law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 1, in the rear seat if the vehicle has one |
| Car seat or booster | Age 1 through 4, or under 40 lb |
| Booster seat | Age 5 through 6, or under 60 lb; booster or seat |
Younger children
Children under one require a rear-facing restraint in the rear seat when the vehicle has one. Ages one through four, or children under 40 lb regardless of age, need an approved child restraint. Ages five through six, or children under 60 lb regardless of age, need an appropriate child restraint or booster.
Older children and belt fit
Ages seven through twelve may use a restraint or a properly fitting belt; the weight-based rules still matter. The lap belt must lie across hips and thighs, the shoulder belt across the chest, and the child must sit back with knees bending over the seat edge. All passengers under eighteen must be properly restrained.
Exceptions and scope
§66-7-369 addresses emergency vehicles, public transportation, school buses, occupied belt positions and vehicles without rear seats. Regardless of a statutory vehicle exception, never place a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
- New Mexico Department of Transportation: child-restraint requirements (opens in a new tab)
- New Mexico Public Education Department: §66-7-369 statutory text in transport manual (opens in a new tab)
- New Mexico Compilation Commission: Chapter 66, §66-7-369 (opens in a new tab)
- New Mexico Legislature: 2026 SB 313, quoting current §66-7-369 (opens in a new tab)
New York car seat laws
Verified against official sources
New York generally requires child restraints until the eighth birthday, including rear-facing seats under two.
| Stage | What New York law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 unless over the seat’s height/weight limits |
| Car seat or booster | Under 4, child safety seat |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 8, appropriate child restraint |
| Seat belt | Age 8 to under 16 |
Source: New York Senate: Vehicle and Traffic Law §1229-c (last updated 2026-08-28) (opens in a new tab)
Car seats and boosters
Children under four require an approved child safety seat. Under two, it must be rear-facing unless the child exceeds its manufacturer’s height or weight limits. Children four to under eight require an appropriate child restraint, usually a booster with a lap-and-shoulder belt. An under-four child over 40 lb may use an appropriate restraint under the statute’s special provision.
Older and larger children
The driver must ensure passengers eight to under sixteen are belted. For ages four to under eight, the law provides a belt-use defense when a child is taller than 4 ft 9 in or weighs over 100 lb. Correct belt fit still matters.
Exceptions and scope
The law contains limited lap-belt provisions, medical certification and separate bus, taxi and livery rules. The usual under-eight child-restraint provisions do not apply to taxis/liveries; arrange suitable restraints for the trip despite that exception.
- New York Senate: Vehicle and Traffic Law §1229-c (opens in a new tab)
- New York DMV: child restraints and seat belts (opens in a new tab)
North Carolina car seat laws
Verified against official sources
North Carolina’s child-restraint rule applies when a child is both under eight and below 80 lb.
| Stage | What North Carolina law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8 and under 80 lb |
| Seat belt | Age 8 or 80 lb, restraint or belt under 16 |
| Front seat | Under 5 and under 40 lb in rear, if active airbag |
Source: North Carolina General Assembly: G.S. 20-137.1 (last amended 2007-6) (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint and belt
Children under eight and under 80 lb must use a weight-appropriate child restraint. At age eight or 80 lb, a properly fitting belt may be used. The driver must ensure every passenger under sixteen is secured in an appropriate restraint or belt.
Rear seat
In a vehicle with an active front passenger airbag and a rear seat, children under five and under 40 lb must ride in the rear seat unless the restraint is designed for use with airbags. Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of an active airbag.
Exceptions and scope
When no suitable lap-and-shoulder belt position is available, the statute permits a properly fitted lap belt for a child under eight and between 40 and 80 lb. It also lists emergency vehicles, fully occupied restraint positions and vehicles not required to have belts.
- North Carolina General Assembly: G.S.20-137.1 (opens in a new tab)
- NCDOT: restraint law and safety recommendations (opens in a new tab)
North Dakota car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Children under eight need a child restraint unless they are at least 57 inches tall; the current statute has no 80 lb alternative.
| Stage | What North Dakota law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, unless at least 57 in |
| Seat belt | At least 57 in, or age 8 to 17 |
Source: North Dakota Century Code §39-21-41.2 (opens in a new tab)
Under eight
Use a child restraint according to its manufacturer’s instructions. A child under eight who is at least 57 inches tall may instead use a correctly worn seat belt. Weight alone does not satisfy this height exception.
Ages eight to seventeen
While the vehicle is moving, a child ages eight through seventeen must be in an approved child restraint used according to its instructions or correctly buckled in a safety belt. Section 39-21-41.2 does not set a separate rear-facing birthday or a front-seat age rule; the restraint instructions still govern its use.
Exceptions and scope
The section excludes vehicles not originally equipped with seat belts and emergency transportation. These are specific legal exceptions, not reasons to skip a suitable restraint on an ordinary trip.
Choose another stateOhio car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Ohio requires a child restraint under four or under 40 lb, then a booster under eight and under 57 inches.
| Stage | What Ohio law requires |
|---|---|
| Child seat | Under 4 or under 40 lb |
| Booster seat | Under 8 and under 4 ft 9 in |
| Seat belt | Age 8 to 15, restraint or belt |
Source: Ohio Revised Code §4511.81 (effective March 20, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint and booster
A child under four, or weighing under 40 lb, needs a child restraint used according to its instructions. If that requirement no longer applies, a child under eight and under 57 inches needs a booster. Turning four does not override the 40 lb condition.
Older children
Children ages eight through fifteen who are not covered by the earlier restraint requirements must use a child restraint or seat belt. The current §4511.81 version took effect March 20, 2025.
Exceptions and scope
The law contains emergency, vehicle and medical exceptions. A medical exemption requires the specified licensed provider’s affidavit describing why restraint is impossible or impractical and recommending an alternative; the driver must follow that recommendation. Separate provisions cover childcare vehicles.
Choose another stateOklahoma car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Oklahoma combines an under-four car-seat rule with a rear-facing limit and an under-eight booster or restraint requirement.
| Stage | What Oklahoma law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Until age 2 or seat limit, whichever is first |
| Child seat | Under 4 |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 8, not taller than 4 ft 9 in |
| Seat belt | Age 8 or taller than 4 ft 9 in |
Source: Oklahoma Statutes, Title 47, §11-1112 (OSCN 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
Children under four require a child restraint. Rear-facing is required until age two or the manufacturer’s rear-facing height or weight limit, whichever comes first. A manufacturer limit is not permission to use another seat outside its own instructions.
Booster and seat belt
Ages four to under eight, when no taller than 4 ft 9 in, require a child restraint or booster. At age eight, or when taller than 4 ft 9 in, a properly worn belt meets this section’s minimum.
Exceptions and scope
Section 11-1112 excludes school buses, taxicabs, mopeds, motorcycles, vehicles not required to have belts, ambulances and emergency vehicles, and vehicles whose belts are all in use. It also exempts children who cannot use a restraint for medical reasons documented in writing by a physician. A rear-seat lap-belt exception applies to children over 40 lb only when shoulder belts are absent or used by other children over 40 lb. A separate forward-facing exemption requires both the qualifying disabled-driver credential and a DPS exemption letter.
Choose another stateOregon car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Rear-facing is required under two. Oregon’s later stages distinguish 40 lb or less from over 40 lb, and 57 inches from taller than 57 inches.
| Stage | What Oregon law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 |
| Child seat | Under 8 and 40 lb or less |
| Booster seat | Under 8, over 40 lb and 4 ft 9 in or shorter |
| Seat belt | Age 8 or taller than 4 ft 9 in |
Source: Oregon Revised Statutes §§811.210 to 811.220 (2025 edition) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and child restraints
Children under two must ride rear-facing. Children under eight weighing 40 lb or less need an appropriate child safety system. Over 40 lb and no taller than 57 inches, use a booster that positions the belt correctly or another qualifying restraint rated for that weight.
Seat belt
Age eight or a height greater than 57 inches permits a properly used belt under the statutory minimum. The driver is responsible for passengers under sixteen. A booster remains useful when the adult belt does not fit.
Exceptions and scope
A specific booster exception permits a lap belt when the rear seat has no shoulder belts. Medical exemptions require an Oregon DOT certificate supported by a qualifying clinician’s statement. ORS 811.215 also addresses older vehicles, occupied seating positions and commercial transport; small taxis do not create a blanket child-restraint exemption.
- Oregon Revised Statutes §§811.210–811.220 (opens in a new tab)
- Oregon DOT: safety belts and child seats (opens in a new tab)
Pennsylvania car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Pennsylvania requires restraints under four, rear-facing under two within the seat limits, and boosters from four to under eight with specific exceptions.
| Stage | What Pennsylvania law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, until the seat’s limits are outgrownPennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, §4581 |
| Child seat | Under 4Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, §4581 |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 8, unless 57 in or taller or over 80 lb67 Pa. Code §102.102 |
| Seat belt | Age 8 to under 18Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, §4581 |
Younger children
Children under four need an appropriate child restraint in any seating position. Under two, the restraint must be rear-facing until the child outgrows the manufacturer’s limits. Follow the actual seat instructions when deciding whether it has been outgrown.
Booster and seat belt
Ages four to under eight generally require a booster and seat belt. Under the regulations, children in this age range weighing under 40 lb may use an appropriate child restraint instead. Those over 80 lb or at least 57 inches tall may use the belt alone. Ages eight through seventeen must be belted.
Exceptions and scope
For ages four to under eight, a position not originally equipped with a shoulder belt calls for the existing belt without a booster, or a child restraint appropriate for the child’s height and weight. Section 4581(g) also allows exemptions under department rules when a restraint or booster is impractical for physical reasons. The regulation also recognizes manufacturer-integrated restraints. These exceptions do not make a lap-only belt suitable for use with a belt-positioning booster.
- Pennsylvania Vehicle Code §4581 (opens in a new tab)
- 67 Pa. Code §102.102: size and vehicle exceptions (opens in a new tab)
Rhode Island car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Rhode Island requires rear-facing under two or under 30 lb, and uses both height and weight in its under-eight restraint rule.
| Stage | What Rhode Island law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2 or under 30 lb |
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, under 57 in and under 80 lb |
| Seat belt | Under 8 and 57 in or 80 lb, or age 8 to 17 |
| Front seat | Under 8 must ride in a rear seat, with exceptions |
Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-22-22 (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and child restraints
The rear-facing rule covers children under two or weighing under 30 lb. Children under eight who are both under 57 inches and under 80 lb require an approved child restraint in a rear seat. Use the restraint according to its manufacturer’s instructions.
Seat belt and seating position
An under-eight child who is at least 57 inches tall or weighs at least 80 lb may use a belt, but must still ride in a rear seat unless a seating exception applies. Children eight through seventeen must be properly belted in any seating position.
Exceptions and scope
A child may ride in front if there is no rear seat or every rear position is occupied by other children. The medical and pre-1966 vehicle exceptions in subsection (i) apply to the specified seat-belt subsections; they are not written as a blanket exemption from subsection (a)’s child-restraint requirements.
Choose another stateSouth Carolina car seat laws
Verified against official sources
South Carolina specifies rear-facing, harness and booster stages, followed by an age-or-height threshold plus an actual belt-fit check.
| Stage | What South Carolina law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, until the seat’s height or weight limit |
| Child seat | At 2 or after outgrowing rear-facing |
| Booster seat | At least 4 and outgrown the harness |
| Seat belt | Age 8 or at least 57 in, if the belt fits |
| Front seat | Under 8 in back unless no rear seat or it is full |
Source: South Carolina Code §§56-5-6410 to 56-5-6445 (opens in a new tab)
Car-seat stages
Under two, ride rear-facing in back until the seat’s height or weight limit is exceeded. At two, or after outgrowing rear-facing, use a forward-facing harness in back until outgrown. At four or older, after outgrowing that harness, use a rear-seat booster with both lap and shoulder belts.
Adult belt
At age eight or at least 57 inches, the belt must fit across the thighs and hips, with the shoulder belt centered on the chest. The child must sit back with knees bending over the seat edge without slouching.
Exceptions and scope
Front seating is permitted if there is no rear seat or all rear positions contain children under eight, using the appropriate restraint. Written documentation from the specified clinician permits a restraint designed for medical needs. Section 56-5-6440 separately excludes taxis, emergency operations, specified buses, public transportation and commercial vehicles.
Choose another stateSouth Dakota car seat laws
Verified against official sources
South Dakota’s car-seat minimum applies to children under five and under 40 lb; older children still need a seat belt.
| Stage | What South Dakota law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 5, unless at least 40 lbSDCL §32-37-1 (via sdlegislature.gov API) |
| Seat belt | Under 5 and at least 40 lb, or age 5 to under 18SDCL §32-37-1.1 |
Under five
A child under five must use a child passenger restraint according to its manufacturer’s instructions. If the child already weighs at least 40 lb, a seat belt satisfies the statutory exception. This is a legal minimum, not evidence that a belt fits a small child correctly.
Older children
From age five until eighteen, the driver must ensure the child is belted. The state’s child-seat program explains that these child requirements apply in every seating position, not only the front seat.
Exceptions and scope
SDCL 32-37-2 excludes passenger cars manufactured before 1966 that were not equipped with seat belts. The law does not establish a separate age-two rear-facing requirement; choose and use the restraint according to its instructions and distinguish that legal minimum from current safety guidance.
- South Dakota Codified Laws §§32-37-1 to 32-37-2 (opens in a new tab)
- South Dakota DSS: child-seat law and resources (opens in a new tab)
- South Dakota driver manual: SDCL Chapter 32-37 (opens in a new tab)
Tennessee car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Tennessee uses age and size together: rear-facing under one or at 20 lb or less, then harness and booster stages.
| Stage | What Tennessee law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 1 or 20 lb or less |
| Child seat | Age 1 to 3 and over 20 lb, forward-facing |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to 8 and under 4 ft 9 in |
| Seat belt | Age 9 to 12, or through 12 and 4 ft 9 in or more |
Rear-facing and harness
Children under one or weighing 20 lb or less need rear-facing restraints in back, if available. Ages one through three over 20 lb require a child restraint in back, forward-facing or used as the manufacturer instructs. The state’s guidance allows continued rear-facing within the seat limits.
Booster and older children
Ages four through eight below 57 inches need a booster in back, if available. Ages nine through twelve, or children through twelve at least 57 inches tall, use a seat belt; rear seating is recommended. Ages thirteen through fifteen require a belt or approved passenger restraint.
Exceptions and scope
A medically prescribed, specially modified restraint requires a copy of the physician’s prescription in the vehicle. The booster and older-child rules in §55-9-602 apply to passenger motor vehicles of 10,000 lb GVWR or less that are not used as public or livery conveyances. Separate provisions cover autocycles and responsibility in a vehicle operated by an automated driving system.
- Tennessee Department of Safety: child restraint guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth: §55-9-602 compilation (opens in a new tab)
Texas car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Texas requires an appropriate child restraint before age eight unless the child is taller than 4 ft 9 in.
| Stage | What Texas law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, unless taller than 4 ft 9 in |
Child restraint
A child younger than eight must stay secured in a child passenger safety seat system according to the manufacturer’s instructions, unless taller than 57 inches. Exactly 57 inches does not meet the statute’s height exception. The law does not assign separate rear-facing or booster birthdays.
After the restraint threshold
Use the vehicle belt correctly once the child qualifies for it. For safety, choose the restraint by the child’s size and follow both seat and vehicle instructions. Reaching the legal age or height threshold does not establish that an adult belt fits well.
Exceptions and scope
Section 545.412 includes an emergency or law-enforcement defense, an occupied-restraint-position exception and a for-hire vehicle exception. The latter excludes specified nonemergency Medicaid transport contractors. These exceptions have particular conditions; they do not establish that riding without a suitable restraint is safe.
- Texas DSHS Safe Riders: child passenger safety law (opens in a new tab)
- Texas Transportation Code §545.412 (opens in a new tab)
Utah car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Utah requires a child restraint under eight, with a seat-belt exception for children at least 57 inches tall.
| Stage | What Utah law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, unless 57 in or taller |
Source: Utah Code §41-6a-1803 (effective 5/1/2024, no later version) (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint and height exception
Secure children under eight in a child restraint as its manufacturer directs. A child under eight who is at least 57 inches tall may use a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt. Section 41-6a-1803 does not set a separate rear-facing age or booster weight.
Taxis and rideshare
The statute assigns the supervising adult passenger responsibility for the child-restraint requirement when using a taxi or transportation network service. Booking a ride does not remove the need to arrange a suitable seat for the child.
Exceptions and scope
Section 41-6a-1804 lists vehicles made before July 1, 1966; positions not federally required to have belts; specified written medical verification; fully occupied seating positions; and public-transit vehicles over 10,000 lb GVWR. A medical statement must come from a licensed physician or physician assistant and explain inability to wear the belt.
Choose another stateVermont car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Vermont’s July 2024 update sets rear-facing under two, a harness stage under five, boosters under eight and rear seating under thirteen when practical.
| Stage | What Vermont law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, rear-facing with a harness |
| Child seat | Under 5, until the harness limit |
| Booster seat | Under 8, after earlier stages |
| Seat belt | Under 18, after earlier stages |
| Front seat | Under 13 must ride in back if practical |
Source: Vermont Statutes, Title 23, §1258 (opens in a new tab)
Child-restraint stages
Children under two require a rear-facing harnessed seat. Children under five who are no longer rear-facing use a forward-facing harness until the manufacturer’s height or weight limit. Children under eight not covered by the earlier stages require a booster.
Older children and seating
Children under eighteen who are not required to use those restraints must wear a belt. Children under thirteen must ride in back when practical. A rear-facing restraint cannot be placed in front of an active passenger airbag.
Exceptions and scope
Section 1258 excludes Type I school buses and provides specified defenses for regularly for-hire vehicles, vehicles manufactured without seat belts and evacuations ordered by an enforcement officer, firefighter or authorized civil authority. The for-hire defense does not cover childcare transportation.
Choose another stateVirginia car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Virginia requires a rear-seat child restraint before age eight and has a specific age-or-minimum-weight condition for forward-facing.
| Stage | What Virginia law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Until at least age 2 or forward-facing minimum weight |
| Car seat or booster | Up to age 8 |
| Seat belt | Under 18, when no child restraint is required |
| Front seat | Child restraints in back; front only if no back seat |
Source: Code of Virginia §46.2-1095 (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint and rear-facing
Children under eight must use an approved child restraint. It cannot face forward until the child reaches age two or the manufacturer’s minimum weight for forward-facing. Read that exact condition alongside the seat’s complete instructions; it is not a general recommendation to turn a young child early.
Seating and older children
Child restraints belong in back. If the vehicle has no back seat, front use is permitted only without a passenger airbag or with it deactivated. Other passengers under eighteen require an appropriate seat belt.
Exceptions and scope
The requirements cover vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968. Specified taxis, school buses, executive sedans, limousines and official emergency operations have exceptions. A medical exemption requires carrying the physician’s signed statement identifying the child and the reason restraint is impractical.
- Virginia Code §46.2-1095 (opens in a new tab)
- Virginia Code §46.2-1096: medical exceptions (opens in a new tab)
Washington car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Washington specifies rear-facing under two, a harness stage under four and boosters below 57 inches, within manufacturer limits.
| Stage | What Washington law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 2, until the seat’s height or weight limit |
| Child seat | Under 4, once no longer rear-facing |
| Booster seat | Under 4 ft 9 in, after earlier stages |
| Front seat | Under 13 must ride in back where practical |
Source: Revised Code of Washington §46.61.687 (opens in a new tab)
Car seat and booster
Under two, use rear-facing until the manufacturer’s height or weight limit. Under four, once no longer rear-facing, use a forward-facing harness until its limit. Children below 57 inches who have completed those stages require a booster. Continuing rear-facing or harness use beyond those birthdays is permitted within the seat limits.
Belt and back seat
Children not requiring those restraints must be properly belted. The driver’s child-passenger obligations extend to under-sixteens, and children under thirteen must ride in back where practical. Follow the car-seat and vehicle instructions.
Exceptions and scope
The booster requirement does not apply to a lap-only position; this does not permit using a booster with only a lap belt. The statute excludes specified for-hire vehicles, qualifying transport companies, designated shuttles and school buses. The staged rules took effect January 1, 2020.
Choose another stateWest Virginia car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Children under eight require a child passenger safety device, unless they are at least 4 ft 9 in tall.
| Stage | What West Virginia law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 8, unless at least 4 ft 9 in |
| Seat belt | Under 8 and at least 4 ft 9 in |
Source: West Virginia Code §17C-15-46 (opens in a new tab)
Child restraint
The driver must properly place and secure an under-eight child in a child passenger safety device meeting applicable federal standards. The requirement applies while a covered vehicle is moving on a street or highway.
Height exception
A child under eight who is at least 57 inches tall may use a seat belt under §17C-15-46. The section does not provide a separate rear-facing birthday or booster weight. Use the restraint’s instructions to determine which mode is appropriate, and check actual belt fit before leaving a booster.
Exceptions and scope
This child-restraint section covers passenger automobiles, vans and pickups other than those operated for hire. It also contains a limited exception when every installed belt is already in use and passengers outnumber the available belts or safety devices; that legal exception does not make overcrowding safe.
Choose another stateWisconsin car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Wisconsin’s stages depend on age and weight, with a booster rule that includes children exactly 80 lb or 57 inches tall.
| Stage | What Wisconsin law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Under 1 or under 20 lb |
| Child seat | Under 4 or under 40 lb |
| Booster seat | Age 4 to under 8, 40 to 80 lb and up to 57 in |
| Seat belt | Under 8 beyond booster limits, or age 8 |
| Front seat | Rear- and forward-facing seats in back if equipped |
Source: Wisconsin Statutes §347.48(4) (updated through 2025 Wis. Act 247) (opens in a new tab)
Rear-facing and harness
Under one or under 20 lb requires rear-facing in back, if available. After reaching both one and 20 lb, children still under four or under 40 lb need a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint in back, if available.
Booster and belt
Ages four to under eight, weighing 40–80 lb inclusive and no taller than 57 inches, require a booster or qualifying child restraint. A child beyond those size limits may use a belt only if the earlier restraint rules no longer apply. At eight and older, the seat-belt requirements apply.
Exceptions and scope
The statute excludes specified buses, taxis, motorcycles and vehicles not required to have belts. It authorizes regulatory exemptions for children whose medical condition or body size prevents restraint use. There is no exception for removing a child from the restraint to feed or change a diaper while moving.
- Wisconsin Statutes §347.48 (opens in a new tab)
- Wisconsin DOT: child safety laws (opens in a new tab)
Wyoming car seat laws
Verified against official sources
Wyoming generally requires a child restraint before the ninth birthday, with rear seating and a specific properly-fitting-belt exception.
| Stage | What Wyoming law requires |
|---|---|
| Car seat or booster | Under 9, unless the belt fits correctly |
| Seat belt | Under 9 if lap and shoulder belts fit properly |
| Front seat | Under 9 not in front seat, with exceptions |
Source: Wyoming Statutes §§31-5-1301 to 31-5-1305 (Title 31 PDF generated May 8, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Under nine and seat location
Children under nine need a child safety restraint in a seat behind the front row. Front seating is permitted if the vehicle has only one row or all rear belts are used by other child passengers. A rear-facing infant seat must never be in front of an active airbag.
Belt-fit exception
A child within that age range may use lap and shoulder belts if they fit correctly across the collarbone, chest and hips without endangering the neck, face or abdomen. The statute gives no automatic 57-inch or 80 lb shortcut. Restraints must be used according to their instructions.
Exceptions and scope
Additional exceptions cover a qualifying physician’s signed statement carried in the vehicle and a driver rendering aid to the child or parent. The passenger-vehicle definition excludes specified emergency vehicles, school or church buses and public-transport vehicles manufactured without belts.
Choose another stateQuestions about US car seat laws
Do all states use the same booster-seat age?
No. Some laws combine age with height or weight, and some connect the requirement to the restraint manufacturer’s limits. Read the whole condition for the state you will drive in; an age mentioned in another state’s rule does not transfer.
What if the law permits a seat belt but it does not fit?
A legal threshold does not establish proper belt fit. NHTSA recommends continuing a booster until the vehicle belt fits correctly. Follow the booster and vehicle instructions and use qualified fitting help if the next arrangement is unclear.
Do taxi, rideshare and carpool trips have an exemption?
There is no one nationwide answer. Vehicle definitions and responsibility rules differ, and some laws leave responsibility with the parent or accompanying adult. Check the state’s actual exception; do not assume a free ride or a paid ride automatically qualifies.
Does a state-law summary tell me whether my exact seat is legal and suitable?
No. You also need the seat’s market certification, model-specific instructions, child fit and vehicle compatibility. The summaries help identify the rule to check; they cannot inspect a seat or validate an installation.