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Each U.S. state has its own car seat laws. Learn about your state car seat and booster seat laws, plus best practices to keep your baby or toddler safe.
Published on July 30, 2024 In This Article In This ArticleEach state in the United States sets car seat and booster seat laws. That can be confusing for parents and caregivers who travel between states often or for families that move to a different state. State car seat and booster seat laws are also updated occasionally, so if you haven't looked at the requirements for a few years, they may be entirely different from what you used for an older child.
The complete list of state car seat laws is provided below. You'll also find information about the phrases commonly appearing in the laws and what those might mean for you and your baby.
Many state car seat laws have lists of requirements joined by "and," which generally means the car seat or your child should meet every item to comply with the law. If the law says your child must be one year old and 20 pounds to use a forward-facing car seat, both requirements must be met.
There are other requirements where "or" is used instead. In that case, only one of the requirements must be met to comply with the law. Booster seat laws often follow this pattern: a child can legally move out of a booster seat when they reach 8 years old, or 80 pounds, or 4'9", whichever comes first.
There are federal standards regarding the manufacture of car seats. In addition to these standards and proper car seat use, there are additional ways to keep your child safe when riding in a car.
While car seat laws are up to each state, the federal government covers the approval process for car seats and booster seats. Manufacturers test their own cars according to a set of federal standards before putting a car seat on the market. They self-certify that the car seat meets the standards and then the federal government does spot checks to ensure compliance.
Some state laws require that your child's car seat must be federally approved. That means it has been through the testing and certification process.
It's rare for a car seat to make it to the mass market in the U.S. if it doesn't meet federal standards. This phrase in the state law is more likely to apply to you if you're using a car seat from a different country, you're using something that looks like a car seat but isn't (like a bassinet baby carrier with a handle), or you've tried to build your own car seat.
Although many state car seat laws reasonably guide parents in protecting babies and toddlers in the car, you should consider going beyond the requirements in most cases.
Today, convertible and 3-in-1 car seats can accommodate a toddler rear-facing until age 3 or 4. Car seat safety experts and many manufacturers recommend keeping your child rear-facing until they reach the limits of the car seat.
Similarly, it's safest for children to remain in a forward-facing 5-point harness for as long as possible before moving to a booster seat and to stay in a booster seat until they properly fit in the adult seatbelt using the 5-step test. The state car seat law may only require a harnessed car seat until age 3 or 4, but car seats are available for much larger or older children.
The harness spreads crash forces over a more significant body area than a seatbelt. For booster seats, a child who can legally move out of a booster seat at age 8 might be too small to fit well in a seatbelt and is at greater risk of severe injuries in a crash.
The laws of physics and crash dynamics don't change based on your state's car seat law. A child who is restrained according to best practices will be well-protected and in compliance with the laws in any state.
Children who are not optimally protected are at higher risk of injury, even if they comply with state law. Consider using your state car seat law as a bare minimum, and then go beyond it for the best possible protection.
The laws governing car seat use depend on where you live and where you are traveling. Familiarize yourself with your home state's regulations and those of the states you plan to visit.
Alabama law requires children under 6 to be restrained in a federally approved car seat or booster seat. Rear-facing car seats are required until the child is at least 1-year-old and weighs at least 20 pounds. Convertible or forward-facing car seats should be used until the child is at least 5-years-old or weighs 40 pounds.
Alabama law further requires that children ride in booster seats until they are at least 6.
If your child is under 1-year-old or weighs under 20 pounds, they must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Then, until 4-years-old, the child must be properly restrained in an appropriate child restraint.
Children between ages 4 and 8 must ride in a booster seat (unless they are still riding in a harnessed car seat) unless they are taller than 4'9" or weigh more than 65 pounds. Alaska law requires all passengers to use a seat belt if they aren't in a child restraint.
Arizona law requires all children under the age of 8 to be properly restrained in a federally approved child restraint system appropriate for their age, height, and weight. Rear-facing car seats are recommended for children until at least age 2.
Children over the age of 5 should ride in a booster seat until they are 8 or reach 4'9" in height. Car seat and seatbelt violations are a primary offense in Arizona so that officers can pull over vehicles and issue citations without other cause.
Arkansas laws require children ages 6 and under and weighing less than 60 pounds to be properly secured in a federally approved car seat or booster seat. If a child is at least 6 and at least 60 pounds but under age 15, Arkansas law requires that the child use a seat belt.
Colorado law requires that babies ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds.
Delaware law requires children under age 2 who weigh less than 30 pounds to ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children under age 4 must ride in a harnessed car seat until they weigh over 40 pounds. And children in booster seats are to remain in their booster seats until they reach the height or weight maximum listed by the manufacturer.
Georgia law requires children under the age of 8 to ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat appropriate for that child's height and weight. These children must ride in the back seat unless they are taller than 57 inches, and their car seat or booster seat should be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Children in Georgia are permitted to sit in a front-facing car seat when they are 1-year-old and weigh at least 21 pounds. State law mandates that any child 1-year-old or younger who weighs 20 pounds or less must remain in a rear-facing position.
Hawaii law requires that all children under 4-years-old be restrained in a federally approved child safety seat. Until they reach 2-years-old, they must be properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat with a harness.
Indiana law requires children under 8 to ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat appropriate for their height and weight. The car seat or booster seat must be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Infants under 1-year-old and weighing under 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children ages 8 to 16 must ride in a seat belt.
Children at least 30 pounds may use a booster seat, but troopers encourage parents to keep their children restrained in a forward-facing seat until at least 40 pounds.
Iowa Law states that children up to 6-years-old must be properly restrained in a federally approved car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for the child and installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Babies under 1-year-old and weighing less than 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat. From age 6 to 11, children must use a car seat or a seat belt and continue using it until they are 18.
Louisiana law requires babies under 1 year of age and under 20 pounds to ride in a rear-facing car seat. Babies at least 1-year-old up to 4-years-old or 20 pounds up to at least 40 pounds must ride in a forward-facing car seat. Children ages 4 to 6 who weigh at least 40 pounds up to at least 60 pounds must ride in a belt-positioning booster car seat.
Children over age 6 and 60 pounds who are not riding in a car seat must use a lap/shoulder seat belt. Louisiana recommends that children who fall into more than one category by age and weight be placed in the car seat that gives the most protection in a crash. Keep children rear-facing as long as possible, in a forward-facing harness to the limit of the car seat, and a booster seat until the seat belt fits.
Maine law requires babies and children weighing under 55 pounds to be properly secured in a federally approved car seat. Children under age 8 and under 80 pounds can ride in a car or booster seat. Children under age 18 must wear seat belts if they are not in a car seat or booster seat, and children under age 12 and weighing less than 100 pounds must ride in a rear seat if possible.
According to the manufacturer's instructions, Massachusetts law requires that all children under age 8 and less than 57 inches tall be properly fastened and secured in a federally approved car seat or booster seat. Children at least 8-years-old or taller than 57 inches should use a vehicle seatbelt if the seatbelt fits properly.
Fit is defined as a lap belt low and snug across the hips, a shoulder belt across mid-chest and shoulder, back and hips against the vehicle seat without slouching, knees bent over the edge of the chair, feet flat on the floor, and staying in that position for the entire trip.
Michigan law requires children under 4 to ride in a car seat in the vehicle's rear seat. If other kids occupy all rear seats under the age of 4, or there is no rear seat, the child may ride in the front seat and must still be properly restrained in the car seat. Children in rear-facing car seats can only ride in a vehicle seat with a frontal airbag if it is turned off.
Children must be adequately restrained from age 4 until age 8 in a car seat or booster seat. Children under eight but taller than 4'9" may use the vehicle seat belt.
Minnesota law requires that children under 8 be restrained in an appropriate, federally approved car seat or booster seat unless the child is 4'9" or taller. Car seats must be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Infants under 1-year-old and weighing less than 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Mississippi law requires all children under 4 to ride in a car seat. Children ages 4 to 7 must use a child restraint system that meets their age and weight requirements, regardless of where in the vehicle they sit.
Missouri laws require children under age 4 or under 40 pounds to ride in a federally approved child car seat that is appropriate for the child's age and size. Children ages 4 through 7 who weigh more than 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds or are not at least 4'9" tall must ride in an appropriate child car seat or booster seat.
Nebraska law requires all children up to age 8 to ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for the child's age, height, and weight. Rear-facing car seats are required for children up to age 2 or until they reach the upper weight or height limit the car seat’s manufacturer allows.
Nevada law requires children under age 6 and under 57 inches tall to ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat appropriate for their age and weight. The car seat or booster must be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Children under 2-years-old and under 30 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing seat equipped with a 5-point harness. Children under 4-years-old and 40 pounds must be secured as described in the same manner until they reach the upper limits of the rear-facing seat, then in a forward-facing child restraint equipped with a 5-point harness.
New Mexico law requires all children under 7 and all children under 60 pounds to ride in a child safety seat. State law also requires children ages 7 to 12 to ride in a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits them properly. All children must remain rear-facing until they are at least 1-year-old and 20 pounds.
New York law states that all children under the age of 2 must use a rear-facing car seat and ride in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until they reach their 8th birthday. Children under age 4 should be appropriately secured in a child restraint secured to the vehicle with a seat belt or LATCH system.
North Carolina law requires all children under age 8 and under 80 pounds to ride in a properly used car seat or booster seat. Children may be moved to a seat belt when they reach age 8 or 80 pounds, whichever comes first.
If a lap/shoulder belt is not available for a child who weighs more than 40 pounds, a properly fitted lap belt may be used since booster seats should not be used with lap-only seat belts. Car seats must be installed in the rear seat if the child is under 5-years-old and weighs less than 40 pounds.
Ohio law requires children under 4-years-old and under 40 pounds to ride in an appropriate car seat or booster for the child's age and weight. The car seat must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions. Children ages 4 through 7 who are less than 4'9" tall must ride in a federally approved booster seat.
Oregon law requires all children to ride in a federally approved car seat until they weigh at least 40 pounds. Infants must ride in rear-facing car seats until they reach 2 years of age. Children must use a booster seat until they are 4'9" tall unless they are at least 8-years-old. Oregon strongly recommends that children under age 12 ride in the back seat. All passengers and drivers are required to wear a seatbelt.
Pennsylvania law requires children under 2 to be secured in a rear-facing car seat until they outgrow the maximum weight and height limits set by the car seat manufacturer. Children under 4 must ride in a federally approved car seat appropriate for their age, height, and weight. The child restraint must be properly used and secured to the vehicle using a seatbelt or the LATCH system. Children ages 4 to 8 must use a booster seat if they are no longer in a car seat.
Rhode Island law states that children under age 8 who weigh less than 80 pounds and are less than 57 inches tall must be properly restrained in the rear vehicle seat in an approved car seat or booster seat. All passengers over eight must be properly restrained in a seatbelt. Children over age eight who do not yet fit the seatbelt properly may continue to use a booster seat.
South Dakota law requires all children under age 5 and weighing less than 40 pounds to use an appropriate federally approved car seat or booster in all seating positions. If they are not already in a car seat or booster, all children 18 and under must wear a seat belt.
South Dakota is one of only a few states in the U.S. without a booster seat law. Booster seats are strongly recommended until a child weighs at least 80 pounds and is 4'9" tall.
Tennessee law requires infants under 1 year of age and weighing less than 20 pounds to ride in a rear-facing car seat. If the car seat has a rear-facing weight limit over 20 pounds, you may keep the infant rear-facing beyond one year and 20 pounds, and the state recommends you do so to the limit of the car seat.
Children under four must be properly restrained in an approved car seat according to the manufacturer's instructions. Children ages 4 through 8 who are less than 4'9" tall must use a booster seat.
Texas law requires children under age 8 to ride in an appropriate car seat or booster seat unless they are 4'9" tall. According to manufacturer recommendations, you must select the appropriate restraint for your child's height and weight.
Additionally, Texas law states that during vehicle operation, the child must be properly secured in the car seat or booster seat according to the instructions of the safety seat system manufacturer. Children under 17 must be buckled into the vehicle with a seat belt.
Washington law requires that children less than 8-years-old be restrained in appropriate child restraint systems (car seats or booster seats) unless the child is 4'9" tall. Babies under 1-year-old and weighing under 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Children 8 or older or 4'9" or taller must use a seatbelt or appropriate child safety restraint. Children under 13 must be transported in rear seats where it is practical to do so.
This law is also known as the Anton Skeen Law. It was named for a child who died in a rollover crash because, although he was properly restrained by state law at the time, the vehicle's adult seatbelt could not protect him during the crash.
West Virginia law requires that all children under the age of 8 ride in an appropriate, federally approved car seat or booster seat installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the child is under 8 but is taller than 4'9", they may ride in a seat belt. A police officer may pull you over if they do not believe your child is appropriately restrained.
