BabyQuip takes the well-being of little ones very seriously. Safety and cleanliness are top priorities for us after all! As a Quality Provider and Certified Passenger Safety Technician, you’re getting a handy state-by-state guide for child car seat safety laws from yours truly, a highly trained baby gear expert!
Use this blog to look up the car seat laws where you live or where you’re traveling to and to help you purchase the best car seat for your little ones.
PRO TIP: all infant car seats sold and purchased in the US will meet all federal safety standards and are “federally approved”. Here’s a great resource to help you purchase a car seat.
National Infant Car Seat Recommendations:
Wondering what the national recommendations are? Here’s what is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Rear Facing Car Seats: Infants and babies from birth to 12 months should always be in rear facing car seats. Children 1 to 3 years old should be in rear-facing car seats as long as possible per the height and weight requirements of the car seat.
Forward Facing Car Seats: If your child between the ages of 1 and 3 years old exceeds height and/or weight limits, your child is ready for a forward facing car seat. Children between the ages of 4 and 7 years old should remain in a forward facing booster seat for as long as possible.
Booster Seat: If your child between the ages of 4 and 7 years old exceeds height and/or weight limits, your child is ready for a booster seat. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old should remain in a forward facing car seat for as long as possible, until they properly fit into a car’s seat belt.
Seat Belt: Children over 8 years old can use a seat belt as long as it fits properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember, your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
Want even more information? Make sure to check out this awesome guide published by the NHTSA, and if you need help with car seat installation (in any state!) check out Tot Squad. They can help with virtual installations!
So, are you ready to learn the laws in your home state? Here’s an alphabetical list of car seat safety laws by state:
BONUS: we’ve also included some popular destinations around the US including US Territories, Canada and Puerto Rico! (scroll to the very bottom)
Alabama: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 32-5-222 Last Updated 2006
The size appropriate restraint system required for a child in subsection (a) must meet the requirements of Section 32-5B-4 and shall include all of the following:
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: Infant only seats and convertible seats used in the rear facing position for infants until at least 1 year of age or 20 pounds.
Forward-Facing Car Seats & Boosters -or- Small Children: Convertible seats in the forward position or forward facing seats until the child is at least 5 years of age or 40 pounds.
Booster Seats & Seat Belts -or- Bigger Kiddos: Booster seats until the child is 6 years of age.
Alaska: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 28.05.095 Updated 6/16/2019
Children more than one year old but less than 5 years old, who weigh 20 lbs or more, the child must be properly secured in a federally approved child restraint device.
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: Children less than 1 year old or less than 20 lbs must be properly secured in a federally approved rear-facing car seat.
Booster Seats & Seat Belts -or- Bigger Kiddos: Children who are more than 4 years old but less than 8 years old, weigh more than 20 lbs but less than 65 lbs, and are less than 57 inches tall must ride in a properly secured booster seat or another federally approved child passenger restraint system.
If a child is more than 4 years old but not yet 8 years old but exceeds the height and weight requirements in the preceding paragraph, they may ride in a seatbelt. Once the child is 8 years old, if they do not exceed the height and weight requirements, the driver may decide whether it’s appropriate to let the child ride in the seatbelt or continue using another federally approved child safety device.
Arizona: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 28-907 Last Updated 2012
Under current Arizona law, a child in a passenger vehicle must be in a car seat or a booster seat if he or she is:
- Younger than 8 years old, or
- Shorter than 4 feet, 9 inches tall (57 inches).
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: Children should ride in a rear-facing seat until age 1 and a weight of 20 pounds. They may then use a forward-facing car seat.
Forward-Facing Car Seats & Boosters -or- Small Children: Convertible seats in the forward position or forward facing seats until the child is at least 5 years of age or 40 pounds.
Booster Seats & Seat Belts -or- Bigger Kiddos: A child who is 5 to 7 years old may ride in a booster seat. A child who is 8 years old but not 57 inches tall is required to ride in a booster seat until the child reaches at least 4 feet, 9 inches.
Arkansas: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 27-34-104 Last Updated 2010
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: By law, children under the age of 24 months are required to travel in the back seat. You can use rear-facing, convertible or all-in-one car seats.
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Although it’s not specifically written in the law, experts suggest that children until the age of 4 should be secured in rear-facing car seats.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: By law, when the children reach the age of 4 and 60-65 pounds, they are supposed to use forward-facing car seat
Booster Seat Law: According to the law after the age of 6, if it’s safe, children can use seat belts. But you should be very cautious and use booster seats until the age of 12-13. Only let the child use the car’s seat belt when the car’s seat belt feels secure.
California: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 27363 Last Updated January 2012
Children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds OR is 40 or more inches tall. The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat.
Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.
California law does not address graduation time from a five point harness to a booster seat. Here is what is recommended on a national level: If your child between the ages of 4 and 7 years old exceeds height and/or weight limits for forward facing car seats, your child is ready for a booster seat. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old should remain in a forward facing booster seat for as long as possible, until they properly fit into a car’s seat belt.
Colorado: Car Seat Safety Laws
Sections 42-4-236 Last updated 2010
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: If the child is less than 1 year of age and weighs less than 20 pounds, the child shall be properly restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system in a rear seat of the vehicle.
Forward-Facing Car Seats & Boosters -or- Small Children: If the child is 1 year of age or older, but less than 4 years of age, and weighs less than 40 pounds, but at least 20 pounds, the child shall be properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint system.
Booster Seats & Seat Belts -or- Bigger Kiddos: Properly secured in a child restraint system, such as a booster seat, according to the manufacturer’s instructions
Connecticut: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 14-100a Last updated 2017
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: Infants must remain rear-facing until they are a minimum of both 2 year and 30 pounds.
Forward-Facing Car Seats & Boosters -or- Small Children: Toddlers must be in a forward facing car seat with 5 point harness until 5 years and 40 pounds.
Booster Seats & Seat Belts -or- Bigger Kiddos: Children should ride in a booster until they reach 8 years old AND 60 pounds (they must meet both requirements). Children who ride in a booster seat must use a lap and shoulder belt.
Delaware: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 4803 Last updated 2003
Under the age of 1 – Children must always ride rear facing.
Ages 1 through 3 – Keep your children rear facing for as long as possible in either an infant or rear facing convertible seat. They should remain rear facing until the height and weight limit for rear facing use on that seat has been reached. This may result in many children riding rear-facing to age 2 or older
Ages 4 through 7 – Keep children in a forward facing seat with a harness to the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the seat. Then transition them to a booster seat.
Ages 8 through 12 – Keep children in a booster seat until they either exceed the height/weight requirement for remaining in a booster seat or until they are big enough to fit the criteria for fitting appropriately in a seat belt. The shoulder belt should lie across the shoulder and chest, not cross the neck or face, and the lap belt must lie across the upper thighs not the stomach.
Florida: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 316.613 Last updated 2014
- Florida law requires children age 5 and under to be secured properly in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.
- Children ages 0 to 3 must be in child restraint devices of a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat.
- Children age 4 and 5 must be in a separate carrier, integrated child seat or booster seat.
- Florida does not offer guidelines or laws for children over the age of 5. It is nationally recommended that children between the ages of 4 and 7 years old should remain in a forward facing booster seat for as long as possible. Once they exceed height and/or weight limits, they should remain in forward facing booster seats until age 12 or until they fit safely into the car’s seat belts.
Georgia: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 40-8-76 Last updated 2012
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: For newborn to 1 year and up to 20lbs and less than 1 year: car seat should be rear-facing.
Forward-Facing Car Seats & Boosters -or- Small Children: For 20+ pound babies, use a seat recommended for heavier infants. Toddler Seat for 1-3 years and 20-40 lbs, child needs to be BOTH 1 year old and 20 pounds or more before placed in a forward-facing seat.
Booster Seats & Seat Belts -or- Bigger Kiddos: From 4 years to at least 8 years and between 40-80 lbs; and under 4’9” tall. Booster seat should be used with the lap and shoulder belt; the lap belt should rest across the lap-never the stomach.
Adult Seat Belts: 8+ years and taller than 4’9”.
Hawaii: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 291-11.5 Last updated 2011
Hawaii law requires children under the age of 4 to ride in a child safety seat and children ages of 4 through 7 to ride in a child safety seat or a booster seat when traveling in a motor vehicle.
Rear-Facing Seat – Infants from birth to at least 1 year old and at least 20 pounds must ride in rear-facing seats. However, it is recommended that infants be kept rear-facing in the back seat as long as possible, up to the height or weight limit of the seat. There are some seats available with rear-facing limits as high as 45 pounds.
Convertible Seat – Convertible seats can be used rear-facing, then converted to forward-facing. The seats can be used longer since the height and weight limits are higher than for infant-only seats.
Forward-Facing Seat – Children that have outgrown their rear-facing seats or that are at least 1 year old and 20 pounds should ride forward-facing in the back seat until age 4.
Booster Seat – Children that are 4 through 7 years of age should ride in booster seats in the back seat until the vehicle seat belts fit properly.
Idaho: Car Seat Safety Laws
Code 49-672 Last updated 2005
All Idaho children who are 6 years old or younger must be properly secured in a child safety restraint. While Idaho law does not specify the specific seat to be used, the Idaho Department of Transportation has published the following recommendations.
- Children under 2 years of age should remain in a rear facing car seat.
- Children between the ages of 2 and 3 years old and under 40 pounds should be in either a rear facing car seat or forward facing car seat.
- Children between the ages of 2 and 3 years old and over 40 pounds should be in a forward facing car seat.
- Children between the ages of 4 and 6 years old and under 40 pounds should be in a forward facing car seat.
- Children between the ages of 4 and 6 years old and over 40 pounds should be in a booster seat with a lap belt.
- Idaho does not give guidelines for children over 6 years of age. It is nationally recommended to keep children over 6 years of age in forward facing car seats or booster seats for as long as possible until they can properly fit into the car’s seat belts.
If all seat belts are in use, a child is exempt from the restraint requirement if seated in the rear seat. A child is also exempt if removed from the restraint for nursing or other physiological needs.
Illinois: Car Seat Safety Laws
Code 625 ILCS 25/4 Last updated 2005
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: Children under the age of 2, shorter than 40”, and under the weight limit of 40 pounds are required to travel in rear-facing seats by Illinois laws.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: Illinois Secretary of the State office says that between the age of 4 to 8 when your child has outgrown the weight and height limit of the rear-facing car seat, you can graduate them to the forward-facing car seat that has a harness system.
Child Booster Seat Laws in Illinois: According to the law, between 8 to 12 years age, children will travel in a booster seat.
Indiana: Car Seat Safety Laws
Code 9-19-11-2 Last updated 2017
All children under the age of 8 must be properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat according to the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions. Many parents are confused about the law, so troopers want to help explain the proper and legal way to restrain their children.
Rear-facing Child Safety Seat: Children under the age of 1 and less than 20 lbs. MUST be restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat. Many newer seats will restrain a child rear-facing up to 30-35 lbs. Troopers encourage parents to keep their children rear-facing as long as possible.
Forward-facing Child Safety Seat: Children that are at least 1 years old and 20 lbs. may be restrained in a forward-facing child safety seat with an internal harness system.
Booster Seat: Children at least 30 lbs. may use a booster seat, but troopers encourage parents to keep their children restrained in a forward-facing seat until at least 40 lbs.
Iowa: Car Seat Safety Laws
Code 321.446 Last updated July 2006
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: Babies under 1 year of age and weighing less than 20 pounds are required to ride in a rear-facing child restraint system in the back seat of a vehicle.
Forward-Facing Car Seats & Boosters -or- Small Children: Children ages 1 up to 6 years old must be secured in a convertible or front-facing child restraint system. This includes a safety seat or booster seat, but NOT a seat belt alone.
Booster Seats & Seat Belts -or- Bigger Kiddos: Children ages 6 to 11 must be secured in a child restraint system (typically a booster seat) or by a safety belt.
Adult Seat Belts: A child must be able to sit with their back/buttocks against the seat and with their knees bent at the edge of the seat. The belt system must be snug across the center of the child’s chest and across their lap at the hips in order to graduate to the ‘adult belt’.
Kansas: Car Seat Safety Laws
Statute 8-1344 Last updated 2015
Rear-facing Child Safety Seat: Children under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
Convertible Seat: Children ages 1, 2 & 3 should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
Forward-Facing Car Seats, Boosters and Bigger Kiddos: All children ages 4 through 7 are required to ride in a booster seat unless:
- The child weighs more than 80 pounds
- The child is taller than 4 feet 9 inches
- Only a lap belt is available
Kentucky: Car Seat Safety Laws
KRS 189.125 Last updated 2015
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Kentucky law requires any child who is less than 40” tall to travel in a proper child restraint system.
Kentucky Office of Highway Safety translates this law like this:
You should keep your children in an infant seat until they are 20 pounds and 12 months. Use a forward-facing seat after 20 pounds until the limit prescribed by the car seat manufacturer.
Rear-facing/forward-facing Car Seat Law: When the child gets older than 2 year and outgrows the safety seat designed for children under 2 years, they have to use a forward-facing seat with a harness. By law, the age limit until you have to use a forward-facing car seat is at least 5 and the weight limit is 40 pounds.
Child Booster Seat Laws in Kentucky: When your child outgrows the rear-facing/forward-facing seat, and they are between 40” to 57” tall, you should use a booster seat.
Louisiana: Car Seat Safety Laws
RS 32:295 Last updated 2019
Rear-Facing Car Seats -or- Infants: A child who is younger than the age of 2 years shall be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system that complies with all applicable federal regulations until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer.
Convertible Seat: A child who is at least 2 years of age or older and has reached the rear-facing weight or height limits of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer, shall be restrained in a forward-facing child restraint system with an internal harness until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child restraint system set by the manufacturer.
Forward-Facing Car Seat & Booster -or- Bigger Kiddos: A child who is at least 4 years of age and has outgrown the forward-facing weight or height limits of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer shall be restrained in a belt-positioning child booster seat, secured with a vehicle lap-shoulder seat belt, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Maine: Car Seat Safety Laws
Title 29-A,SS2081 Last updated 2019
Rear-facing and Convertible Seat: When a child who is less than 2 years of age is being transported in a motor vehicle, the operator shall ensure that the child is properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system or convertible child restraint system. They must be properly secured in the rear-facing position in accordance with the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions, except if the child is in a convertible child restraint system and the child exceeds the manufacturer recommended weight limit for the rear-facing position. In this case the child may be properly secured in a forward-facing position in accordance with the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
Convertible and Booster Seat: Children 2 years of age or older and weighing less than 55 pounds. The operator shall ensure that the child is properly secured in a child restraint system in accordance with the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
Maryland: Car Seat Safety Laws
Article 22-412.2 Last updated 2013
Maryland’s law requires that children under 8 years old ride in an appropriate child restraint* unless the child is 4’9” or taller. Child restraint includes car seats and booster seats and other federally approved safety devices.
*Maryland law doesn’t specify weights and types of seats to be used other than they must be federally approved. Any car seats sold in the US will be federally approved and meet all federal safety standards for child passenger restraint devices. For more information and a buy guide, visit Safe Kids!
Massachusetts: Car Seat Safety Laws
A passenger in a motor vehicle on any one who is under the age of 8 shall be fastened and secured by a child passenger restraint, unless the passenger measures more than 57 inches in height. The child passenger restraint shall be properly fastened and secured according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Michigan: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 257.710d Last updated 2009
Children younger than age 4 should ride in a car seat in the rear seat if the vehicle has a rear seat. If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.
Children must be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. Children must ride in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first.
Minnesota: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 169.685 Last updated 2019
All children under age 8 must ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat, unless the child is 4′ 9″ or taller.
Car seats must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, a child passenger restraint system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.
It is recommended that all infants and toddlers should ride in rear-facing seats, as long as possible.
Mississippi: Car Seat Safety Laws
Rear-Facing only seats and Rear-Facing Convertible Seats: All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer. For most seats, this will be at least until age 2.
Convertible Seats and Forward-Facing Seats with Harnesses: Any child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for his convertible car seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. These seats keep children safer than booster seats.
Booster Seats: All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly. Children will typically need to be at least 4 feet 9 inches in height to ride without a booster seat.
Seat Belts: When children are old enough and large enough for the vehicle seat belt to fit them correctly, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection.
All children younger than 13 should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles.
Missouri: Car Seat Safety Laws
Children less than 4 years old or less than 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat.
Children ages 4 through 7 who weigh at least 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat unless they are 80 pounds or 4′ 9″ tall.
Children 8 and over or weighing at least 80 pounds or at least 4’ 9” tall are required to be secured by a safety belt or buckled into an appropriate booster seat.
Montana: Car Seat Safety Laws
61-9-420 Last updated 2019
Montana law requires all children under age 6 and weighing less than 60 lbs. to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends keeping children in their car seats for as long as possible before moving them to the next type of car seat. Many children are not tall enough to graduate from a booster seat to a lap and shoulder belt alone until they are at least 4’ 9” tall, which is about 8 years or older.
Nebraska: Car Seat Safety Laws
60-6,267 Last updated 2019
All children up to age 8 must ride correctly secured in a federally-approved child safety seat.
Children ride rear-facing until up to age 2 or until they reach the upper weight or height limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer.
Children under age 8 must ride in the back seat, as long as there is a back seat equipped with a seatbelt and is not already occupied by other children under 8 years of age.
Children ages 8 to 18 must ride secured in a safety belt or child safety seat (booster seat).
Childcare providers must transport all children securely in an appropriate federally-approved child safety seat or safety belt.
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Nevada: Car Seat Safety Laws
Nevada drivers are required to use a “child restraint system” approved by the United States Department of Transportation when transporting a child who is:
- under 6 years old, and
- 60 pounds or less
A “child restraint system” means any device that is designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. Child restraint systems include such devices as:
- Booster seats and belt-positioning seats that are designed to elevate or otherwise position a child so as to allow the child to be secured with a safety belt.
- Integrated child seats.
- Safety belts that are designed specifically to be adjusted to accommodate children.
New Hampshire: Car Seat Safety Laws
Last updated 2015
All children under age 7 or 57 inches tall (whichever is reached first) must use a properly fastened and secured child safety seat. Children under age 18 must be properly restrained in a motor vehicle including a car, pickup truck or SUV.
New Jersey: Car Seat Safety Laws
Title 39:3-76.2a Last updated 2013
Every person operating a motor vehicle, other than a school bus, equipped with safety belts who is transporting a child under 8 years of age and weighing less than 80 pounds on roadways, streets or highways of this state, shall secure the child in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat, as described in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 213, in a rear seat. If there are no rear seats, the child shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat.
New Mexico: Car Seat Safety Laws
66-7-369 Last updated 2013
Children less than 1 year of age should be properly secured in a rear-facing child passenger restraint device that meets federal standards, in the rear seat of a vehicle. If the vehicle is not equipped with a rear seat, the child may ride in the front seat of the vehicle if the passenger-side air bag is deactivated. If the vehicle is not equipped with a deactivation switch for the passenger-side air bag:
- Children 1 through 4 years of age, regardless of weight, or children who weigh less than 40 pounds, regardless of age, shall be properly secured in a child passenger restraint device that meets federal standards.
- Children 5 through 6 years of age, regardless of weight, or children who weigh less than 60 pounds, regardless of age, shall be properly secured in either a child booster seat or an appropriate child passenger restraint device that meets federal standards.
- Children 7 through 12 years of age shall be properly secured in a child passenger restraint device or by a seat belt.
New York: Car Seat Safety Laws
VTL 1229-c Last updated 2020
NY VTL 1229-c requires all children who are under the age of 8 to be properly secured in a child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle. An appropriate child safety restraint system must meet the size and weight requirements for the specific child.
In order to ensure one avoids a child seat belt ticket, be sure to adhere to the following rules:
- A child under the age of 2 must be in a rear-facing car seat.
- A child under age 4 who weighs less than 40 lbs. must be in a convertible car seat.
- Children between ages 4 to 7 (or those weighing more than 40 lbs.) must be restrained in a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt.
- Children under the age of 16 must wear seat belts.
- Drivers should be aware that a child who is more than 4’ 9” tall or more than 100 lbs. is allowed to use a seat belt that has both a lap belt and a shoulder harness.
North Carolina: Car Seat Safety Laws
20-137.1 Last updated 2002
A child younger than 8 years of age and weighing less than 80 pounds shall be properly secured in a weight-appropriate car seat. In vehicles equipped with an active passenger-side front air bag, if the vehicle has a rear seat, a child less than 5 years of age and weighing less than 40 pounds shall be properly secured in a rear seat, unless the car seat is designed for use with air bags.
If no seating position equipped with a lap and shoulder belt to properly secure the weight-appropriate car seat is available, a child less than 8 years of age and between 40 and 80 pounds may be restrained by a properly fitted lap belt only.
North Dakota: Car Seat Safety Laws
- Children younger than 8 years of age are required to ride in a child restraint (car seat or booster seat). The restraint must be used correctly – following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- A correctly-used seat belt may be substituted for children younger than 8 who are at least 4’ 9” tall.
- Children ages 8 through 17 must be properly secured in a seat belt or child restraint (car seat or booster seat).
Ohio: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 4511.81 Last updated 2009
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Children from birth to 2 years of age are required to travel in the rear-facing car seat. Some kids can grow fast and outgrow the rear-seat earlier than 2 years. In that case, you can secure them in a forward-facing seat.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: Children from birth to 2 years old are required to travel in the rear-facing car seat. Some kids can grow fast and outgrow the rear-seat earlier than 2 years. In that case, you can secure them in a forward-facing seat.
Child Booster Seat Laws in Ohio: You can eliminate the use of the forward-facing car seat and replace it with a booster seat after your child has outgrown said seat. Children from 4 to 7 years, until they are 4’ 10”, should use the booster seat. Car seat manuals can be very helpful to figure out the proper seat for your kiddo.
Oklahoma: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 11-1112 of Senate Bill 891 Last updated 2000
“Every driver, when transporting a child under 4 years of age weighing 60 pounds or less in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall provide for the protection of the said child by properly using a child passenger restraint system.”
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Children less than 2 years old are required to travel in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the seat limit.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: Oklahoma law says that all children under the age of 4 should be restrained in a proper safety system. For children who have outgrown their rear-facing seats, a forward-facing seat should be used.
Child Booster Seat Law: After reaching the forward-facing height or weight limit allowed by the seat manufacturer, children should be secured in a child booster seat. Booster seats are required to be used until the child is at least 8 years old or 4’ 9” tall.
Oregon: Car Seat Safety Laws
815.055 Last updated 2019
Child Safety Seat Law
Child passengers must be restrained in child safety seats until they weigh 40 pounds or reach the upper weight limit for the car seat in use. Infants must ride rear-facing until they reach 2 years of age unless the child turned age 1 prior to May 26, 2017.
Booster Seat Law
Children over 40 pounds or who have reached the upper weight limit for their forward-facing car seat must use a child seat with harness or a booster to 4′ 9″ tall or age 8 and the adult belt fits correctly.
Rear Seating for Children
There is no Oregon law specifically prohibiting children from riding in the front seat of passenger vehicles. However, a rear-facing infant seat cannot be placed in a front seating position that is equipped with an airbag because this would violate Oregon’s requirement for “proper use” of a child safety seat. There is a national “best practice recommendation” calling for rear seating through age 12.
National “Best Practice” Recommendations
Safety experts from USDOT have published national best practices recommendations which would keep children in each type of child seat longer than Oregon law prescribes, in addition to back seating through age 12.
Belt or Booster
Belt fit can vary greatly from one vehicle to another and one child to another. If your child meets Oregon’s legal requirements for moving from a booster seat to safety belt but you still have doubts about whether your child fits in the belt in your particular vehicle, then the following simple test can help. Place your child in the vehicle without a booster seat and then ask these questions. Until you can answer YES to all of the questions, your child should stay in a booster seat.
- Can the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?
- Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat?
- Does the shoulder belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
- Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
- Can the child stay comfortably seated like this for the whole trip?
Pennsylvania: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 4581 Last updated 2016
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: From birth to 2 years, children should travel in a rear-facing seat. Their height and weight should not exceed the limit set by the seat manufacturer
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Children under the age of 2 are required to be restrained in a rear-facing car seat that is made for the said age group. The child’s height and weight must be within the limit of the car seat.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: Children from age 2 to 4 are required to travel in car seats that could be rear-facing or forward-facing depending on the size and weight of the child. It is recommended by the experts that you keep using a rear-facing seat for as long as possible and your child is within the height and weight limit.
Child Booster Seat Laws: A booster seat must be used, according to laws in Pennsylvania, when your child is between 4 and 8 years of age.
Rhode Island: Car Seat Safety Laws
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: All infants and toddlers who do not weigh more than 30 pounds and are under 12 months old, must travel in the rear-facing car seat or infant-only seats.
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Toddlers who weigh less than 30 pounds and aren’t older than 2 years must travel in a rear-facing car seat.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: All children who are at least 2 years of age and they have outgrown the rear-facing car seat should travel in the forward-facing car seat.
Child Booster Seat Laws: Children who are under 8 years of age, shorter than 57” in height and less than 80 pounds in weight should be restrained in booster seats.
South Carolina: Car Seat Safety Laws
An infant or child under 2 years of age must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat in a rear passenger seat of the vehicle until the child exceeds the height or weight limit allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat being used.
A child at least 2 years of age or a child under 2 years of age who has outgrown their rear-facing car seat must be secured in a forward-facing car seat with a harness in a rear seat of the vehicle until the child exceeds the highest height or weight requirements of their forward-facing car seat.
A child at least 4 years of age who has outgrown their forward-facing car seat must be secured by a belt-positioning booster seat in a rear seat of the vehicle until they can meet the height and fit requirements for an adult safety seat belt. The belt-positioning booster seat must be used with both lap and shoulder belts. A booster seat must not be used with a lap belt alone.
A child at least 8 years of age and at least 57 inches tall may be restrained in an adult safety belt if the child can be secured properly by an adult safety seat belt. A child is properly secured by an adult safety seat belt when they meet all of the following:
- The lap belt fits across the child’s thighs and hips and not across the abdomen.
- The shoulder belt crosses the center of the child’s chest and not the neck.
- The child is able to sit with his back straight against the vehicle seat back cushion with his knees bent over the vehicle’s seat edge without slouching
South Dakota: Car Seat Safety Laws
“Any operator of any passenger vehicle transporting a child under 5 years of age on the streets and highways of this state shall properly secure the child in a child passenger restraint system according to its manufacturer’s instructions.”
Child restraint laws in South Dakota are not very comprehensive. It is required by law that all children under the age of 5 will travel in a safety system that is designed for their age and federally approved. The law leaves it to you to figure out which car seat is right for your child. We recommend using this handy dandy car seat buying guide by Safe Kids to help determine the best seat for your child.
Tennessee: Car Seat Safety Laws
55-9-602 Last updated 2019
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: All infants and toddlers under the age of 12 months and who weigh 20 or fewer pounds, must be secured in a rear-facing or infant-only car seat.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: Children under the age of 3, who weigh more than 20 pounds shall be secured in a forward-facing car seat.
Child Booster Seat Law: From 4 years of age until they are under 8 years and no taller than 4 feet 9 inch, children must be secured in a booster seat.
Texas: Car Seat Safety Laws
“A person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger vehicle, transports a child who is younger than 8 years of age, unless the child is taller than 4 feet, 9 inches, and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system.”
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) says that you must keep using a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. Height and weight limits/recommendations are mentioned in car seat owner manuals.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: According to TDPS, after reaching the rear-facing seat limit, which usually happens at 2 years of age, children must travel in a forward-facing car seat. It is also required that the seat is installed on the backside of the car.
Child Booster Seat Law: Children who are more than 4-year old and weigh more than 80 pounds are ready for the booster seat, according to TDPS.
Utah: Car Seat Safety Laws
HB 140 Last Updated 2008
According to laws in Utah, children under the age of 8 are required to travel in a “child restraint device” that is federally approved.
Vermont: Car Seat Safety Laws
“No person shall operate a motor vehicle, other than a type I school bus, in this State upon a public highway unless every occupant under age 18 is properly restrained in a federally approved child passenger restraint system.”
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: Under the law, from birth to 12 months, children must travel in a rear-seat or infant-only seat when they weigh less than 20 pounds.
Rear-facing/Forward-facing Car Seat Law: When a child reaches the age of 1, according to law, they must be secured in a car seat system that is appropriate for their age. This system can be a rear-facing or a forward-facing system. Every car seat manufacturer has instructions on whether a particular seat is a fit for a given age and weight.
Child Booster Seat Law: Vermont law says that children age 8 up to 18 can travel in a car seat belt or booster seat, whichever fits them better.
Virginia: Car Seat Safety Laws
46.2-1095
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Children under the age of 2 will travel in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the height and weight limit set by the seat manufacturer.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: By law, children are required to travel in a forward-facing car seat when they reach the weight and height limit of the rear-facing car seat. These limits are put in place by car seat manufacturers.
Child Booster Seat Laws: All children under the age of 8 must travel in a child restraint system, according to Virginia law. When the child outgrows the forward-facing seat, they must graduate to the booster seat. Again, in law, there is no age when you can eliminate the use of the forward-facing seat. You have to refer to the seat manual.
Washington: Car Seat Safety Laws
RCW 46.61.687 Last updated 2020
Rear-facing Car Seat Law: Washington law says that children under the age of 2 shall travel in the rear-facing car seat. Rear-facing seats must be federally approved and placed in the back of the car seat.
Forward-facing Car Seat Law: After the child has reached the weight and height limit of rear-facing car seats, they should be moved to the forward-facing car seat and keep using it until they are not comfortable in it and/or reach the height and weight limit.
Child Booster Seat Law: When they are shorter than 4’9” and at least 8 years old, children are required to use booster seats. They can stop using the seat when the seat belt of the car fits them securely.
Washington D.C. Car Seat Safety Laws
50–1703 Last updated 2019
DC law requires that any child up to 16 years of age must be in a properly installed child safety seat or restrained in a seat belt. Children under 8 years of age must be properly seated in an installed infant, convertible (toddler) or booster child seat, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belts. The District of Columbia does not have a law preventing children from riding in the front seat, but it is recommended that all children ride in the back seat until the age of 13.
West Virginia: Car Seat Safety Laws
Section 17C-15-46 Last updated 2017
The law in West Virginia does not mention the age and weight requirements for different seats. According to the law, the child has to be restrained in a child passenger safety device system that is appropriate for the age. Refer to car seat instructions to understand the age and weight requirements for each seat.
We recommend visiting the NHTSA recommendations to determine what’s best for your child.
Wisconsin: Car Seat Safety Laws
347.48 Last updated 2001
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: Infants who are less than 12 months old and weigh less than 20 pounds must be restrained for a rear-facing car seat.
Child Booster Seat Laws: Children who are at least 4 years old, not older than 8 years, weight less than 80 pounds, and not taller than 57” will travel in a federally approved booster seat.
Wyoming: Car Seat Safety Laws
WY Stat § 31-5-1303 Last updated 2011
Infant/Toddler Car Seat Law: Infants and toddlers who are under 12 months and less than 20 pounds will travel in a rear-facing car seat. The seat must be secured in the back seat of the car.
Seat Law Requirements: Wyoming law doesn’t mention the age and weight limit for different seats. According to the law, all children under 8 must travel in a child safety restraint system. This system can be either rear-facing, forward-facing, or booster seat depending on the weight and height of your child. You can refer to the car seat manual or NHTSA’s recommendations for further guidance.
U.S. Territories: Car Seat Safety Laws
If you are traveling to any of the US Territories you’ll want to pay attention to the laws there as they are likely different from your home state.
American Samoa
- Any child under age 4 must be in a car seat.
- Any child older than 4 must wear a safety belt.
Guam — (30-33)
Children younger than 4 must be secured in a child restraint system which meets federal standards and is used within manufacturers guidelines while in transit.
Children ages 4 to 11 — who are less than 4 feet 9 inches tall — must be secured in a booster seat or other appropriately fitting child restraint system.
Northern Mariana Islands
- Any child under age 5 or less than 70 pounds must be in a car seat.
- Any child older than 5 or more than 70 pounds must wear a safety belt.
Puerto Rico
- Children under 12 years old must travel in the back seat of a car.
- Children under 4 years old use appropriate child restraint.
- Children between 4 and 8 must be properly restrained.
- All occupants must be properly restrained.
U.S. Virgin Islands — (20 VIC 466)
- Children under the age of 13 should be protected by properly being secured in an appropriate child restraint system as:
- Children under 1 and 20 pounds must be rear facing in the rear seat of the vehicle.
- Any child under age five and 40 pounds must use a child restraint system that meets FMVSS 213 standards.
- Children who have outgrown a forward-facing car seat should use a booster seat up to 8 years old and 4’9″ tall.
- Children under 13 must always sit in the rear seat of vehicles with air bags wearing a seatbelt.
Canada: Car Seat Safety Laws
All provinces and territories require “proper use” of a car seat or booster seat. The car seat or booster seat must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and specifications.
For laws by province, click here to review the Provincial & Territorial Legislation Summary by the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada (last updated April 2019).
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I’m so shocked at how different some states can be. We are doing a cross-country road trip this summer and I’m just gonna keep my kiddo buckled like I do at home and hope for the best. :)
Thank you! So Important!
Wow this is really helpful. I’ll be referring to it when I travel out of state. :)
For emphasis: it is recommended to keep our little ones in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, up to the limits of the car seat to prevent a traumatic injury in the event of an accident.
So thorough!
Thanks for putting toegether such a comprehensive list.
i can’t believe some
states don’t really
have much for laws
at all. eek
Wow! This is super convenient.
I always just go by my home state. I’ll keep this handy. Thank you.
Thanks for putting this together!