Child Passenger Safety
The chart below describes the statewide laws related to child passenger safety across the country. Use the arrows below the chart to toggle through the states in alphabetical order. To advance slowly, click the single right arrow (>). To jump to the end, click the double arrows (>>). Or use the filter by state feature to jump to a specific state.
Scroll down for a summary and overall totals of the number of states that have specific provisions.
Last updated in April 2024. Laws last reviewed by State Highway Safety Offices in March 2024.
| Guam | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
Under 4 yrs in child safety seat 4-11 yrs and under 4'9" tall in child restraint or booster seat |
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 years in a rear-facing child safety seat 2 to under 4 yrs in a rear- or forward-facing child safety seat 4 to less than 10 yrs in booster seat or child restraint system with harness 4 to less than 10 yrs and over 4'9" tall in booster seat with lap and shoulder seat belt |
Child Restraint Required
Under 7 yrs |
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 yrs under 40 lbs and under 40" in rear-facing child restraint Under 8 yrs
|
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
12 and older (or 4'9" or taller) |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
Over 4'9" tall
|
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
7 yrs and older |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-15 yrs Over 40 lbs in rear seat if only lap belt available |
Under 4 yrs in child safety seat
4-11 yrs and under 4'9" tall in child restraint or booster seat
12 and older (or 4'9" or taller)
Under 2 years in a rear-facing child safety seat
2 to under 4 yrs in a rear- or forward-facing child safety seat
4 to less than 10 yrs in booster seat or child restraint system with harness
4 to less than 10 yrs and over 4'9" tall in booster seat with lap and shoulder seat belt
Over 4'9" tall
Under 2 yrs under 40 lbs and under 40" in rear-facing child restraint
Under 8 yrs
8-15 yrs
Over 40 lbs in rear seat if only lap belt available
Child Passenger Safety
All states and territories require child safety seats for infants and children fitting specific criteria, but requirements vary based on age, weight and height. This happens in three stages: rear-facing; forward-facing (harnessed) seats; and booster seats.
Many laws require all children to ride in the rear seat whenever possible, and most states permit children over a particular age, height or weight to use an adult safety belt.
First offense fines for not complying with a state's child passenger safety laws vary from $10 to $500. Some states also use driver's license points as an additional penalty for noncompliance.
- Most states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require booster seats or other appropriate devices for children who have outgrown their child safety seats but are still too small to use an adult seat belt safely.
- 19 states and the District of Columbia require children younger than two be in a rear-facing child safety seat.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on child passenger safety laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Last updated in April 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.