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.
| Alabama | Alaska | American Samoa | Arizona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
Up to 1 year old or 20 pounds must use a rear-facing seat |
Child Restraint Required
Under 1 yr in a rear-facing car seat |
Child Restraint Required
Under 4 yrs |
Child Restraint Required
4 yrs or under 5-7 yrs and under 57" tall |
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
6-14 years |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
4-7 yrs and 65 lbs or over (or 57" or taller) or 7-15 yrs and under 65 lbs (or below 57") |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
4 yrs or older |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
5-7 yrs and over 57" tall |
Up to 1 year old or 20 pounds must use a rear-facing seat
1 year or 20 pounds to 5 years or 40 pounds in a forward-facing seat
At least 5 years or 40 pounds to use a booster seat.
Booster seats until the child is six years of age.
6-14 years
Under 1 yr in a rear-facing car seat
Over 1 yr and less than 20 lbs in a rear-facing car seat
1 yr to under 5 yrs in an appropriate car seat or booster seat
5 to under 8 yrs and less than 4' 9" (57") tall and less than 65 lbs in an appropriate car seat or booster seat
Drivers must ensure all children under 16 are properly secured in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt
4-7 yrs and 65 lbs or over (or 57" or taller) or 7-15 yrs and under 65 lbs (or below 57")
4 yrs or under 5-7 yrs and under 57" tall
5-7 yrs and over 57" tall
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.
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 (SHSO).
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and SHSOs.
Last updated in August 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.