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.
| Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
7 yrs or under and under 66 lbs Under 12 yrs and under 65' in rear seat
|
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 yrs or under 40 lbs in rear-facing child restraint 2–3 yrs old and under 30 lbs in forward-facing child restraint in the back seat Under 8 yrs old and under 57” tall in a child restraint or booster seat in the back seat |
Child Restraint Required
5 yrs or under |
Child Restraint Required
Under 8 yrs and 57" or shorter in rear seat if available |
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-15 yrs or 66 lbs and over Effective 6/30/2024, 4-16 yrs if exceeded height and weight limit of booster seat |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-15 yrs |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
6 yrs or older |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
Over 57" tall 40 lbs or over in rear seat can use lap belt if lap/shoulder belt unavailable |
7 yrs or under and under 66 lbs Under 12 yrs and under 65' in rear seat
(effective 6/30/2024)
Under 2 yrs and under 30 lbs in rear-facing car seat
Under 4 yrs and under 40 lbs in child safety seat
Under 16 in booster seat following manufacturers instructions or seat belt
5'5" or less and under 12 yrs in rear seat
8-15 yrs or 66 lbs and over
Effective 6/30/2024, 4-16 yrs if exceeded height and weight limit of booster seat
Under 2 yrs or under 40 lbs in rear-facing child restraint
2–3 yrs old and under 30 lbs in forward-facing child restraint in the back seat
Under 8 yrs old and under 57” tall in a child restraint or booster seat in the back seat
8-15 yrs
Under 8 yrs and 57" or shorter in rear seat if available
Over 57" tall 40 lbs or over in rear seat can use lap belt if lap/shoulder belt unavailable
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.