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.
| Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
Under 2 years – rear-facing child restraint 2 to 4 years – child restraint with harness (rear or forward-facing) 4 years and older – car or booster seat until 4’9” Up to age 13 years – must ride in back seat when practical |
Child Restraint Required
7 yrs or under and under 4'9" tall |
Child Restraint Required
Under 1 yr or under 20 lbs in rear-facing child restraint |
Child Restraint Required
8 yrs or under in rear seat if available |
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
4’9” or taller Adult seat belt fits properly 40 lbs or over in seating position with only lap belt |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8 yrs and older and 4'9" or taller |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8 yrs or older or more than 80 lbs or taller than 57" |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
9 yrs or older |
Under 2 years – rear-facing child restraint
2 to 4 years – child restraint with harness (rear or forward-facing)
4 years and older – car or booster seat until 4’9”
Up to age 13 years – must ride in back seat when practical
4’9” or taller
Adult seat belt fits properly
40 lbs or over in seating position with only lap belt
7 yrs or under and under 4'9" tall
8 yrs and older and 4'9" or taller
Under 1 yr or under 20 lbs in rear-facing child restraint
1-3 yrs and 20-40 lbs must be in either a rear- or forward-facing child restraint
4-7 yrs and 40-80 lbs and under 57" tall must be in either a rear- or forward-facing child restraint or a booster seat
Under 4 years and less than 40 lbs, or if the child is in a rear- or forward-facing child restraint, they mist be in the rear vehicle seat, if available
8 yrs or older or more than 80 lbs or taller than 57"
8 yrs or under in rear seat if available
9 yrs or older
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.