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.

Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2023.

Short Term Description
All states and territories require child safety seats for infants and children fitting specific criteria, but requirements vary based on age, weight and height.
Wyoming
Child Restraint Required

8 yrs or under in rear seat if available

Wyoming
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

9 yrs or older

Wisconsin
Child Restraint Required

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

Wisconsin
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 yrs or older or more than 80 lbs or taller than 57"

West Virginia
Child Restraint Required

7 yrs or under and under 4'9" tall

West Virginia
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 yrs and older and 4'9" or taller

Washington
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

Washington
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

4’9” or taller

Adult seat belt fits properly

40 lbs or over in seating position with only lap belt

Virginia
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-17 yrs (4-7 yrs with physician's exemption)

Virginia
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 years old in rear-facing seat (or until minimum weight requirement reached)
7 yrs or under
Children in rear-facing devices must be in a rear seat if available - otherwise, in front only if front passenger airbag is deactivated

Virgin Islands
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yr and under 20 lbs in rear-facing child restraint

1-5 yrs and under 40 lbs in child restraint Under 8 yrs

40-80 lbs, or under 4'9" in booster seat

All children under age 14 must ride in a rear seat

 

Virgin Islands
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

5-13 yrs in a rear seat

Vermont
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yrs or under 20 lbs in rear-facing seat in rear seat unless front passenger airbag is deactivated
1-7 yrs and over 20 lbs

Vermont
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-17 yrs and over 20 lbs

Utah
Child Restraint Required

7 yrs or under and under 57" tall

Utah
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs or 57" or taller

Texas
Child Restraint Required

Under 8 yrs or under 57" tall

Texas
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 yrs or older or over 57"

Tennessee
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yr or 20 lbs or less in rear-facing child safety seat, following manufacturer instructions

1-3 yrs and over 20 lbs in harnessed child safety seat, following manufacturer instructions

4-9 yrs and shorter than 4'9" in booster seat, following manufacturer instructions (until 9th birthday)

9 yrs or younger and taller than 4'9", seat belt and in rear seat if available

Rear seat recommended for 9-12 yrs

Tennessee
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

9 yrs and older if taller than 4'9"

South Dakota
Child Restraint Required

Under 5 yrs and under 40 lbs must be properly secured in a child safety seat

South Dakota
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-18 yrs must be properly secured in a seat belt, harnessed child safety seat or booster seat

South Carolina
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs or until height or weight limit reached in rear-facing seat
2-8 yrs in forward-facing child safety seat or in booster seat secured by lap/shoulder belt (lap belt alone is not permissible)
7 yrs or under in rear seat if available

South Carolina
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

7 yrs or under and 80 lbs or over or 57" or taller 8-17 yrs

Rhode Island
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

7 yrs or under and 80 lbs or over or 57" or taller

8-17 yrs

Rhode Island
Child Restraint Required

2 yrs or under and under 30 lbs in rear-facing child safety seat

7 yrs and under and shorter than 57" and under 80 lbs in child restraint

Puerto Rico
Child Restraint Required

4 yrs or under in child safety seat

4-8 yrs or under 57" tall in booster seat

Under 12 yrs in rear seat

Puerto Rico
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

9 yrs or under or 57" or taller

Pennsylvania
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs (or until outgrows the top height or weight recommendations) in rear-facing child restraint

2-3 yrs in forward-facing child restraint

4-7 yrs booster seat

Pennsylvania
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-18 yrs

Oregon
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs in a rear-facing child restraint 
Properly used child restraint (harness) required until child weight 40 lbs. 
Booster required until the child is 8 years old AND the adult seatbelt fits correctly OR the child is 4’9” tall

Oregon
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs or over 4'9" tall

Oklahoma
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs (or until outgrows the top height or weight recommendations) in rear-facing child restraint

Under 4 yrs in child restraint

4-7 yrs and shorter than 4'9" in a child restraint or booster seat

Oklahoma
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 yrs or over or 4'9" or taller

Ohio
Child Restraint Required

Under 4 yrs or under 40 lbs in child safety seat, following manufacturer instructions
4-8 yrs, over 40 lbs and under 4'9" tall in booster seat, following manufacturer instructions

Ohio
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs

Northern Mariana Islands
Child Restraint Required

Under 5 yrs

Under 8 lbs or under 54" in booster seat

Under 5 yrs, under 80 lbs, or under 54" in rear seat

Northern Mariana Islands
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Over 5 yrs or over 80 lbs or over 54"

North Dakota
Child Restraint Required

Younger than 8 years of age and under 57"

North Dakota
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Less than 8 yrs and 57” or taller
8-17 yrs

North Carolina
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs or 40-80 lbs in seats without shoulder belts

North Carolina
Child Restraint Required

7 yrs or under and under 80 lbs

New York
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs (or until outgrows the top height or weight recommendations) in rear-facing child restraint

3 yrs or under unless over 40 lbs and no lap/shoulder belt available

4-7 yrs unless no lap/shoulder belt available

New York
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 yrs and older must be restrained by a seatbelt

New Mexico
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yrs in rear-facing seat, in rear seat, if available
1-4 yrs or under 40 lbs in child safety seat
5-6 yrs or under 60 lbs in booster seat

New Mexico
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

7-17 yrs

New Jersey
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs and under 30 lbs in rear-facing seat
Under 4 yrs and under 40 lbs until height or weight limit reached in child safety seat
Under 8 yrs and shorter than 57" in forward-facing child safety seat or booster seat until height or weight limit reached in rear seat, if available

New Jersey
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 yrs or older or over 57"

New Hampshire
Child Restraint Required

Under 7 yrs and 57" or shorter

New Hampshire
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

7-17 yrs (or under 7 yrs and 57" or taller)

Nevada
Child Restraint Required

Under 6 yrs of age and less than 57 inches tall 
Under 2 yrs must ride in a rear-facing child safety seat in a back seat 

Nevada
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6 yrs and older and 57 inches or taller

Nebraska
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs until height or weight limit reached in rear-facing seat
Under 8 yrs in child safety seat and in rear seat if available

Nebraska
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-17 yrs

Montana
Child Restraint Required

Under 6 yrs and under 60 lbs

Montana
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6 yrs and older and over 60 lbs

Missouri
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

At least 8 yrs and 80 lbs or taller than 4'9" 

Missouri
Child Restraint Required

Under 4 yrs or under 40 lbs in child safety seat
4-7 yrs and 40-80 lbs and 4'9" or shorter in child safety seat or booster seat
At least 80 lbs or taller than 4'9" in booster seat or safety belt

Mississippi
Child Restraint Required

Under 4 yrs in child restraint

4-6 yrs and under 57" tall or under 65 lbs in booster seat

Mississippi
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

7 yrs or over or 57" or taller or 65 lbs or over

Minnesota
Child Restraint Required

7 yrs or under and under 57" tall

Minnesota
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 yrs or over or over 57" tall

Michigan
Child Restraint Required

Under age 8 and under 57" tall

Under 4 yrs in rear seat if available

Michigan
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs or 57" or taller

Massachusetts
Child Restraint Required

7 yrs or under and under 57" tall

Massachusetts
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-12 yrs or 57" or taller

Maryland
Child Restraint Required

Under 8 yrs unless over 57" tall. Rear-facing until age 2 or until they exceed the height/weight specifications of the manufacturer.

Maryland
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs or under 8 yrs and over 57" tall

Maine
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs must use a rear-facing child safety seat 

Children 55 lbs. or less must ride in a rear or forward-facing child safety seat with a 5-point harness

Under 8 yrs, less than 80 lbs. and 4’ 9” must use a booster seat or child safety seat

Under 12 yrs should be in a back seat

Maine
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Seat Belt required for all passengers over 8 years old, 57” and 80 lbs

Louisiana
Child Restraint Required

At least 2 yrs in a rear-facing child safety seat until outgrows the seat by height or weight

At least 2 yrs in forward-facing child safety seat if rear-facing seat it too small by height or weight

4-8 yrs in booster seat if outgrown forward-facing harness seat by height or weight

Under 13 in rear seat if possible

Louisiana
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

At least 9 yrs  and fits in an adult seat belt correctly 

Under 13 in rear seat if possible

Kentucky
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Taller than 57"

Kentucky
Child Restraint Required

40" or shorter in child restraint 7 yrs or under and between 40" and 57" tall in booster seat

Kansas
Child Restraint Required

Under age 4 in an appropriate child restraint
4-8 years, under 80 pounds or 57” tall in an appropriate child restraint or booster seat

Kansas
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8 years old and over 80 lbs or taller than 57" tall

Iowa
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yrs and under 20 lbs in rear-facing child seat

1-5 yrs in child restraint or booster seat

Iowa
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6-17 yrs

Indiana
Child Restraint Required

8 yrs or under

Indiana
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs must be properly restrained in seat belt or child restraint

Illinois
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs under 40 lbs and under 40" in rear-facing child restraint

Under 8 yrs

 

Illinois
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs

Over 40 lbs in rear seat if only lap belt available

Idaho
Child Restraint Required

Under 7 yrs

Idaho
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

7 yrs and older

Hawaii
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

Hawaii
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Over 4'9" tall

 

Guam
Child Restraint Required

Under 4 yrs in child safety seat

4-11 yrs and under 4'9" tall in child restraint or booster seat

Guam
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

12 and older (or 4'9" or taller)

Georgia
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Over 57" tall 40 lbs or over in rear seat can use lap belt if lap/shoulder belt unavailable

Georgia
Child Restraint Required

Under 8 yrs and 57" or shorter in rear seat if available

Florida
Child Restraint Required

5 yrs or under

Florida
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6 yrs or older

District of Columbia
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

District of Columbia
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs

Delaware
Child Restraint Required

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 23 yrs in rear seat

 

Delaware
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

Connecticut
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs or under 30 lbs in rear-facing restraint system 2-4 yrs or 30-40 lbs in child restraint system 5-7 yrs or 40-60 lbs in child restraint or booster seat Booster seats only with a lap and shoulder belt

Connecticut
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 years and 60 lbs or over

Colorado
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yr and under 20 lbs in rear-facing seat in rear seat
1-3 yrs and 20-40 lbs in rear or forward-facing child safety seat 
4-8 yrs in forward-facing child safety seat or booster

Colorado
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs

California
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs and under 40 pounds or 40” in rear-facing car seat, following manufacturer instructions and in a back seat

Under 8 yrs and under 57" tall in child safety seat or booster seat in the back seat, following manufacturer instructions 

California
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Under 16 yrs properly restrained, including a seat belt

Arkansas
Child Restraint Required

5 yrs and under and under 60 lbs

Arkansas
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6-14 yrs or 60 lbs and over

Arizona
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

5-7 yrs and over 57" tall

Arizona
Child Restraint Required

4 yrs or under 5-7 yrs and under 57" tall

American Samoa
Child Restraint Required

Under 4 yrs

American Samoa
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

4 yrs or older

Alaska
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yrs or under 20 lbs in rear-facing seat
1-3 yrs and over 20 lbs in child safety seat
4-15 and 20-64 lbs (or under 57" tall) in booster seat

Alaska
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")

Alabama
Child Restraint Required

Under 1 yrs or under 20 lbs in rear-facing seat
1-4 yrs or 20-40 lbs in forward-facing child safety seat
5 yrs (but not yet 6) in booster seat

Alabama
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6-14 years

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