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Child / booster seats laws by state

People search “Child / booster seats by state”, “Child / booster seats laws by state”, and “Car seats map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for child / booster seats. Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

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How states differ

Rear-facing, booster age or height, and first-offense fine where you are driving.

  • Booster into age 9+ or until 4'9" with no early age-out
  • Child restraint through 7 / belt at 8, or 8 or 4'9"
  • Child restraint ends at age 4–6

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

  • Child / booster seats by state
  • Child / booster seats laws by state
  • Car seats laws by state
  • Child / booster seats map
  • Child / booster seats traveling across state lines
  • does child / booster seats change by state
  • car seat laws by state
  • booster seat age by state
  • child restraint laws traveling
  • Illinois car seat law under 8
  • when can my child sit in the front seat
  • rear facing until what age by state
  • Child / booster seats in California / Texas / Florida / New York
  • is child / booster seats legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL)
Alabama: under 1 year or under 20 lb, rear-facing; ages 1–4 or 20–40 lb, forward-facing harness; booster at age 5 (not yet 6); adult belt at ages 6–14. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Alaska (AK)
Alaska: under 1 year or under 20 lb, rear-facing; ages 1–3 and over 20 lb in a child restraint; ages 4–15 if under 57 in or 20–65 lb, booster; ages 4–7 if at least 57 in or 65+ lb; ages 8–15 belt. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Arizona (AZ)
Arizona: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 4 and younger in a child safety seat; ages 5–7 and 57 in or shorter, booster; ages 5–7 if taller than 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Arkansas (AR)
Arkansas: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 5 and younger and under 60 lb in a child restraint; covered by the age-5 / under-60 lb rule; ages 6–14 or 60+ lb. First-offense child-restraint fine $100.
California (CA)
California: under 2 and under 40 lb and under 40 in, rear-facing; age 7 and younger who are under 57 in in an appropriate CRS; ages 8–15 or at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $100.
Colorado (CO)
Colorado: under 2 and under 40 lb, rear-facing; over 40 lb may face forward; ages 2–3 and at least 20 lb, rear- or forward-facing; ages 4–8 and at least 40 lb in a CRS or booster (effective 2025-01-01); ages 9–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $81.
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut: under 2 years or under 30 lb, rear-facing; ages 2–4 or 30–40 lb, rear- or forward-facing harness; ages 5–7 or 40–60 lb, harness or booster (lap/shoulder only); ages 8–15 and 60+ lb. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Delaware (DE)
Delaware: under 2 and under 30 lb, rear-facing 5-point; under 4 and under 40 lb, rear- or forward-facing 5-point; ages 4–15 booster per manufacturer or a seat belt; through age 15 once past booster manufacturer limits. First-offense child-restraint fine none (IIHS n.5).
Florida (FL)
Florida: no published rear-facing age. Age 5 and younger must be in a child safety seat — an adult belt is not enough. Seat belt is allowed at 6+. First-offense fine $60.
Georgia (GA)
Georgia: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger and 57 in or less in an appropriate CRS; over 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Hawaii (HI)
Hawaii: under 2, rear-facing; ages 2–3, rear- or forward-facing; ages 4–6 harness or booster; ages 7–9 if under 4'9" harness or booster; ages 7–9 if over 4'9". First-offense child-restraint fine $100.
Idaho (ID)
Idaho: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 6 and younger in a child restraint (adult belt not permitted); age 7+. First-offense child-restraint fine $84.
Illinois (IL)
Illinois (625 ILCS 25/4): under 2 rear-facing unless 40 lb or 40 in; under 8 in a child restraint system; ages 8–15 in a seat belt. First-offense fine $75.
Indiana (IN)
Indiana: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger in a child restraint; ages 8–15. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Iowa (IA)
Iowa: under 1 year and under 20 lb, rear-facing; ages 1–5 in a child restraint or booster; ages 1–5 CRS or booster; ages 6–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $135.
Kansas (KS)
Kansas: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 3 and younger in a child restraint; ages 4–7 if under 80 lb and under 57 in, CRS or booster; ages 8–13; also ages 4–7 if over 80 lb or over 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $60.
Kentucky (KY)
Kentucky: no rear-facing age in the statute; 40 in or less in a child restraint; age 7 and younger and 40–57 in in a booster; taller than 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $50 CRS / $30 booster.
Louisiana (LA)
Louisiana: under 2 rear-facing until the manufacturer height/weight limit; ages 2–3 forward-facing until the manufacturer limit; ages 4–8 booster until the manufacturer limit; ages 9–17 or outgrown booster manufacturer limits. First-offense child-restraint fine $100.
Maine (ME)
Maine: under 2 rear-facing or until past the manufacturer limit; age 2+ and under 55 lb in an internal-harness CRS; under 8 and under 80 lb and under 57 in in a booster; age 17 and younger if over 57 in or over 80 lb. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Maryland (MD)
Maryland: under 2 rear-facing until the manufacturer height/weight limit; age 7 and younger and under 57 in; ages 8–15 or at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Massachusetts (MA)
Massachusetts: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger and under 57 in; ages 8–12 or at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Michigan (MI)
Michigan: under 2 rear-facing unless past the manufacturer limit; ages 2–4 forward-facing unless past the manufacturer limit; ages 5–7 unless at least 4'9"; ages 8–15 or at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $10.
Minnesota (MN)
Minnesota: under 2 rear-facing and stay rear-facing until past the rear-facing manufacturer limit; at least 2 and past RF limits: forward-facing harness; ages 4–8 and past FF limits: booster; the more-protective category wins if they overlap; ages 9–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Mississippi (MS)
Mississippi: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 3 and younger in a child restraint; ages 4–6 if under 57 in or under 65 lb; age 6 and younger if 65+ lb or 57+ in. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Missouri (MO)
Missouri: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 3 and younger or under 40 lb in a child restraint; ages 4–7 if 40–80 lb and 4'9" or shorter, CRS or booster; ages 8–16; also age 4+ if 80+ lb or at least 4'9". First-offense child-restraint fine $50; $10 if over 4'9" or 80+ lb.
Montana (MT)
Montana: under 2, rear-facing; ages 2–3, rear- or forward-facing; age 4 to under 8, forward-facing CRS or booster; ages 8–9 or outgrown booster manufacturer limits. First-offense child-restraint fine $100.
Nebraska (NE)
Nebraska: under 2 rear-facing or until past the manufacturer max height/weight; age 7 and younger in a child safety seat; ages 8–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Nevada (NV)
Nevada: under 2, rear-facing; age 5 and younger and under 57 in in a CRS; adult belt is not a substitute in that band. First-offense child-restraint fine $500.
New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire: under 2, rear-facing; age 6 and younger and under 57 in per manufacturer; ages 7–17; under 7 if at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey: under 2 and under 30 lb, rear-facing infant; under 4 and under 40 lb rear-facing until past the manufacturer max or forward-facing; under 8 and under 57 in forward-facing until past the manufacturer max or booster; under 8 and under 57 in; adult belt is not a substitute in that band. First-offense child-restraint fine $75.
New Mexico (NM)
New Mexico: under 1, rear-facing; ages 1–4 or under 40 lb in a child restraint; ages 5–6 or under 60 lb in a booster; ages 7–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
New York (NY)
New York: under 2 rear-facing or until past the manufacturer max; under 4 (unless over 40 lb and no lap/shoulder available); ages 4–7 unless no lap/shoulder available; ages 8–15; also over 40 lb or ages 4–7 in a lap-only position. First-offense child-restraint fine $100.
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger and under 80 lb; ages 8–15; also 40–80 lb in seats without shoulder belts. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
North Dakota (ND)
North Dakota: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger and under 57 in; ages 8–17; age 7 and younger if at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Ohio (OH)
Ohio: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 3 and younger or under 40 lb in a child restraint; ages 4–7 if 40+ lb and under 57 in, CRS or booster; ages 8–14. First-offense child-restraint fine $75.
Oklahoma (OK)
Oklahoma: under 2 rear-facing or until past the manufacturer max; under 4 in a child restraint; ages 4–7 if 4'9" or shorter, CRS or booster; age 8 or over 4'9". First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Oregon (OR)
Oregon: under 2, rear-facing; age 7 and younger and 40 lb or less in a child restraint; age 7 and younger and over 40 lb and 4'9" or less in a booster; over 4'9" or ages 8–15. First-offense child-restraint fine $115.
Pennsylvania (PA)
Pennsylvania: under 2 rear-facing until past the manufacturer max; ages 2–3 in a forward-facing child safety seat; ages 4–7 in a booster; ages 8–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $75.
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island: under 2 or under 30 lb, rear-facing; age 7 and younger and under 57 in and under 80 lb; age 7 and younger if 80+ lb or 57+ in; ages 8–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $100.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina: under 2 rear-facing until past the manufacturer limit; under 2 who outgrew RF, and age 2+: forward-facing harness until past the manufacturer limit; age 4+ who outgrew FF: booster until at least age 8 or 57 in AND the belt-fit tests; age 8 or at least 57 in if the belt fits (lap on hips, shoulder on chest, knees bend). First-offense child-restraint fine $150.
South Dakota (SD)
South Dakota: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 4 and younger and under 40 lb; ages 5–17; also any child 40+ lb regardless of age. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee: under 1 year or 20 lb or less, rear-facing; ages 1–3 and 20+ lb, forward-facing; ages 4–8 and under 4'9" in a booster; ages 9–15 or age 12 and younger if at least 4'9". First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Texas (TX)
Texas: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger and under 57 in (adult belt not permitted); age 7 and younger if at least 57 in then the seat-belt law; age 8+. First-offense child-restraint fine $250.
Utah (UT)
Utah: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger and under 57 in; ages 8–15 or at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $45.
Vermont (VT)
Vermont: under 2, rear-facing; ages 3–4 rear- or forward-facing until the manufacturer limit; ages 5–7 CRS or booster; ages 8–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $25.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia: under 2 rear-facing or until the child meets the manufacturer minimum weight for forward-facing; age 7 and younger in a child safety seat; ages 8–17. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.
Washington (WA)
Washington: under 2 rear-facing until the manufacturer limit; under 4 not required RF: forward-facing harness until the manufacturer limit; over 4 and under 4'9" in a booster; over 4'9" and under 16; also age 4+ in a lap-only position. First-offense child-restraint fine $250.
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 7 and younger and under 4'9"; age 7 and younger if at least 4'9". First-offense child-restraint fine $20.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin: under 1 year or under 20 lb, rear-facing; ages 1–3 and 20–40 lb, rear- or forward-facing; ages 4–7 if 40–80 lb and under 57 in, forward-facing or booster; age 8 and younger if over 80 lb and at least 57 in. First-offense child-restraint fine $75.
Wyoming (WY)
Wyoming: no rear-facing age in the statute; age 8 and younger (adult belt not permitted); through age 8 in a CRS; age 9+. First-offense child-restraint fine $50.

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Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.