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Car Seat Laws by State 2024
Understanding car seat laws is essential for ensuring the safety of children while traveling on the road. Each state in the United States has its own set of regulations regarding the use of car seats, encompassing age, weight, and height requirements. For instance, while some states mandate the use of booster seats for children up to a certain age or weight, others emphasize specific height criteria for transitioning to booster seats.
The diversity in car seat laws across states is evident when comparing different regions. States like California and New York have relatively stringent laws, requiring children to remain in booster seats until they reach 8 years of age or a certain height and weight threshold. On the other hand, states such as Alabama and Alaska have more flexible regulations, with age ranges varying for specific car seat types.
State | Rear-Facing Seat Min Age (mos) | Rear-Facing Max Weight | Front-Facing Seat Max Age (yrs) | Front-Facing Max Weight | Booster Seat Min. Age | Booster Max. Weight | Booster Max. Height | Additional Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12 | 20 | 5 | 40 | 6 | https://www.alea.gov/dps/highway-patrol/child-restraints-law | |||
| Alaska | 12 | 20 | 4 | 65 | 8 | 65 | 57 | http://www.carseatsak.org/Links/index.cfm?fuseaction=AlaskaLaw | |
| Arizona | 12 | 20 | 40 | 8 | 40 | 57 | https://www.tripsavvy.com/car-booster-seat-law-in-arizona-2682493 | ||
| Arkansas | 12 | 20 | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://afbic.com/2019/10/guide-to-arkansas-car-seat-laws/ | |||
| California | 24 | 40 | 65 | 8 | 57 | https://www.ocsd.org/gov/sheriff/about/info/safe/car.asp | |||
| Colorado | 12 | 20 | 4 | 40 | 8 | https://leg.colorado.gov/content/child-restraint-requirements | |||
| Connecticut | 24 | 30 | 5 | 40 | 8 | 60 | Must meet both age and weight requirements for booster seat. | https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Health-Education-Management--Surveillance/The-Office-of-Injury-Prevention/Child-Passenger-Safety | |
| Delaware | 12 | 20 | by seat | 8 | 65 | 57 | https://ohs.delaware.gov/carseat3.shtml | ||
| Florida | by seat | by seat | 5 | https://safeconvertiblecarseats.com/safety-resources/florida-car-seat-laws/ | |||||
| Georgia | 12 | 20 | 4 | 40 | 8 | 80 | 57 | Child needs to be both1 year old and 20 lbs. or more before placed in a forward-facing seat | http://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-topics/child-car-seats |
| Hawaii | 12 | 20 | 4 | by seat | 8 | https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/safe-communites/child-passenger-safety/ | |||
| Idaho | 24 | 40 | 6 | 40 | 7 | 57 | https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/traffic-tickets/traffic-laws/idaho-child-restraint-laws.htm | ||
| Illinois | 24 | 40 | 4 | 40 | 8 | https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/traffic-tickets/traffic-laws/illinois-child-restraint-laws.htm | |||
| Indiana | 12 | 20 | 30 | 8 | Children at least 30 lbs. may use a booster seat, but troopers encourage parents to keep their child... | https://www.in.gov/isp/2897.htm | |||
| Iowa | 12 | 20 | 40 | 6 | 57 | http://publications.iowa.gov/9226/1/English_CPS_Guide.pdf | |||
| Kansas | 12 | 20 | 40 | 8 | 57 | https://www.ksdot.org/burtrafficsaf/brochures/pdf/itsthelawprimarymay2010.pdf | |||
| Kentucky | 12 | 20 | 40 | 7 | 80 | 40 | Minimum height for booster seat is given as a range from 40-50 inches. | https://transportation.ky.gov/HighwaySafety/Documents/childseat_info.pdf | |
| Louisiana | 24 | by seat | by seat | by seat | http://legis.la.gov/Legis/law.aspx?d=88231 | ||||
| Maine | 24 | by seat | 55 | 8 | 80 | 57 | https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/traffic-tickets/traffic-laws/maine-child-restraint-laws.htm | ||
| Maryland | 12 | 20 | 40 | 8 | 57 | https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/ohpetup/kiss/Pages/mdlaw.aspx | |||
| Massachusetts | 12 | by seat | 4 | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://www.mass.gov/service-details/important-tips-on-car-seats | ||
| Michigan | 24 | by seat | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/CPS_car_seat_basics_flyer_2013_11_web_433952_7.pdf | |||
| Minnesota | 12 | 20 | 40 | 8 | 57 | https://www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/facts/factsheet.cfm | |||
| Mississippi | 24 | by seat | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/4398112.html | |||
| Missouri | 12 | 20 | 4 | 40 | 7 | 80 | 57 | https://www.modot.org/booster-seats | |
| Montana | 24 | by seat | 40 | 8 | 57 | https://www.mdt.mt.gov/visionzero/docs/buckleup/childbrochure.pdf | |||
| Nebraska | 24 | by seat | by seat | 8 | https://safeconvertiblecarseats.com/safety-resources/nebraska-car-seat-laws/ | ||||
| Nevada | 12 | 20 | 4 | by seat | 6 | 60 | https://dmvnv.com/pdfforms/qtbelts.pdf | ||
| New Hampshire | 24 | by seat | 6 | by seat | 7 | 57 | https://safeconvertiblecarseats.com/safety-resources/new-hampshire-car-seat-laws/ | ||
| New Jersey | 24 | 30 | 4 | 40 | 8 | 57 | https://www.nj.gov/oag/hts/childseats/ | ||
| New Mexico | 12 | 20 | by seat | 7 | The law also states that children ages 7 to 12 must ride in a booster seat until the adult seat belt... | http://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/resources-forms-information-drivers.aspx | |||
| New York | 12 | 20 | 4 | 40 | 8 | 80 | 57 | https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/safety-restraints | |
| North Carolina | 12 | by seat | 7 | by seat | 8 | by seat | https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats | ||
| North Dakota | 24 | by seat | 4 | by seat | by seat | https://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/safety/docs/cpslawfactsheet.pdf | |||
| Ohio | 24 | by seat | 4 | by seat | 7 | 58 | https://safeconvertiblecarseats.com/safety-resources/ohio-car-seat-laws/ | ||
| Oklahoma | 24 | 4 | 8 | 57 | https://ohso.ok.gov/laws1 | ||||
| Oregon | 24 | 40 | 8 | 57 | https://www.oregon.gov/odot/safety/pages/belts-seats.aspx | ||||
| Pennsylvania | 24 | by seat | 4 | 8 | https://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/Safety/TrafficSafetyAndDriverTopics/Pages/Child-Passenger-Safety.aspx | ||||
| Rhode Island | 24 | 30 | 80 | 8 | https://risp.ri.gov/safety/vehiclesafety/seatbelts.php | ||||
| South Carolina | 24 | by seat | 4 | by seat | 8 | https://safeconvertiblecarseats.com/safety-resources/south-carolina-car-seat-laws/ | |||
| South Dakota | 24 | by seat | 4 | by seat | 8 | by seat | https://dss.sd.gov/childcare/childsafetyseat/faq.aspx | ||
| Tennessee | 12 | 20 | 4 | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://www.tn.gov/safety/publicsafety/newcrd.html | ||
| Texas | 12 | by seat | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://www.dps.texas.gov/director_staff/public_information/childpasssafetyfaqs.pdf | |||
| Utah | 24 | by seat | 4 | by seat | 8 | https://health.utah.gov/vipp/kids/child-passenger-safety/prevention.html | |||
| Vermont | 12 | 20 | by seat | 8 | https://dmv.vermont.gov/enforcement-and-safety/laws/child-passenger-safety | ||||
| Virginia | 24 | by seat | see seat | 8 | 57 | https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/child-passenger-safety/ | |||
| Washington | 24 | by seat | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://wtsc.wa.gov/programs-priorities/seat-belts-child-restraints/ | |||
| West Virginia | by seat | by seat | 8 | 57 | https://safeconvertiblecarseats.com/safety-resources/west-virginia-car-seat-laws/ | ||||
| Wisconsin | 12 | 20 | 4 | 40 | 8 | 80 | 57 | https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/safety/education/child-safety/cps-law-card.pdf | |
| Wyoming | 12 | 20 | 4 | 40 | http://www.whp.dot.state.wy.us/files/live/sites/whp/files/shared/Public_Relations/Doc3.pdf |