Although you must follow the laws in a given state it is worth noting that not all laws provide for the best level of protection. Understanding the principles behind Child Passenger Safety and utilizing the Child Protection System (Car seats, Booster seats and seat belts) to their fullest, is the best way to ensure you are using the highest level of protection.












Alabama

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 or less than 20 lbs. in a rear-facing infant seat.
  • 1 through 4 years or 20 - 40 lbs in a forward-facing child safety seat.
  • 5 but not yet 6 in a booster seat.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 years through 14 years old. Although you must follow the laws in a given state it is worth noting that not all laws provide for the best level of protection. Understanding the principles behind Child Passenger Safety and utilizing the Child Protection System (Car seats, Booster seats and seat belts) to their fullest is the best way to ensure your using the highest level of protection.
Alaska

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 4 through 15 years old.
Arizona

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 4 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not allowed.
Arkansas

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and younger and less than 60 lbs. / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 14 years or 60+ lbs.
California

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year or less than 20 lbs. in a rear-facing seat.
    • In a rear-facing restraint system in rear seat only if front passenger air bag is active.
  • 5 years and younger or less than 60 lbs. in a rear seat / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 15 years or 60+ lbs.
Colorado

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year and less than 20 lbs. in a rear-facing seat.
  • 1 year through 3 years and 20-40 lbs. in a forward-facing seat.
  • 4 years through 5 years and less than 55" in a booster seat.
    • If a child 4-5 years and less than 55" is being transported in a vehicle equipped with a lap belt only, then the child must be restrained with the lap belt.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 15 years and 55" or more.
    • The law is secondary for children ages 4-5 years.
Connecticut

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year and less than 20 lbs. in a rear-facing seat.
  • 1 through 6 years who is less than 60 lbs. in a child restraint system.
    • Booster seats may only be used in a seating position with a lap and shoulder belt.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 7 through 15 years and 60+ lbs.
Delaware

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • All children under age 8 or 65 lbs. in weight must be in a properly secured child safety seat.
    • Children younger than 12 years and 65" or less must be restrained in rear seat if vehicle has a passenger airbag, unless the airbag has been either deactivated or designed to accommodate smaller people. Exceptions: no rear seat or rear seat occupied by other children younger than 12 years and 65" or less.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • All children ages 8+ or 65 lbs. +, must be in a properly secured seat belt.
Florida

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 4 through 5 years.
Georgia

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and younger and 57" or less / not defined.
    • Children weighing more than 40 lbs. are permitted to be restrained in the back seat of a vehicle by a lap belt if the vehicle is not equipped with lap and shoulder belts or when the lap and shoulder belts are being used by other children who weigh more than 40 lbs.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • More than 57".
Hawaii

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger in a child safety seat.
  • 4 through 7 years must be in a booster seat or child restraint.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 4 through 7 years who are taller than 4'9".
  • 4 through 7 years who are at least 40 lbs. seated in a rear seat where if there are no available lap/shoulder belts, may be restrained by a lap belt.
Idaho

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 6 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Illinois

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 7 years and younger.
    • Rear seat requirement does not apply if: there is no rear seat; the rear seats are side-facing jump seats; the rear seats are rear-facing seats; the child passenger restraint system cannot be installed properly in the rear seat; all rear seats are already occupied by children under 12 years; or medical reasons necessitate that the child not ride in the rear seat.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 through 15 years.
Indiana

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 7 years and younger when driver holds an Indiana license.
    • Children weighing more than 40 lbs. are permitted to be restrained by a lap belt if the vehicle is not equipped with lap and shoulder belts or if all lap and shoulder belts other than those in the front seat are being used to restrain other children who are younger than 16.
    • Children younger than 8 years must be restrained in adult belts if it's reasonably determined they cannot fit in child restraints. If the driver does not hold an Indiana driver's license, then children under 16 must be restrained by either a child restraint or a safety belt.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 through 15 years.
Iowa

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year and less than 20 lbs. in a rear-facing child seat.
  • 1 through 5 years.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 10 years.
Kansas

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Information is coming.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Information is coming.
Kentucky

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 40" or less / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Louisiana

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year or less than 20 lbs. in a child safety seat.
  • 1 through 3 years or 20-39 lbs. in a forward-facing child safety seat.
  • 4 through 5 years or 40-60 lbs. in a child booster seat.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 12 years or greater than 60 lbs.
Maine

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Less than 40 lbs. in a child safety seat.
  • 40-80 lbs. and less than 8 years in a safety system that elevates the child so that an adult seatbelt fits properly.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 through 17 years or less than 18 years and more than 4'7".
Note: 11 years and younger and less than 100 lbs. must be in rear seat if available.
Maryland
For the District of Columbia see the Laws for the State of Virginia

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and younger or 40 lbs. or less / not defined.
    • Vehicles registered out of state are required to restrain children under the age of 4 years or 40 lbs. or less in a CRS.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 years and more than 40 lbs. through 15 years.
Massachusetts

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 4 years and younger or 40 lbs. and less / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 5 through 11 years.
Michigan

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Minnesota

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Mississippi

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Missouri

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger must be in a child restraint.
  • All children who weigh less than 40 lbs. must be in a CR.
  • 4 through 7 years who weigh at least 40 lbs. but less than 80 lbs. and who are 4'9" or shorter must be in either a CR or booster seat.
  • Children 4 years and older who weigh at least 80 lbs. or who are at least 4'9" tall must be in either a booster seat or safety belt.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • All children 8 through 16 years.
  • Children 4 years and older who weigh 80 lbs. or more or who are taller than 4'9".
Montana

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and and younger and less than 60 lbs. / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Nebraska

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 17 years.
Nevada

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and younger and 60 lbs. or less / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Note: Nebraska's law is secondary for those children who may be in safety belts and standard for those who must be in a child restraint device.
New Hampshire

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and younger who are less than 55" tall / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 17 years; younger than 6 who are at least 55" tall.
New Jersey

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 7 years and younger and less than 80 lbs. seated in rear seat if available / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
New Mexico

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year in a rear-facing infant seat, seated in the rear seat if available.
  • 1 through 4 years or less than 40 lbs. in a child safety seat.
  • 5 through 6 years or less than 60 lbs. in a booster seat.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 7 through 17 years.
New York

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 6 years and younger in all seats.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 7 through 15 years.
North Carolina

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 7 years and younger and less than 80 lbs.
    • Children younger than 5 years who weigh less than 40 lbs. must be restrained in a child safety seat in the rear seat if the vehicle has a passenger airbag, unless the child restraint system is designed for use with airbags.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 through 15 years + children 40-80 lbs. in seats without shoulder belts.
North Dakota

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 6 years and younger and less than 57" or less than 80 lbs. / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 7 through 17 years.
  • 6 years and younger and at least 57" tall and at least 80 lbs.
  • 6 years and younger and at least 40 lbs., if there are no available lap/shoulder belts, may be restrained by a lap belt.
Ohio

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger or less than 40 lbs. / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 4 through 14 years.
Note: The law is secondary for children 4 through 14 years.
Oklahoma

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 5 years and younger / not defined.
    • Children weighing more than 40 lbs. are permitted to be restrained in the back seat of a vehicle by a lap belt if the vehicle is not equipped with lap and shoulder belts or when the lap and shoulder belts are being used by other children who weigh more than 40 lbs.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 12 years.
Oregon

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 3 years and younger and 40 lbs. or less in a child safety seat.
  • 4 through 5 years or 40-60 lbs. in a safety system that elevates the child so that an adult seatbelt fits properly.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 6 through 15 years and 60+ lbs.
Pennsylvania

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 7 years and younger
    • The law is secondary for children ages 4 through 7 years who must be in booster seats.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Rhode Island

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 6 years and younger and less than 54" and less than 80 lbs. / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Weigh 80 lbs. or more or who are at least 54" tall; 7 through 17 years.
South Carolina

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year or less than 20 lbs. in a rear-facing infant seat.
  • 1 through 5 years and 20-39 lbs. in a forward-facing child safety seat.
  • 1 through 5 years and 40-80 lbs. in a booster seat secured by lap-shoulder belt — lap belt alone is impermissible.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 1 through 5 years and 80+ lbs. OR any child 5 years and younger if the child's knees bend over the seat edge when sitting up straight with his/her back firmly against the seat back.
South Dakota

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 4 years and younger and less than 40 lbs. / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 5 through 17 years.
  • All children 40+ lbs., regardless of age.
Tennessee

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year or 20 lbs. or less in a rear-facing infant seat.
  • 1 through 3 years and 20+ lbs. in a forward-facing infant seat.
  • 4 through 8 years and less than 4'9" in a booster seat.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 9 through 15 years or any child 12 or younger who is 4'9" or taller.
Note: Children 8 years and younger and less than 4'9" must be in rear seat if available.
Rear seat recommended for children 9 through 12.
Texas

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 4 years and younger and less than 36" / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.
Utah

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 4 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 5 through 15 years.
Vermont

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 1 year or less than 20 lbs. in a rear-facing infant seat.
  • 2 through 7 years and more than 20 lbs.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 through 15 years and more than 20 lbs.
Virginia
Also applies for the District of Columbia

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 7 years and younger / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 through 15 years.
Note:
  • Children in rear facing devices must be in a rear seat if available; if not available, they may be placed in front only if front passenger airbag is deactivated.
  • Children at least 4 years but less than 8 years may be belted if any licensed physician determines that use of a child restraint system by a particular child would be impractical by reason of the child's weight, physical fitness, or other medical reason, provided that any person transporting a child so exempted shall carry on his person or in the vehicle a signed written statement of the physician identifying the child so exempted and stating the grounds for the determination.
Washington

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Younger than 8 and less than 4'9" / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 through 15 years; younger than 8 and 4'9" or taller.
Note: 12 years and younger must be in rear seat if practical.
West Virginia

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 7 years and younger and less than 4'9" / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 7 years and younger and 4'9" or taller.
Wisconsin

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • Children younger than 1 year and all children who weigh less than 20 lbs. are required to be in a rear-facing infant seat.
  • Children 1 through 3 years who weigh at least 20 lbs. but less than 40 lbs. are required to be in a forward-facing child safety seat.
  • Children 3 and younger must be in a rear seat, if available.
  • Children 4 through 7 years who both weigh at least 40 lbs. but less than 80 lbs. and who are less than 57" tall are required to be in a booster seat.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • 8 years and younger and more than 80 lbs. and 57" or taller.
Wyoming

Must be in a child restraint if / type of seat:
  • 8 years and younger, must be in rear seat if available / not defined.
May use an adult seat belt if:
  • Not permissible.