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.
| South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
Under 2 yrs or until height or weight limit reached in rear-facing seat |
Child Restraint Required
Under 5 yrs and under 40 lbs must be properly secured in a child safety seat |
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 |
Child Restraint Required
Under 8 yrs or under 57" tall |
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
7 yrs or under and 80 lbs or over or 57" or taller 8-17 yrs |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-18 yrs must be properly secured in a seat belt, harnessed child safety seat or booster seat |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
9 yrs and older if taller than 4'9" |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8 yrs or older or over 57" |
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
7 yrs or under and 80 lbs or over or 57" or taller 8-17 yrs
Under 5 yrs and under 40 lbs must be properly secured in a child safety seat
8-18 yrs must be properly secured in a seat belt, harnessed child safety seat or booster seat
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
9 yrs and older if taller than 4'9"
Under 8 yrs or under 57" tall
8 yrs or older or over 57"
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.
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 (SHSO).
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and SHSOs.
Last updated in August 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.