Child Passenger Safety

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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.

Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia
Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs and under 30 lbs in rear-facing car seat
Under 4 yrs and under 40 lbs in a harnessed child safety seat
Under 16 in booster seat until reaching the maximum height or weight limit
5'5" or less and under 12 yrs in rear seat

 

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

Child Restraint Required

5 yrs or under

Child Restraint Required

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

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Under 16 in booster seat until reaching the maximum height or weight limit

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6 yrs or older

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

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

Child Restraint Required

Under 2 yrs and under 30 lbs in rear-facing car seat
Under 4 yrs and under 40 lbs in a harnessed child safety seat
Under 16 in booster seat until reaching the maximum height or weight limit
5'5" or less and under 12 yrs in rear seat

 

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

Under 16 in booster seat until reaching the maximum height or weight limit

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

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs

Child Restraint Required

5 yrs or under

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

6 yrs or older

Child Restraint Required

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

Adult Safety Belt Permissible

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

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.