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.
| Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Restraint Required
Under 6 yrs and under 60 lbs |
Child Restraint Required
Under 2 yrs until height or weight limit reached in rear-facing seat |
Child Restraint Required
Under 6 yrs of age and less than 57 inches tall |
Child Restraint Required
Under 7 yrs and 57" or shorter |
| Adult Safety Belt Permissible
6 yrs and older and over 60 lbs |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
8-17 yrs |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
6 yrs and older and 57 inches or taller |
Adult Safety Belt Permissible
7-17 yrs (or under 7 yrs and 57" or taller) |
Under 6 yrs and under 60 lbs
6 yrs and older and over 60 lbs
Under 2 yrs until height or weight limit reached in rear-facing seat
Under 8 yrs in child safety seat and in rear seat if available
8-17 yrs
Under 6 yrs of age and less than 57 inches tall
Under 2 yrs must ride in a rear-facing child safety seat in a back seat
6 yrs and older and 57 inches or taller
Under 7 yrs and 57" or shorter
7-17 yrs (or under 7 yrs and 57" or taller)
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.
- 19 states and the District of Columbia require children younger than two be in a rear-facing child safety seat.
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 April 2024. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2024.