State-by-State Car Seat Laws

Find child car seat laws and penalties in your state by using the US map or list below. Remember, each state's law regarding height, weight, and age is just a starting point and only provides the most basic protection required by law.

If you need help installing your car seat, trust a professional and find a car seat inspection station near you.

Parents must also check their car seat manufacturer's height and weight limits and follow recommendations from health and safety organizations. Visit our main car seat safety page for additional age, weight, and height guidelines.

Common Car Seat Questions

Does my 8-year-old still need to ride in a booster seat?... Can my son ride in a forward-facing car seat if he is over 1 year old?... What do I do if my daughter has outgrown the height restriction for her car seat, but not the weight restriction?... Should my 60 lb. child ride in the front seat or the back seat?...

Concerned parents ask these very questions every day, and the answers aren't always straightforward. With so much information out there, deciphering the state laws, car seat manufacturer guidelines, and recommendations from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is no easy task, but it can make all the difference if you are ever involved in a car accident.

According to the NHTSA, car accidents are the leading cause of death in children 2 to 14 years old, in large part due to the non-use or improper use of child safety seats and seat belts. In fact, a NHTSA review conducted in 2009 found that half of all children age 7 and younger killed in motor vehicle crashes were not in any type of child safety restraint.

Which states have car seat requirements for children?

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands have laws in place for infants and children requiring proper child safety seats. Since laws regarding the child's height, weight, and age vary by state, be sure to use the map above to find laws applying to your state.

Does my older child still need to use a booster seat?

Except for Florida and South Dakota, all US states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require children who do not properly fit into adult seat belts to ride in booster seats or other appropriate safety seats.

Do children need to wear seat belts on school buses?

California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York require children to wear seat belts on school buses. Texas requires them on buses purchased after September 2010. You can learn more about school bus safety on our School Bus Safety Infographic.

Still not sure your child is in the right seat?

Visit our main car seat safety page to get information about manufacturer height and weight restrictions, guidelines from health and safety organizations, and additional resources including a car seat check station locator and car seat safety app for your smartphone.

Sources: "Child Passenger Safety Laws," Governors Highway Safety Association; National Highway Transportation Safety Administration; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; Safe Kids USA
Please note: All of our lawyers are licensed to practice in the state of Pennsylvania. We also have lawyers licensed to practice in Ohio, and West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia.

Ohio Car Seat and Booster Seat Laws

Car Seat

Infants and young children must ride in a child safety seat according to car seat instructions until they are 4 years old AND weigh at least 40 pounds.

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Law states no preference.

Booster Seat

Children less than 8 years old, unless they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall must use a booster seat.

Seat Belt

Children ages 8-15 must use a child safety seat or safety belt.

Seating Position

Law states no preference.

Fines & Penalties

Maximum fine for first offense is $75.

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Pennsylvania Car Seat Laws

Children less than 57 inches tall, or less than 80 pounds, are required to be placed in a car or booster seat

Children under the age of four must be be properly restrained in an federally-approved child safety seat, which must be secured to the vehicle by the seat belt system (or using the vehicle's LATCH system, available in newer vehicles), no matter where they ride in the vehicle (front or back seat).

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Children under the age of two years old must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until the child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits designated by the car seat manufacturer.

Booster Seat

Children ages four and older, but under the age of eight must be buckled into a booster seat, which must be secured to the vehicle by the seat belt system, no matter where they ride in the vehicle (front or back seat). Booster seats must be used in conjunction with lap and shoulder belts.

Seat Belt

Children ages eight and older must be buckled in seat belt, no matter where they ride in the vehicle (front or back seat).

Seating Position

Law states no preference.

Fines & Penalties

Maximum fine for first offense is $75.

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Virginia Car Seat and Booster Seat Laws

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Children ages 7 and under must be in rear-facing devices in rear seat if possible.

Car Seat

Children ages 7 and under must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat. They should be in rear-facing devices in the back seat if possible, and in the front seat only if the front passenger airbag is deactivated.

Booster Seat

Children ages 7 and under must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat. They should be in rear-facing devices in the back seat if possible, and in the front seat only if the front passenger airbag is deactivated.

Seat Belt

Children ages 8 to 17 must be restrained regardless of seating position.

Seating Position

Children in rear-facing devices must be in a rear seat if available. If not available, they may be placed in front only if the front passenger airbag is deactivated.

Fines & Penalties

Maximum fine for first offense is $50. Maximum fine for second offense is $500.

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West Virginia Car Seat and Booster Seat Laws

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Law states no preference.

Car Seat

Infants through children age 7 who are under 4' 9" must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat.

Booster Seat

Infants through children age 7 who are under 4' 9" must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat.

Seat Belt

• Children ages 7 and under who are at least 4' 9" can be restrained by a safety belt.
• Children ages 15 and under must be restrained.

Seating Position

Law states no preference.

Fines & Penalties

Minimum fine for first offense is $10, maximum fine is $20.

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Source: "Child Passenger Safety Laws." Governors Highway Safety Association. Updated September 2011.

All of our lawyers are licensed to practice in the state of Pennsylvania. We also have lawyers licensed to practice in Ohio, and West Virginia and we associate with experienced attorneys in other states.

The materials at this web site have been prepared by our Law Firm for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. These materials do not, and are not, intended to constitute legal advice. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. The information provided at this site is subject to change without notice. Although we try to keep our site current and accurate, you should not rely on this information or its applicability to any specific circumstances without speaking with an attorney.