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Booster Seat and Car Seat Laws by State
Listed below by state are the age/height/weight requirements for
use of a car or booster seat.
The chart indicates that a child must use a car seat until the listed
weight, height, and age. If an entry is blank, the listed state law does
not have that requirement.
If the age, weight or height is the same for a car seat and a booster
seat, then the state indicates that a booster or car seat must be used until
that age/weight/height, but they have left it up to the parent and seat
guidelines to determine which is appropriate.
The info below is merely a guideline; however, since state laws are
constantly changing, you SHOULD IN NO WAY RELY UPON THIS CHART AS A
REPRESENTATION OF CURRENT LAW!
You should check with your states Department of Transportation for the
most up-to-date requirements.
Currently, there is a major push to enact laws that require children to
be in a booster seat until the age of 8 or 80 lbs. As a general rule, use a
rear facing infant car seat until 1 year old and 20 lbs, a car seat until 4
years old and 40 lbs, and a booster seat until 8 years old and 80 lbs.
HealthyChildren.org: is a site for child safety. The latest
information for car seats.
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Alabama
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
6
|
|
Alaska
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
16
|
|
Arizona
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
Arkansas
|
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
15
|
|
California
|
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
16
|
|
Colorado
|
1
|
20
|
4
|
40
|
|
6
|
|
55
|
16
|
|
Connecticut
|
1
|
20
|
6
|
60
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
15
|
|
Florida
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
5
|
|
Georgia
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
16
|
|
Hawaii
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
15
|
|
Idaho
|
1
|
|
4
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
15
|
|
Illinois
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
16
|
|
Indiana
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
8
|
|
57
|
16
|
|
Iowa
|
1
|
20
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
11
|
|
Kansas
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
8
|
80
|
57
|
14
|
|
Kentucky
|
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
40
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All
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|
Louisiana
|
1
|
20
|
|
40
|
40
|
|
80
|
|
13
|
|
Maine
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
8
|
80
|
|
18
|
|
Maryland
|
|
|
6
|
40
|
|
6
|
40
|
|
16
|
|
Massachusetts
|
|
|
5
|
40
|
|
5
|
40
|
|
12
|
|
Michigan
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
16
|
|
Minnesota
|
1
|
20
|
4
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
8
|
|
Missouri
|
|
|
4
|
40
|
|
7
|
80
|
57
|
7
|
|
Montana
|
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
All
|
|
Nebraska
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
18
|
|
Nevada
|
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
All
|
|
New Hampshire
|
|
|
6
|
55
|
|
6
|
55
|
|
18
|
|
New Jersey
|
|
|
8
|
80
|
|
8
|
80
|
|
18
|
|
New Mexico
|
1
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
18
|
|
New York
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
16
|
|
North Carolina
|
|
|
8
|
80
|
|
8
|
80
|
|
16
|
|
North Dakota
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
17
|
|
Ohio
|
1
|
20
|
4
|
40
|
|
4
|
40
|
|
|
|
Oklahoma
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
13
|
|
Oregon
|
|
|
4
|
40
|
|
6
|
60
|
|
All
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
All
|
|
Rhode Island
|
|
|
7
|
80
|
54
|
7
|
80
|
54
|
All
|
|
South Carolina
|
1
|
20
|
5
|
40
|
|
6
|
80
|
|
|
|
South Dakota
|
|
|
5
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
Tennessee
|
1
|
20
|
4
|
|
|
8
|
60
|
|
16
|
|
Texas
|
|
|
5
|
|
36
|
5
|
|
36
|
17
|
|
Utah
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
15
|
|
Vermont
|
1
|
20
|
8
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
16
|
|
Virginia
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
15
|
|
Washington
|
1
|
20
|
4
|
40
|
|
8
|
60
|
57
|
18
|
|
West Virginia
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
Wisconsin
|
1
|
20
|
4
|
40
|
|
8
|
80
|
57
|
All
|
|
Wyoming
|
|
|
8
|
80
|
|
8
|
80
|
|
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More Tips about Child Safety
Parenting Tips in Other Areas IncludeLearn More About Early InterventionTherapy OptionsThankfully, there are many ways to deal with childhood developmental
delays and behaviors. These include in-home services, outpatient (you take
your child to a clinic), inpatient (following injury or surgery) and school
based services. Which type of therapy should you choose? Visit our Therapy Options
area to learn more. Return to Top
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