Map of Car Seat Laws by State
Take a look at the interactive map of car seat laws by state below. You can find information for rear-facing, front-facing, booster seat, a child in the back seat, and adult seat belt laws for each state. Once you're done researching car seat laws by state, use our free tool below and compare car insurance rates from top-rated companies.
Compare Car Insurance Companies
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
|
Written by
Jessica Sautter
|
|
Reviewed by
Chris Harrigan
|
UPDATED: Aug 13, 2021
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right car insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
← Return to the Car Seat Laws post
Table of Contents
Interactive Map – Car Seat Laws by State
- Hover over a state to view details
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Interactive Map – Car Seat Laws by State
All US states currently require car seats for young children, but the exact requirements vary by states. You cannot leave the hospital with a newborn if you do not have an appropriate rear-facing seat in 23 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico up to the age of two. In all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, booster seats or other similar devices have to be used for small children who have outgrown their car seats but cannot safely use a regular safety belt.
Car seats expire regularly requiring parents to buy new or recently manufactured car seats. Many of the latest car seats come apart step by step to adjust to a child’s age, eventually becoming a simple child safety seat. You can find your state on the chart. Children are allowed to start using adult safety belts starting somewhere between age 4 and 8 depending on the state.
Do Child Restraints Protect Children from Injury?
Car seats and booster seats, when used appropriately, can save an infant or child’s life in a car accident. Unfortunately, the wrong car seat can do more damage than you might think. The leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 13 is still car accidents according to experts. Something like an expired infant seat won’t have all the protections available. More importantly, certain parts of the car seat may not be as secure as they used to be. Some older models aren’t even built to be snug and secure when in a rear-facing position.
Whether you’re in North Carolina, West Virginia, or somewhere else, it’s essential to find the right car seats. Some organizations help people find affordable car seats to keep kids safe. Others review car seats so parents know what to look for such as a rear-facing car seat. Wherever you’re coming from, you can find a car seat that meets your needs.