Michigan’s car seat laws exist to protect children from preventable injuries during vehicle accidents. According to the CDC, accidental injuries are a leading cause of death for children, with car crashes responsible for many of these tragedies. Sadly, a large portion of these deaths involve children who were not properly restrained.
When used correctly, car seats and other child restraint systems greatly reduce the risk of serious injury or death. Understanding and following Michigan’s car seat requirements is essential for keeping your child safe, whether you’re driving across town or across the state.
If your child has been injured in an auto accident, you may have legal options. Contact Lipton Law by calling (248) 557-1688 or send us a message online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Michigan car accident lawyer on our team today.
The New Michigan Car Seat Law
Following Michigan’s updated seat belt and booster seat laws is essential to keeping children safe on the road. The state’s new Child Passenger Safety Law, effective April 2, 2025, provides clearer and stricter guidelines than before.
Under the revised law, children must be properly restrained based on their age, weight, and height, ensuring that the car seat or booster seat used is appropriate for their stage of development. The law also outlines where children can sit in a vehicle and specifies the correct use of rear-facing and forward-facing car seats to enhance overall safety.
Michigan Car Seat Age Requirements
The updated Michigan car seat law provides more detailed age-specific guidelines than before. Instead of only distinguishing between children under 4 and those aged 4 to 8, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) now divides requirements into smaller age groups to improve safety.
- Under age 2: Children must ride in a rear-facing car seat.
- Ages 2 to 5: Children should ride in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
- Ages 5 to 8: Children should use a belt-positioning booster seat, which allows safe use of a lap-and-shoulder seat belt.
- Age 8 and older (or at least 4’9″ tall): Booster seats are no longer required, but children must still be properly restrained with a seat belt.
- Ages 8 to 13: Children must wear a seat belt at all times while riding in a vehicle.
These guidelines ensure that every child passenger is secured in a restraint system suited to their age, size, and stage of development.
Michigan Car Seat Height and Weight Requirements
Car seat manufacturers set specific minimum and maximum height and weight limits for each model, and Michigan law requires parents to closely follow these guidelines. Always review your car seat’s manual to ensure your child’s car seat remains appropriate for their current size and adjust or replace it as needed.
Although children between the ages of 5 and 8 generally use booster seats, a child’s height is equally important. Once a child reaches 4 feet 9 inches, they may safely use a regular seat belt without a booster. Ensuring the seat belt fits properly (across the upper thighs and snugly over the shoulder) helps provide maximum protection during every trip.
Additional Regulations
Michigan car seat laws also outline where children may sit within a vehicle. In most cases, children younger than 13 years old must ride in the back seat if one is available, as it is the safest place for young passengers.
If all rear seats are occupied by other children, a child may sit in the front seat. However, if a rear-facing car seat is used in the front, the airbag must be turned off to prevent serious injury in the event your vehicle crashes. Following these placement rules helps ensure that every child is positioned as safely as possible during travel.
Michigan Front Seat Law
Michigan law emphasizes that children should ride in the back seat whenever possible, as it offers the greatest protection during a collision. The front seat poses higher risks, particularly from airbag deployment and seat belt injuries.
Children who ride in the front before reaching the recommended age or size face a greater chance of serious or even fatal injury if an airbag deploys or if their car seat is positioned incorrectly.
If you or your child suffered airbag or seat belt injuries in MI, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact an experienced Michigan personal injury lawyer at Liptow Law today to discuss your legal options and protect your rights.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat in Michigan?
In Michigan, children are required to ride in the rear seat until they reach 16 years of age. This rule helps reduce the risk of injury from airbags and other front-seat hazards.
Once a child turns 16, they may legally ride in the front seat, but they must wear a seat belt at all times in compliance with Michigan’s seat belt law.
How to Choose the Right Car Seat
Choosing the right car seat is one of the most important steps to keeping your child safely secured in a vehicle. These life-saving devices are designed to protect children in passenger cars, but they must be properly selected and installed to work effectively.
Your choice will depend on your child’s age, height, and weight. For instance, all children ages 2 and below must remain in a rear-facing car seat, as this position offers the best protection for their developing spines and necks. After that, transitioning to a forward-facing seat or booster should follow the manufacturer’s specific guidelines.
For parents concerned about cost, Michigan offers help. The Michigan State Police provide free car seats to eligible low-income families through a statewide safety program available until August 30, 2025, or until funds are exhausted. This initiative ensures that every parent, regardless of financial circumstances, can keep their child protected on every trip.
Installing a Car Seat
While lack of restraint is a leading cause of death for child passengers, a car seat isn’t enough to ensure child safety if it isn’t properly installed. Recent studies in multiple parts of the world, including the US, estimate that as many as 70% of car seats are improperly installed, reducing their effectiveness. Read your car seat manufacturer’s instructions as well as the vehicle owner’s manual before installing a car seat or booster.
Here are a few pointers:
- A seat should not shift more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back once it is secured.
- The chest clip should be positioned at the center of your child’s chest, at a height even with the child’s armpits.
- Harness straps should fit securely on the child’s torso. If you can pinch slack between your fingers at your child’s collarbone/shoulder area, the straps may be too loose.
- Rear-facing car seats should be placed so the child’s head does not fall forward in the seat.
If you’re unsure about installing your child’s car or booster seat on your own, many fire departments, police stations, and public health departments offer help. Call locations near you to ask if they have personnel trained in car seat installation.
Where Do Michigan Car Seat Laws Not Apply?
Michigan’s car seat laws do not apply to certain types of vehicles that are not required by federal law to have seat belts. These exemptions include taxis, school buses, motorcycles, and mopeds. In addition, vehicles manufactured before 1965 are excluded from these requirements, as they were not originally designed to accommodate modern seat belt or child restraint systems.
Even though these vehicles are exempt, parents are strongly encouraged to take extra precautions to keep children safely secured whenever possible.
Michigan Car Seat Accident Replacement Law
Although Michigan does not have a specific law requiring parents to replace their child’s car seat after a crash occurs, both car seat manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) strongly recommend doing so. Even minor collisions can compromise a car seat’s structural integrity, reducing its ability to protect your child in a future accident.
Before reusing a seat after a crash, always check the manufacturer’s replacement guidelines and the car seat’s manual. If there is any doubt about the seat’s condition, replacing it is the safest choice to keep your child fully protected.
Why Can’t You Use a Car Seat After an Accident?
Car seats are engineered to withstand only one significant impact. After a crash, even if there are no visible signs of damage, the seat’s internal structure or safety components may be weakened. This hidden damage can prevent the car seat from providing full protection in another collision. For this reason, it’s essential to consult your car seat manufacturer’s replacement policy after any motor vehicle accident.
Penalties for Violating Booster Seat Requirements Michigan
Michigan law enforces car and booster seat requirements to protect child passengers. Failing to follow these laws can result in penalties under the Michigan Vehicle Code, similar to other traffic violations.
A violation of the state’s child passenger safety laws is generally considered a civil offense, not a criminal one. Drivers can receive a ticket and face fines ranging from $10 to $25, along with an additional $40 justice system assessment fee. While no jail time is imposed for these violations, consistent compliance with Michigan’s car seat laws is crucial to ensure your child’s safety and to avoid unnecessary legal penalties.
How the MI Personal Injury Attorneys at Lipton Law Can Help
Auto accidents can be devastating, but when a child is hurt, they can truly scare parents and leave families unsure where to turn. If your child has been injured in a car accident, it’s important to contact an experienced child injury attorney in Michigan as soon as possible.
The personal injury attorneys at Lipton Law have been helping Michigan families since 1965. With decades of experience, our legal team works tirelessly to hold negligent parties accountable—whether that includes the at-fault driver, the car seat manufacturer, or even the vehicle manufacturer.
We are dedicated to helping parents recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses. To learn more about your options, contact Lipton Law and speak with our skilled car accident and product liability lawyers in MI today.
Call the Michigan Car Accident Injury Lawyers at Lipton Law Today
The sooner you seek legal representation after a car accident, the stronger your case can be. At Lipton Law, our experienced attorneys are ready to build a personalized strategy to help you pursue financial compensation for your injuries and losses. We also encourage parents to inspect all their car seats after any crash, even a minor one, to ensure their children remain safe and properly protected.
Take the first step toward recovery today. Call (248) 557-1688 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with the Michigan car accident injury lawyers at Lipton Law.