Michigan car seat laws, updated April 2, 2025, require three stages of child restraint based on age, height, and weight: rear-facing until at least age 2, forward-facing with a harness through age 4, and a booster seat through age 7 or until the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches tall. Children under 13 must ride in a rear seat when one is available. The rules sit in MCL 257.710d, and a violation is a $10 civil infraction with no points on your license.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 710d Child Restraint System Required
The Three Car Seat Stages
A child moves to the next stage when they hit the age threshold or outgrow the manufacturer’s weight and height limit for the current seat, whichever comes first.2Michigan State Police. Updated Child Passenger Safety Laws Provide Extra Protections for Children
Birth Through Age 1: Rear-Facing
The child rides in a rear-facing car seat until age 2 or until reaching the maximum weight or height the seat’s manufacturer allows. This is now a legal requirement, not just a recommendation.
Ages 2 Through 4: Forward-Facing With a Harness
Once the child turns 2 or outgrows the rear-facing seat, they move to a forward-facing seat with an internal harness. They stay there until age 5 or until they exceed the seat’s weight or height limit.
Ages 5 Through 7: Booster Seat
After the harness seat, the child uses a belt-positioning booster with the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt. The booster stays in use until age 8 or until the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches.
Every seat has to meet federal standard FMVSS 213, and it has to be installed following both the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 710d Child Restraint System Required If your child has outgrown a seat’s rated limits, continuing to use it is not compliant, even if the child still fits.
Ages 8 Through 12: Rear Seat Required
A child who has turned 8 or reached 4 feet 9 inches can use a regular seat belt. But the 2025 update extended rear-seat positioning through age 12: children under 13 must ride in a rear seat whenever one is available.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 710d Child Restraint System Required A 10-year-old out of a booster still belongs in the back. The one exception is when every rear seat is already filled by other children.
Where the Seat Goes in the Vehicle
Car seats go in the rear whenever the vehicle has a back seat. Children under 4 specifically must ride in the rear. If every rear seat is already occupied by other children under 4, a child under 4 may ride up front in a car seat, but a rear-facing seat may only sit in the front if the passenger airbag is turned off.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 710d Child Restraint System Required An active airbag can strike a rear-facing seat with enough force to kill a small child, so this rule is non-negotiable.
You can secure the seat with either the vehicle’s seat belt or the LATCH system. Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning recommends that an installed seat not move more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.3State of Michigan. Child Passenger Safety More movement than that means it needs to be tightened or reinstalled.
The Fine and How to Get It Waived
A car seat violation is a civil infraction with a $10 maximum fine under MCL 257.907.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 907 No points are added to your driving record. The statute prohibits points for this violation and bars sending an abstract of the citation to the Secretary of State, so your insurer will not pick it up through the usual channels.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 710d Child Restraint System Required
The fine can be waived. If, before your court date, you obtain a compliant car seat and receive hands-on education from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, the court can waive the fine and any related costs.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 907 The education component was added in 2024; previously the waiver only required getting the seat.
Medical Exemptions
Michigan law lets the Secretary of State exempt a child from the car seat requirements when a physical condition, medical problem, or body size makes a standard restraint impractical, and the Secretary of State can specify an alternative form of protection.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 710d Child Restraint System Required Talk to your pediatrician and contact the Secretary of State’s office about the process.
Rideshares and Taxis
The law covers “each driver transporting a child” and makes no exception for rideshare or taxi drivers.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Vehicle Code 257 – 710d Child Restraint System Required Rideshare drivers rarely carry car seats, so if you are traveling with a child who needs one, bring your own and install it before the ride begins.
Replacing a Seat After a Crash
After a moderate or severe crash, NHTSA says to replace the car seat even if it looks fine. Crash forces can damage the internal structure in ways you cannot see.5National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car Seat Use After a Crash: Replacing Car Seats
A crash is considered minor, and the seat does not need replacement, only when all five of these are true:
- The vehicle could be driven away from the scene.
- The door nearest the car seat was not damaged.
- No passengers in the vehicle were injured.
- No airbags deployed.
- There is no visible damage to the car seat.
If any one of those is not met, replace the seat. Many auto insurance policies cover car seat replacement after a covered collision, so check with your insurer before paying out of pocket.5National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car Seat Use After a Crash: Replacing Car Seats
Expiration Dates and Recalls
Every car seat has an expiration date stamped on the shell or a label, usually 6 to 12 years from the date of manufacture. The plastic degrades with temperature swings and UV exposure, metal parts can rust, and replacement parts stop being made once a model is discontinued. Using an expired seat is not itself a Michigan violation, but a degraded seat can fail in a crash. Check the date before buying any seat secondhand.
NHTSA runs a free recall search at nhtsa.gov/recalls under the “Car Seat” tab. The SaferCar app pushes recall alerts to your phone for equipment you register.6National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment A recalled seat should stay out of use until the manufacturer’s fix is applied.
Free Help With Installation
Most parents install car seats incorrectly. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are trained to check your seat, your vehicle, and your child’s size, then walk you through a correct installation in person.7National CPS Certification. Welcome Use the “Find a Tech” tool on the National CPS Certification website to locate one nearby.
Many Michigan police departments offer free car seat inspections run by certified officers who check installation and teach proper use.8Michigan State University. Car Seat Safety Check The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning also publishes current-law flyers in English, Arabic, and Spanish; Michigan organizations can request free copies by emailing TrafficSafety@michigan.gov.3State of Michigan. Child Passenger Safety