Seat Belt Laws By State

There are different seat belt laws by state, and as a resident of the United States, it's important to understand the laws that apply to you. Since seat belt laws vary in the USA, you need to know what the Federal seat belt laws are as well as the different state laws. Look through this rapid breakdown of seat belt laws by state to see what the requirements are in your location and the states you travel in most frequently. With the proper seat belt information and access to the GoodCar Vehicle History Search, you can choose vehicles that will make it easiest for you to meet those seat belt requirements in your area.
Alabama
In Alabama, the seat belt laws state that everyone must wear a seatbelt while driving in a motor vehicle. Whether the passengers are in the front or back doesn't matter. The old law stated that only minors needed to be buckled in the back seats of a vehicle, but they have recently changed to require everyone to wear a seatbelt.
Alaska
In Alaska, seatbelt laws state that every vehicle passenger must wear a seatbelt. The driver is legally responsible for anyone under 16, and anyone over 16 is responsible for themselves. All child safety and restraint laws must be met as well.
Arizona
According to Arizona state law, any passenger under 16 must wear a seat belt in any area of the vehicle. Passengers over 16 are only required to wear a belt up front. Passengers under 16 are the driver's responsibility and are responsible for their own safety when over 16.
Arkansas
In Arkansas, all front passengers must be buckled. Anyone under 15 years old must be buckled properly. Anyone under six years old or under 50 pounds must be in a child safety seat.
California
In California, every passenger must wear a seatbelt no matter where they sit. Any child under nine years of age or 4'9" tall must also be secured in the proper child safety seat.
Colorado
Colorado requires all minors under 18 years old to wear a seatbelt in all positions of a vehicle. Everyone must wear a seatbelt up front, but adults can skip the seatbelt in the back seat without a legal penalty.
Connecticut
In Connecticut, all vehicle passengers must wear seatbelts wherever they ride.
Delaware
The seatbelt laws in Delaware state that anyone in a moving vehicle must wear a seatbelt, front or back.
Washington DC
Washington, D.C. has backseat seatbelt laws and requires everyone to wear a seat belt at all times, regardless of their age or position in the vehicle.
Florida
In Florida, seat belts are required by every passenger in a vehicle unless a doctor's note states otherwise.
Georgia
In Georgia, everyone under 18 must wear a seatbelt no matter what. Passengers under eight must be in the proper child safety seat. If you are over 18, you can avoid seatbelts in the rear seats but must wear them up front.
Hawaii
Hawaii is another state with a backseat seatbelt law. Everyone must buckle at all times, no matter their age or seat in a vehicle, and children must be in the appropriate child safety seats.
Idaho
Everyone is required to wear a seatbelt at all times. Adults over 18 will receive an individual ticket, and the driver will be ticketed for anyone under 18.
Illinois
Everyone must be buckled at all times. Children under eight must be in special child safety restraints.
Indiana
All riders must wear seatbelts. The driver is responsible for anyone under 16, and everyone over 16 is responsible for themselves.
Iowa
Everyone under 18 must wear a seatbelt in all areas of a vehicle. If you are over 18, seat belts are not required in the back seats.
Kansas
In Kansas, seatbelts are required at all times by anyone under 18. Passengers under 14 are the driver's responsibility and can be ticketed themselves if they are over 14. Passengers over 18 aren't required to buckle in the rear seats.
Kentucky
Everyone must wear a seatbelt regardless of age or location in the vehicle. Passengers who are 12 and under should remain in the vehicle's rear seats.
Louisiana
Everyone in a moving vehicle must be buckled at all times.
Maine
All riders must buckle up, and those under 12 should remain in the back of the vehicle.
Maryland
All passengers must wear seatbelts in all the seats in Maryland.
Massachusetts
Every rider must wear a seatbelt regardless of where they sit.
Minnesota
Everyone must buckle up in all positions in a vehicle. Children must be in proper child restraints.
Mississippi
All vehicle passengers and drivers must wear a seatbelt in all locations.
Missouri
Everyone must have a seatbelt on. Passengers under 16 are the driver's responsibility, and everyone else is responsible for themselves.
Montana
Everyone needs to have a seatbelt on in all positions.
Nebraska
Minors under 18 must wear a seatbelt in all positions, and adults over 18 must wear seatbelts in the front of the vehicle.
Nevada
Each passenger in a vehicle must wear a seat belt at all times while moving.
New Hampshire
Children under 18 must remain buckled at all times, but no adult seat belt laws exist.
New Jersey
Each person in a moving vehicle must be buckled at all times.
New Mexico
Everyone in a moving vehicle must be properly buckled.
New York
Every rider must be buckled properly regardless of their seat position.
North Carolina
Everyone under 16 must wear a seat belt in all positions. Riders over 16 may avoid seat belts in the back seat legally.
North Dakota
Everyone under 18 must wear a seat belt in all positions. Adults 18 and over aren't required to buckle in the back seat by law.
Ohio
Everyone under 15 is required by law to wear a seatbelt in all vehicle positions. When over 15, rear seat buckling isn't legally required.
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, any child under eight must be buckled in every position in a vehicle. Everyone must be buckled in the front seats, but anyone 9 and over isn't legally required to buckle in the rear seats.
Oregon
All passengers in a moving vehicle must be buckled at all times.
Pennsylvania
Everyone younger than 18 must wear a seat belt in all positions. Passengers over 18 aren't legally required to buckle up in the back seats.
Rhode Island
Seat belts must be worn in every seat position of a vehicle in Rhode Island. Passengers under the age of eight must be in the proper child restraint.
South Carolina
Everyone in a vehicle must wear a seat belt when it's moving. Adults in the back seats are not exempt.
South Dakota
In South Dakota, any passenger under 18 must wear a seat belt in all seat positions. Adults 18 and older are not required to wear a belt in the back seats by law.
Tennessee
All passengers in all positions must wear seat belts.
Texas
All passengers must wear seat belts in moving vehicles at all times. Children under eight must be in child safety seats.
Utah
Children under eight must wear proper child restraints. Everyone in a vehicle, front or back,
must wear a seat belt at all times.
Vermont
All passengers and the driver must be buckled at all times, front and back.
Virginia
All drivers under 18 must be buckled in all positions. Adults over 18 can be unbuckled in the back without being in violation of the law.
Washington
Every rider must wear a seat belt, and children under 13 should sit in the back. Children under eight require child safety restraints.
West Virginia
Adults 18 and over don't need seatbelts in the back seats by law. Everyone else must wear seat belts in all positions.
Wisconsin
Everyone in a moving motor vehicle must wear a safety belt.
Wyoming
All the passengers and the driver must wear a seat belt in any position while moving.
Nearly all the states with seat belt laws have slightly different requirements for their residents. You should take time to learn the specifics of your state and the states you travel through to avoid any problems while driving.
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