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Child Passenger Safety

Woman buckling young child into car seat.

Child Passenger Safety

Michigan’s Child Passenger Safety Laws

Vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death for young children, but you can reduce your child’s risk of death in a crash by 50 percent just by making sure they're properly restrained in the appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for their age and size.

 

According to updated laws that took effect April 2, 2025, children must be secured in a car seat that is appropriate for their weight and height as indicated by the car seat’s manufacturer. These updates state:

 

  • Infant to two years: A child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 2 years old.
  • Two to five years: The child can then move into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 5 years old.
  • Five to eight years: The child can then move to a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt until they are 4’ 9” or 8 years old.
  • All children under thirteen years: Children under the age of 13 must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle if the vehicle has one available.

The The Michigan Office of Highway Planning (OHSP) created a flyer outlining the updated child passenger safety laws. This flyer is also available in Arabic and Spanish. Michigan organizations can order copies of the flyer for free by writing “Updated Child Passenger Safety Laws flyer” and the language it’s needed in on the Traffic Safety Materials Catalog online order form or emailing the request to TrafficSafety@michigan.gov. 

 

Michigan's Child Passenger Safety Laws also require:

  • Children younger than age 4 to ride in a car seat in the rear seat (if the vehicle has a rear seat). If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.
  • Children must be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4-feet-9-inches tall. Children must ride in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first.

Recommendations:

  • It is recommended that children 8 and older be placed in an age- and weight-appropriate child safety seat if the vehicle’s seat belt does not fit properly. All children ages 12 and under ride in a rear seat.
  • Drivers, front-seat passengers regardless of age, and all passengers ages 8 through 15 are required to wear properly adjusted seat belts.

Tips for buckling up:

  1. Properly position the harness on the child.
    • Rear-facing—at or below the child’s shoulders.
    • Forward-facing—at or above the child’s shoulders.
  2. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted.
  3. The harness should be snug, without slack. It is snug enough when extra material cannot be pinched at the shoulders and hips.
  4. Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
  5. Lock your seat belt (see owner’s manual) or use your vehicle’s LATCH system.
  6. Apply pressure to the car seat and tighten the seat belt or lower anchor strap. The seat should not move side-to-side or front-to-back more than one inch at the belt path.
  7. The top tether strap should be used with a forward-facing seat (see owner’s manual). Connect it to the tether anchor and tighten.

More Resources:

Seat Check Locations:

Technicians:

Other:

Videos:

Harness Fit

Did you know car seat harnesses must be adjusted as children grow? 

Five Step Test

Kids and parents are always anxious to get rid of booster seats, but when is a child really ready?

Common Mistakes

Did you know more than 70 percent of car seats are not installed correctly?

Booster Seats

Did you know less than half of all children who should be in a booster are not? Michigan law requires children to use a booster seat until at least age 8 or four feet, nine inches tall. 
Tween wearing seatbelt.

Tween Belt Safety

Seat belts save lives. This video offers helpful tips on how and why it’s important that safety belts are used correctly, especially for tweens and younger passengers.

Heatstroke Prevention:

It is important to protect your kids and other loved ones from extreme heat.

It is never safe to leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Always remember to look before you lock!

Look Before You Lock!