Car seat & booster law

Maryland

Q: Is the Maryland car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Maryland car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 must ride rear-facing until the seat's limit. Children under 8 must be in a child safety seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller. Children under 16 must be in a safety seat or seat belt.

Q: What age can a child sit in the front seat in Maryland?

Maryland law sets no minimum age for riding in the front seat. The child restraint rules still apply: a car seat or booster is required until age 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Maryland.

Q: When can my child stop using a booster in Maryland?

Once the child is 8 years old or reaches 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Q: Until what age must my child ride rear-facing in Maryland?

In Maryland, a child under 2 must ride in a rear-facing child safety seat until the child reaches the seat manufacturer's weight or height limit. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as possible, until the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat.

Q: What is the fine for a car seat violation in Maryland?

A car seat violation in Maryland is subject to a fine of $50. A first violation of the rear-facing requirement is a written warning rather than a fine.

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · Maryland

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or 4'9" tall.

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing until the seat's limit. Children under 8 must be in a child safety seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller. Children under 16 must be in a safety seat or seat belt.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward 2+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr

Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2 Read the statute

Car seat law checker

The legally required restraint, by state.

General information, not legal advice.

SeatChecker

Required vs recommended

What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.

The law requires

Minimum, or it's enforceable

Rear-facing until: Age 2
Booster until: Age 8 or 4'9"
Front seat: No age set in law

Pediatricians recommend

AAP: safer, not the law

Rear-facing until: To seat limit (often age 2+)
Booster until: 4'9", typically age 8 to 12
Front seat: Back seat until 13

AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Maryland's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in each stage longer than the law requires.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Maryland.

Maryland car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 2 yr	—	—	Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Forward-facing	2 yr – 8 yr	—	—	Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Booster	until 8 yr	< 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Seat belt	8 yr +	or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2

Age: Birth – 2 yr

Forward-facing Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2

Age: 2 yr – 8 yr

Booster Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2

Age: until 8 yr
Height: < 4'9" / 145 cm

Seat belt Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2

Age: 8 yr +
Height: or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm

Back seat / front seat Guidance

Age: Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Maryland in 2026?

Is the Maryland car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Maryland car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 must ride rear-facing until the seat's limit. Children under 8 must be in a child safety seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller. Children under 16 must be in a safety seat or seat belt.

What age can a child sit in the front seat in Maryland?

Maryland law sets no minimum age for riding in the front seat. The child restraint rules still apply: a car seat or booster is required until age 8 or 4'9". The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Maryland.

When can my child stop using a booster in Maryland?

Once the child is 8 years old or reaches 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Until what age must my child ride rear-facing in Maryland?

In Maryland, a child under 2 must ride in a rear-facing child safety seat until the child reaches the seat manufacturer's weight or height limit. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as possible, until the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat.

What is the fine for a car seat violation in Maryland?

A car seat violation in Maryland is subject to a fine of $50. A first violation of the rear-facing requirement is a written warning rather than a fine.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How Maryland compares

Where Maryland ranks among all 50 states, DC, and the US territories on each measure. Rankings compare legal minimums only and are not safety ratings.

Strictest car seat laws by state
#10 of 56, tied · 67 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#1 of 32, tied · Age 2
Booster seat laws by state
#10 of 52, tied · Age 8
Car seat fines by state
#11 of 28, tied · $50
Back seat laws by state
No back-seat law, not ranked

See all car seat law rankings →

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