Car seat & booster law

Michigan

Q: What is the car seat law in Michigan in 2026?

Children ride rear-facing until age 2, then in a forward-facing seat with a harness until age 5, then in a booster until they reach 4 feet 9 inches or age 8. A child under 4 must ride in a rear seat if the vehicle has one.

Q: Is the Michigan car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Michigan car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children must ride rear-facing until age 2, then in a forward-facing seat with a harness until age 5, then in a booster until they reach 4 feet 9 inches or age 8. A child under 4 must ride in a rear seat if the vehicle has one.

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

In Michigan, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. A child under 4 years of age must be positioned in a rear seat if the vehicle is equipped with a rear seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Michigan.

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

Once the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches or turns 8, whichever comes first. Pediatricians recommend a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often closer to 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Q: Until what age does my child have to ride rear-facing in Michigan?

Michigan requires a rear-facing seat until age 2, or until the child reaches the manufacturer's weight or height limit for rear-facing use. After that, the child moves to a forward-facing seat with a harness.

Q: Are Uber, Lyft, and taxis exempt from Michigan's car seat law?

No. Michigan's child restraint requirement applies to passenger vehicles, and there is no general taxi or rideshare exemption from the child seat rules. If you ride with a young child, plan to bring an appropriate car seat or booster.

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · Michigan

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

Children must ride rear-facing until age 2, then in a forward-facing seat with a harness until age 5, then in a booster until they reach 4 feet 9 inches or age 8. A child under 4 must ride in a rear seat if the vehicle has one.

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

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d 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: Back seat under 4

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 Michigan's legal minimum. Michigan's staged rules track the recommendations fairly closely through the booster stage.

Every stage, by the law

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

Michigan car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 2 yr	—	—	Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d
Forward-facing	2 yr – 8 yr	—	—	Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d
Booster	until 8 yr	< 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d
Seat belt	8 yr +	or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm	—	Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d
Back seat / front seat	under 4 yr	—	—	Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d

Rear-facing Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d

Age: Birth – 2 yr

Forward-facing Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d

Age: 2 yr – 8 yr

Booster Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d

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

Seat belt Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d

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

Back seat / front seat Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d

Age: under 4 yr

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Michigan in 2026?

Children ride rear-facing until age 2, then in a forward-facing seat with a harness until age 5, then in a booster until they reach 4 feet 9 inches or age 8. A child under 4 must ride in a rear seat if the vehicle has one.

Is the Michigan car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Michigan car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children must ride rear-facing until age 2, then in a forward-facing seat with a harness until age 5, then in a booster until they reach 4 feet 9 inches or age 8. A child under 4 must ride in a rear seat if the vehicle has one.

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

In Michigan, the front-seat rule comes from the back-seat law. A child under 4 years of age must be positioned in a rear seat if the vehicle is equipped with a rear seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Michigan.

When can my child stop using a booster in Michigan?

Once the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches or turns 8, whichever comes first. Pediatricians recommend a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often closer to 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.

Until what age does my child have to ride rear-facing in Michigan?

Michigan requires a rear-facing seat until age 2, or until the child reaches the manufacturer's weight or height limit for rear-facing use. After that, the child moves to a forward-facing seat with a harness.

Are Uber, Lyft, and taxis exempt from Michigan's car seat law?

No. Michigan's child restraint requirement applies to passenger vehicles, and there is no general taxi or rideshare exemption from the child seat rules. If you ride with a young child, plan to bring an appropriate car seat or booster.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How Michigan compares

Where Michigan 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
#7 of 56 · 74 / 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
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
#19 of 21 · Age 4

See all car seat law rankings →

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