Car seat & booster law
Michigan
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Michigan
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".
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.
Car seat law checker
The legally required restraint, by state.
General information, not legal advice.
SeatCheckerRequired 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"
- Back seat
- Required under 4
Pediatricians recommend
AAP — safer, not the law
- Rear-facing until
- To seat limit (often age 2+)
- Booster until
- 4'9" — typically age 8–12
- Back seat
- Until age 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.
| 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 | under 4 yr | — | — | Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.710d |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Age
- 2 yr – 8 yr
- Age
- until 8 yr
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- 8 yr +
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- under 4 yr