Car seat & booster law

Montana

Q: Is the Montana car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Montana car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 must ride rear-facing, then in a rear- or forward-facing harness, then in a forward-facing harness or booster until age 9. From age 9, a seat belt is allowed.

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

At age 9, when a child must use an adult safety belt. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.

Q: Does Montana require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Montana a child under 2 years old must ride in a rear-facing child safety restraint. After age 2, a child can move to a rear- or forward-facing restraint with an internal harness. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height the car seat allows.

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

Montana 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 9. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Montana.

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · Montana

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 9 years old.

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing, then in a rear- or forward-facing harness, then in a forward-facing harness or booster until age 9. From age 9, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward 2+ yr Booster < 9 yr Belt 9+ yr

Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420 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 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 Montana's legal minimum. Montana's staged law tracks the recommendations 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 Montana.

Montana car seat law requirements by restraint stage, age, height, weight, and statutory citation.
Stage	Age	Height	Weight	Citation
Rear-facing	Birth – 2 yr	—	—	Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420
Forward-facing	2 yr – 9 yr	—	—	Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420
Booster	until 9 yr	—	—	Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420
Seat belt	9 yr +	—	—	Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420
Back seat / front seat	Recommended < 13	—	—	Guidance

Rear-facing Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420

Age: Birth – 2 yr

Forward-facing Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420

Age: 2 yr – 9 yr

Booster Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420

Age: until 9 yr

Seat belt Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-420

Age: 9 yr +

Back seat / front seat Guidance

Age: Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Montana in 2026?

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing, then in a rear- or forward-facing harness, then in a forward-facing harness or booster until age 9. From age 9, an adult seat belt is allowed.

Is the Montana car seat law changing?

No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the Montana car seat law is scheduled. Current law: Children under 2 must ride rear-facing, then in a rear- or forward-facing harness, then in a forward-facing harness or booster until age 9. From age 9, a seat belt is allowed.

When can my child stop using a booster in Montana?

At age 9, when a child must use an adult safety belt. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt actually fits, often around 4 feet 9 inches.

Does Montana require rear-facing car seats, and until what age?

Yes. In Montana a child under 2 years old must ride in a rear-facing child safety restraint. After age 2, a child can move to a rear- or forward-facing restraint with an internal harness. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height the car seat allows.

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

Montana 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 9. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back seat for all children under 13. That is best practice, not a legal requirement in Montana.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

How Montana compares

Where Montana 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
#28 of 56 · 44 / 100
Rear-facing car seat laws by state
#1 of 32, tied · Age 2
Booster seat laws by state
#4 of 52, tied · Age 9
Car seat fines by state
Set by offense class, not ranked
Back seat laws by state
No back-seat law, not ranked

See all car seat law rankings →

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