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Car seat & booster law

Montana

Verified · JUN 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

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The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

General information, not legal advice.

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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
Back seat
Not required

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 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.

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 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.
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.
Do children have to ride in the back seat in Montana?
No. Montana law does not require children to ride in the back seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends the back seat as the safest place for every child under 13, but it is a safety best practice and not a legal requirement in Montana.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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