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Car seat & booster law

New Hampshire

Verified · AUG 2026

Quick answer · New Hampshire

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 7 years old or 4'9" tall.

A child under 7 and under 57 inches must be in a child restraint system. From age 7, or once 57 inches, a seat belt is allowed.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 7 yr Belt 7+ yr
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265:107-a 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
Not specified by law
Booster until
Age 7 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 New Hampshire's legal minimum, which ends at age 7 or 57 inches. Pediatricians recommend a booster until the seat belt fits.

Every stage, by the law

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

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265:107-a
Age
until 7 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265:107-a
Age
7 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 New Hampshire in 2026?
A child under 7 and under 57 inches must be in an approved child restraint system. From age 7, or once 57 inches, a seat belt is allowed.
Is the New Hampshire car seat law changing?
No. As of August 1, 2026, when SeatChecker last checked the statute, no enacted change to the New Hampshire car seat law is scheduled. Current law: A child under 7 and under 57 inches must be in a child restraint system. From age 7, or once 57 inches, a seat belt is allowed.
What is the fine for a car seat violation in New Hampshire?
It is $50 for a first offense and $100 for a second or subsequent offense.
Does New Hampshire require rear-facing car seats?
New Hampshire law does not set a rear-facing age. It requires any child under 7 and under 57 inches to be in a child restraint system. Pediatricians still recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the highest weight or height the manufacturer permits.
What age can a child sit in the front seat in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire 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 7 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 New Hampshire.

Sources

Verified · AUG 2026

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