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Car seat & booster law

North Dakota

Verified · JUN 2026

Quick answer · North Dakota

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

A child under 8 must be in a child restraint system unless they are at least 57 inches tall, in which case a safety belt is required. Children 8 to 17 must be in a restraint or a seat belt.

Rear-facing per seat Forward per seat Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-41.2 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 8 or 4'9"
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 North Dakota's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in each stage longer than the law requires.

Every stage, by the law

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

Rear-facing Guidance
Age
Infant (per seat)
Forward-facing Guidance
Age
Toddler (per seat)
Booster N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-41.2
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-41.2
Age
8 yr +
Height
or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Back seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in North Dakota in 2026?
A child under 8 must be in a child restraint system unless they are at least 57 inches tall, in which case a safety belt is required. Children 8 to 17 must be in a restraint or a seat belt.
When can my child stop using a booster in North Dakota?
Once the child is 8 years old or at least 57 inches (4 feet 9 inches) tall. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly.
Does North Dakota require a rear-facing car seat, and until what age?
North Dakota law does not set a rear-facing age. It requires a child under 8 to be in a federally approved child restraint system but does not name a rear-facing requirement. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as the seat allows, up to the manufacturer's highest weight or height limit.
Do children have to ride in the back seat in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota law does not require children to ride in the back seat. It is still recommended that all children under 13 ride in the back seat, which is the safest place for them.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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