Michigan's laws on car seats are changing. What parents need to know now (2025)

Starting April 2, Michigan parents need to be aware of new laws regarding child seats and seatbelt use in vehicles or they may face fines.

The updates makes changes to car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for the age and size of children.

“These new standards, along with following manufacturers’ guidelines, will ensure children are safely secured in their car seats and better protected if a crash occurs,” said Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning in a release. “We encourage parents to recheck all their car seats and booster seats to make sure they meet the necessary requirements and are fitted properly for each child’s height and weight.”

The updates will be enforced in Michigan on April 2, 2025.

When child restraints are used, crash fatalities drop by 71% for infants younger than 1 year old, and by 54% for children aged 1 to 4 years old, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

"Vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for young children," the Michigan State Police said. "But you can reduce your child’s risk of death in a crash by 50% just by making sure they’re properly restrained in the appropriate car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for their age and size."

"Over the prior two decades, Michigan has experienced increases in the use of CRDs among children under 4 years of age from 74.5% in 1997 to 98.2% in 2018," the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning said in a 2022 report. "In spite of these gains, 61% of the children under the age of 4 who were killed in traffic crashes in Michigan from 2017 to 2021 were not restrained in a rear- or forward-facing CRD."

Here's a look at what is changing in April:

What was updated in Michigan's Child Passenger Safety Laws?

Here are the six updated requirements under the law:

• Infant to 2 years: A child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer, or the child is 2 years old.
• 2 to 5 years: Children can switch into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer, or the child is 5 years old.
• 5 to 8 years: The child can move to a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap-and-shoulder belt until they are 4 feet, 9 inches, or 8 years old.
• All children under 13 years: Must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle if the vehicle has a rear seat.

What else is changing in the law?

The law now includes:

• Children younger than age 4 to ride in a car seat in the rear seat (if the vehicle has a rear seat). If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.

Is there a fine for not using a car seat?

Failure to properly restrain a child in a vehicle is a civil infraction under Michigan law and can result in a citation.

The fine for violating the car seat laws starts at $65, which includes a $25 civil fine and court costs, plus a $40 justice system assessment, according to the Goodman Acker law firm.

How do I choose the correct car seat?

There are various car seats that a child can use, but there are factors to consider before purchasing one, includin your child's current height and size and the type of car.

To find the correct car seat, the NHTSA offers an online "car seat finder" feature with installment tips sheet, car seat glossary and an option to research car seat brands.

Here are the types of car seats according to the NHTSA:

• Rear-facing car seat: The best seat for a young child to use. It has a harness and, in a crash, cradles and moves with the child to reduce the stress to the child's fragile neck and spinal cord.
• Forward-facing car seat: Includes a harness and tether that limits the child's forward movement during a crash.
• Booster seat: Raises and positions a child so the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly over the stronger points of a child’s body, the hips and across the chest.
• Seat belt: Should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain your child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck or face.

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com