Seatbelt Laws in 2026
Every state except New Hampshire requires adult front-seat passengers to wear a seatbelt. Most states also require rear-seat passengers to buckle up. The key difference between states is how the law is enforced.
Primary vs Secondary Enforcement
Primary enforcement means a police officer can pull you over solely for not wearing a seatbelt. Most states have primary enforcement laws.
Secondary enforcement means an officer can only ticket you for not wearing a seatbelt if you are pulled over for another violation first. A smaller number of states use secondary enforcement.
Fines for Not Wearing a Seatbelt
Fines range from 10 dollars in some states to over 200 dollars in others. Some states add points to your driving record for seatbelt violations. In many states, each unbuckled passenger is a separate violation.
Child Car Seat Laws
Every state requires children to be in appropriate car seats or booster seats based on their age, weight, and height. While the specifics vary by state, the general guidelines are: rear-facing car seats for infants and toddlers until age 2 or until they reach the seat's weight limit, forward-facing car seats with a harness for children 2 to 5 years old, booster seats for children until they are large enough for adult seatbelts (typically 4 feet 9 inches tall), and all children under 13 should ride in the back seat.
Why Seatbelts Matter
Seatbelts reduce the risk of death in a crash by 45 percent for front-seat passengers and 60 percent for rear-seat passengers. They are the single most effective safety device in your vehicle.
DMV Test Questions
Seatbelt and child restraint questions appear on most state DMV tests. Know whether your state has primary or secondary enforcement, the fine amounts, and the basic child car seat guidelines.