Last Updated on June 21, 2026 by iMichigan Insurance Editorial Team

Michigan Child Safety Seat Laws: What Parents Need to Know

Michigan updated its child passenger safety laws in 2025, which means parents, grandparents, and caregivers should review how children ride in the car. The law now gives clearer rules for rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, booster seats, seat belts, and where children should sit in the vehicle.

This guide explains Michigan child car seat laws, common questions parents ask, and practical safety tips for choosing and using the right seat.

Important update: Michigan’s updated child passenger safety laws took effect April 2, 2025. Children must ride in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt that fits their age, height, and weight and that complies with the car seat manufacturer’s instructions.

Michigan Child Car Seat Requirements by Age

  • Infant to age 2: A child must ride in a rear-facing car seat until reaching the manufacturer’s rear-facing height or weight limit or until turning 2 years old.
  • Ages 2 to 5: A child can move to a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness until reaching the forward-facing height or weight limit set by the manufacturer or until turning 5 years old.
  • Ages 5 to 8: A child can move to a belt-positioning booster seat with a lap-and-shoulder belt until reaching 4 feet 9 inches tall or until turning 8 years old.
  • Under age 13: Children under 13 must ride in the rear seat if the vehicle has a rear seat available.

Rear-Facing Car Seat Rules in Michigan

Rear-facing car seats protect a young child’s head, neck, and spine during a crash. Michigan law requires a child to stay rear-facing until the child reaches the rear-facing seat’s height or weight limit or turns 2 years old.

A rear-facing car seat should not be placed in front of an active passenger airbag. If a rear-facing car seat must be placed in the front seat because children already occupy the rear seats, the passenger airbag must be turned off.

Forward-Facing Car Seat Rules

After a child outgrows the rear-facing stage, the child can move into a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness. The child should continue using that harnessed seat until reaching the manufacturer’s forward-facing height or weight limit or until turning 5 years old.

Use the car seat’s top tether when the car seat and vehicle instructions call for it. A tether helps reduce forward movement during a crash.

Michigan Booster Seat Rules

Children who outgrow a forward-facing harness seat can move to a belt-positioning booster seat. Michigan requires a booster seat until the child reaches 4 feet 9 inches tall or turns 8 years old.

A booster seat helps the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt fit correctly. The lap belt should sit low across the upper thighs, not across the stomach. The shoulder belt should cross the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face.

When Can a Child Use a Regular Seat Belt?

A child may meet the minimum legal age but still need a booster seat if the vehicle seat belt does not fit correctly. Before moving out of a booster, check these five points:

  • The child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat.
  • The child’s knees bend naturally at the edge of the seat.
  • The lap belt sits low across the upper thighs.
  • The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest.
  • The child can stay seated correctly for the whole trip.

Can a Child Ride in the Front Seat in Michigan?

Children under 13 must ride in the rear seat if the vehicle has one available. If all rear seats are occupied, Michigan law allows a child to ride in the front seat when properly restrained. A rear-facing child safety seat may only be placed in the front seat if the front passenger airbag is deactivated.

Common Car Seat Mistakes Parents Should Avoid

  • Moving a child forward-facing too soon.
  • Moving a child from a harnessed car seat to a booster seat too early.
  • Using a booster seat before the child can sit properly for the entire ride.
  • Let the shoulder belt go behind the child’s back or under the arm.
  • Installing the car seat too loosely.
  • Leaving the harness too loose or twisted.
  • Using a car seat past its expiration date.
  • Using a secondhand car seat without knowing its full history.

Car Seat Installation Tips

Read both the car seat manual and the vehicle owner’s manual before installing a seat. A properly installed car seat should not move more than 1 inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.

Register your car seat with the manufacturer to receive recall notices. If you are unsure whether the seat is installed correctly, look for a certified child passenger safety technician or a car seat inspection location.

Authoritative resource: Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning provides current child passenger safety information and car seat check resources at Michigan.gov/CarSeats.

Why This Matters for Michigan Families

Car seat rules are not just technical requirements. The right seat, used properly, gives children better protection in a crash. Families should also review safety habits as children grow, vehicles change, and new drivers join the household.

For more Michigan driving safety information, read our guides on Michigan teen driver safety and Michigan’s hands-free driving law.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Michigan’s updated child car seat law take effect?

Michigan’s updated child passenger safety law took effect April 2, 2025.

How long does a child need to ride rear-facing in Michigan?

A child must ride rear-facing until reaching the rear-facing car seat’s height or weight limit set by the manufacturer or until turning 2 years old.

When can a child move to a forward-facing car seat?

A child can move to a forward-facing car seat after outgrowing the rear-facing stage. Michigan law requires children to remain in a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness until they reach the seat’s height or weight limit or turn 5 years old.

When does a child need a booster seat in Michigan?

A child who outgrows the forward-facing harness stage should use a belt-positioning booster seat until reaching 4 feet 9 inches tall or turning 8 years old.

Can my child stop using a booster at age 8?

Michigan law allows a child to stop using a booster at age 8, but many children still need a booster until the vehicle seat belt fits correctly. Check the lap belt, shoulder belt, knee position, and whether the child can sit properly for the whole trip.

Can a child under 13 ride in the front seat?

Children under 13 must ride in the rear seat if the vehicle has one available. If all rear seats are occupied, a child may ride in the front seat when properly restrained. A rear-facing car seat may only be placed in the front seat if the passenger airbag is turned off.

Is it safe to use a used car seat?

A used car seat may not be safe if it is expired, missing parts, recalled, damaged, or has been involved in a crash. Check the label, manual, recall status, expiration date, and full history before using a secondhand seat.