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Louisiana car seat laws

La. R.S. 32:295 · Last checked September 23, 2026

Car seat stages

The statute text comes first. Numbers are a summary for comparison, not a replacement for the law.

Rear-facing seat

Statute text

A child who is younger than the age of two years shall be restrained in a rear-facing child restraint system that complies with all applicable federal regulations until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer.

R.S. 32:295(A)(1).

What the law sets

Rear-facing seat required by law
Yes
Rear-facing until age
2 years
Rear-facing until weight
Not addressed in statute

No number in R.S. 32:295(A)(1); the limit is the rear-facing weight or height limit set by the seat manufacturer.

Rear-facing until height
Not addressed in statute

No number in R.S. 32:295(A)(1); the limit is the rear-facing weight or height limit set by the seat manufacturer.

Leaving rear-facing
Every listed limit must be met

R.S. 32:295(A)(2) moves a child forward only when the child is at least two AND has reached the seat's rear-facing weight or height limit.

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Children under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible — it's the best way to keep them safe — until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer.

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

All infants should ride rear-facing, starting with their first ride home from the hospital, and should continue riding rear-facing as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat's manufacturer.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Forward-facing harness seat

Statute text

A child who is at least two years of age or older and has reached the rear-facing weight or height limits of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer, shall be restrained in a forward-facing child restraint system with an internal harness until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child restraint system set by the manufacturer.

R.S. 32:295(A)(2).

What the law sets

Forward-facing harness required by law
Yes
Harness until age
4 years
Harness until weight
Not addressed in statute

No number in R.S. 32:295(A)(2); the limit is the harness seat's weight or height limit set by the manufacturer.

Harness until height
Not addressed in statute

No number in R.S. 32:295(A)(2); the limit is the harness seat's weight or height limit set by the manufacturer.

Leaving the harness
Every listed limit must be met

R.S. 32:295(A)(3) moves a child to a booster only when the child is at least four AND has outgrown the harness seat's weight or height limits.

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, they are ready for a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. Keep the child in the forward-facing seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer, then move to a booster seat, still in the back seat.

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

Children should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness after outgrowing the rear-facing weight or height limit. It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Booster seat

Statute text

A child who is at least four years of age and has outgrown the forward-facing weight or height limits of the child restraint system as set by the manufacturer shall be restrained in a belt-positioning child booster seat, secured with a vehicle lap-shoulder seat belt, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

R.S. 32:295(A)(3).

What the law sets

Booster required by law
Yes
Booster until age
9 years
Booster until weight
Not addressed in statute

No number in R.S. 32:295(A)(4); the limit is the booster's height or weight limit set by the manufacturer.

Booster until height
Not addressed in statute

No number in R.S. 32:295(A)(4); the limit is the booster's height or weight limit set by the manufacturer.

Leaving the booster
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

Under R.S. 32:295(A)(4) a child leaves the booster at nine, or earlier on outgrowing the booster's manufacturer height or weight limit.

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly — the lap belt lying snugly across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt snug across the shoulder and chest (not the neck or face).

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

All children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Seat belt

Statute text

A child who is at least nine years of age or has outgrown the height or weight limits of a child restraint system or belt-positioning child booster seat as set by the manufacturer shall be restrained with the motor vehicle's adult safety belt adjusted and fastened around the child's body to fit correctly.

R.S. 32:295(A)(4), which goes on to describe a correct belt fit.

What the law sets

Seat belt alone from age
9 years
Seat belt alone from height
Not addressed in statute

No number in R.S. 32:295(A)(4); the belt is allowed once the child outgrows the booster's manufacturer limits.

Moving to the seat belt
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

Recommended (not law)

NHTSA

Once a child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly, they can ride with just the lap-and-shoulder belt, but should still ride in the back seat — NHTSA recommends keeping children in the back seat at least through age 12.

NHTSA – Car Seats and Booster Seats

AAP

Children should transition to the vehicle seat belt once it fits properly, typically at about 4 feet 9 inches in height and 8 to 12 years of age; all children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Car Safety Seats: Information for Families

Front seat

Many states have no front-seat age in statute. Where that is the case, we say so and cite the section we read.

Front seat — statute text
A child who is younger than thirteen years of age shall be transported in the rear seat of a motor vehicle, when available, in a properly used child restraint system, belt-positioning child booster seat, or adult safety belt that complies with all applicable federal regulations.

R.S. 32:295(A)(5).

Minimum age for the front seat
13 years
Conditions
Children under 13 ride in the rear seat when one is available. With an active passenger-side air bag, a child under six or under 60 pounds must ride in the rear seat if rear seats are available (R.S. 32:295(C)).

Penalties

What a car seat ticket costs, and whether showing proof of a proper seat can cancel it.

First offense — fine
$100

R.S. 32:295(I)(1): $100 for a first offense. Under (I)(2), a violation limited to using the wrong age- or size-appropriate restraint for an otherwise restrained child is capped at $100 including fees and costs.

Repeat offense — fine
$250 – $500

Second offense: $250 to $500. Third or later offense: $500 plus all court costs (R.S. 32:295(I)(1)).

License points
None; the violation is not a moving violation

R.S. 32:295(F). Under R.S. 32:414(T), the license is suspended if the driver does not file a child-seat affidavit within 30 days after a first or second conviction, and for 180 days after a third.

Fine waiver
Not addressed in statute

No waiver or dismissal on proof of a seat in R.S. 32:295; R.S. 32:414(T)(1) requires an affidavit of acquiring a seat to avoid license suspension, not to cancel the fine.

Exemptions

Exempt means the statute excludes it. Silent means the statute does not address it.

Taxis
Exempt

R.S. 32:295(B)(1): "motor vehicle" does not mean a commercial truck, van, or taxi.

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)
Not addressed in statute

R.S. 32:295 does not name transportation network companies.

Buses
Exempt

R.S. 32:295(B)(1) excludes school buses, and church buses, private buses or recreational vehicles carrying over ten persons.

Medical exemption
Exempt

R.S. 32:295(E)(3) exempts a child physically unable to use a child passenger safety system or belt for medical reasons.

Out-of-state vehicles
Not addressed in statute

R.S. 32:295 does not address nonresident drivers or out-of-state vehicles.

How Louisiana compares

Louisiana is tied for 1st of 47 jurisdictions with a numeric booster age: 5 jurisdictions, including Louisiana, require a booster until age 9.

Compared with Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas, Louisiana differs on: rear-facing rules (from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas), booster rules (from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas), and front-seat rules (from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas).

Law compared with the AAP recommendation

  • Louisiana law: a rear-facing seat is required until the child reaches age 2. AAP recommends: All infants should ride rear-facing, starting with their first ride home from the hospital, and should continue riding rear-facing as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat's manufacturer.
  • Louisiana law: a forward-facing harness seat is required until the child reaches age 4. AAP recommends: Children should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness after outgrowing the rear-facing weight or height limit. It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age.
  • Louisiana law: a booster seat is required until the child reaches age 9. AAP recommends: All children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age.
  • Louisiana law: a child may use the seat belt alone once reaching age 9. AAP recommends: Children should transition to the vehicle seat belt once it fits properly, typically at about 4 feet 9 inches in height and 8 to 12 years of age; all children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.

See every state side by side on the comparison pages.

Guides covering Louisiana

Sources

State law comes from the statute or state agency below. Recommendations come from NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The responsible agency is Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

State law

Recommendations

Disclaimer

This page summarizes Louisiana law for reference. It is not legal or medical advice. The statute text is the law; the numbers are our summary of it. Legal minimums are not safety recommendations: NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping a child in each stage for as long as the seat allows. Check the statute or Louisiana Highway Safety Commission before relying on anything here.