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New York car seat laws

N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1229-c · 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

all back seat passengers of such vehicle under the age of four are restrained in a specially designed seat which meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set forth in 49 C.F.R. 571.213 and which is either permanently affixed or is affixed to such vehicle by a safety belt and which shall be rear-facing whenever the passenger being restrained in such seat is under the age of two except that in the event that the weight or height of such passenger under the age of two exceeds the occupant size and weight recommendations of the manufacturer of such rear-facing seat, such seat may be forward-facing;

VTL § 1229-c(1)(a); subdivision (2)(b) applies the same seat rule to front seat passengers under four.

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 VTL § 1229-c(1)(a); a child over the rear-facing seat's manufacturer size and weight recommendations may face forward.

Rear-facing until height
Not addressed in statute

No number in VTL § 1229-c(1)(a); a child over the rear-facing seat's manufacturer size and weight recommendations may face forward.

Leaving rear-facing
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

A child leaves rear-facing at age two, or earlier on exceeding the rear-facing seat's manufacturer weight or height recommendations.

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

provided, however, that in the event that the weight of such passenger under the age of four exceeds forty pounds, such passenger may be restrained (i) in an appropriate child restraint system as defined in subdivision four of this section used with combination lap safety and shoulder harness belts or (ii) by a lap safety belt in the event such vehicle is not equipped with combination lap safety and shoulder harness belts or all the combination lap safety and shoulder harness belts are being used to properly restrain other passengers who are under the age of sixteen;

VTL § 1229-c(1)(a), continuing the rule that a child under four ride in a specially designed seat.

What the law sets

Forward-facing harness required by law
Yes

A child under four must use a "specially designed seat"; the statute does not name a harness.

Harness until age
4 years
Harness until weight
40 lb

The statute says "exceeds forty pounds", so a child of exactly 40 pounds is still covered.

Harness until height
Not addressed in statute

Not set in VTL § 1229-c.

Leaving the harness
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

A child leaves the specially designed seat on turning four or on weighing more than 40 pounds, whichever comes first.

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

all back seat passengers of such vehicle who are age four or older but under age eight (i) are restrained in an appropriate child restraint system as defined in subdivision four of this section used with combination lap and shoulder harness belts or (ii) are restrained in a lap safety belt in the event such vehicle is not equipped with combination lap safety and shoulder harness belts or all the combination lap safety and shoulder harness belts are being used to properly restrain other passengers who are under the age of sixteen;

VTL § 1229-c(1)(b). Under § 1229-c(5), it is an affirmative defense that the child wore a safety belt and measures more than four feet nine inches and/or weighs more than 100 pounds.

What the law sets

Booster required by law
Yes

An "appropriate child restraint system" is required; boosters are not named.

Booster until age
8 years
Booster until weight
100 lb

Affirmative defense in VTL § 1229-c(5): "weighs more than one hundred pounds", so exactly 100 pounds is still covered.

Booster until height
57 in (4 ft 9 in)

Affirmative defense in VTL § 1229-c(5): "more than four feet nine inches", so exactly 57 inches is still covered.

Leaving the booster
Meeting any one listed limit is enough

A child leaves the requirement on turning eight, or earlier when belted and more than 57 inches or more than 100 pounds (the § 1229-c(5) affirmative defense).

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

in the case of any other back seat passenger under the age of sixteen, he or she is restrained by a safety belt approved by the commissioner.

VTL § 1229-c(1)(c); subdivision (2)(a) requires front seat passengers under sixteen to be restrained by a safety belt.

What the law sets

Seat belt alone from age
8 years
Seat belt alone from height
57 in (4 ft 9 in)

More than 57 inches, via the VTL § 1229-c(5) affirmative defense.

Moving to the seat belt
A combination of conditions (see statute text)

The belt is allowed at eight, or when more than 57 inches or more than 100 pounds; there is no belt weight field, so the condition is written out.

Moving to the seat belt — conditions
age>=8yr OR height>57in OR weight>100lb

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
Not addressed in statute

No front-seat age in VTL § 1229-c; subdivision (2) applies the same restraint rules to front seat passengers.

Minimum age for the front seat
Not addressed in statute

No front-seat provision in VTL § 1229-c setting a minimum age.

Conditions
Not addressed in statute

No front-seat provision in VTL § 1229-c beyond applying the same restraint rules in subdivision (2).

Penalties

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

First offense — fine
$25 – $100

VTL § 1229-c(5): a civil fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100 for violating subdivision one or two.

Repeat offense — fine
$25 – $100

VTL § 1229-c(5) sets one range for every offense; there is no separate repeat penalty.

License points
3 points

The DMV driver point system lists 3 points for a safety restraint violation involving a person under 16. VTL § 1229-c itself sets no points.

Fine waiver
The court waives the fine for a violation involving a passenger under eight if the driver proves purchase or rental of a compliant child restraint between the charge and the appearance date; not available for a second or subsequent conviction (VTL § 1229-c(6)).

Exemptions

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

Taxis
Exempt

VTL § 1229-c(9)(b): subdivisions one, two, three and three-a do not apply to taxis and liveries; under subdivision 3-c, passengers eight to fifteen must still wear a safety belt.

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)
Not addressed in statute

VTL § 1229-c does not name transportation network companies.

Buses
Exempt

VTL § 1229-c(4)(a) and (9)(a) exclude school buses and buses other than school buses from the seat rules; subdivision 11 separately requires restraints for children under four on school buses.

Medical exemption
Exempt

VTL § 1229-c(7) excludes a passenger whose physical disability prevents appropriate restraint, certified by a physician or nurse practitioner.

Out-of-state vehicles
Car seat law applies

VTL § 1229-c(4)(a) defines "motor vehicle" to include vehicles that would be required to have safety belts if registered in New York.

How New York compares

New York is tied for 6th of 47 jurisdictions with a numeric booster age: 33 jurisdictions, including New York, require a booster until age 8.

Compared with Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, New York differs on: rear-facing rules (from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey), booster rules (from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont), and front-seat rules (from New Jersey and Vermont).

Law compared with the AAP recommendation

  • New York 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.
  • New York law: a forward-facing harness seat is required until the child reaches age 4 or 40 lb, whichever comes first. 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.
  • New York law: a booster seat is required until the child reaches age 8, 100 lb, or 57 in, whichever comes first. 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.
  • New York law: a child may use the seat belt alone once this condition is met: age ≥ 8 yr or height > 57 in or weight > 100 lb. 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 New York

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 New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

State law

Recommendations

Disclaimer

This page summarizes New York 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 New York State Department of Motor Vehicles before relying on anything here.