Michigan rewrote its child passenger safety law effective April 2, 2025, and the new version is stricter than what many parents remember. The headline changes: rear-facing to age 2, forward-facing with a harness to age 5, and a belt-positioning booster all the way to age 8 — plus a back-seat requirement for every child under 13. If you’re going by the old “4 years and done” rule of thumb, it’s outdated. Everything below reflects the updated law, verified against the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
Law data last verified against official state sources: October 4, 2026.
Quick answer
Birth to 2: rear-facing car seat (to the seat’s max or age 2). Ages 2–5: forward-facing car seat (to the seat’s max or age 5). Ages 5–8: belt-positioning booster with lap-and-shoulder belt (until 4’9″ or age 8). Age 8+: seat belt. Under 13: rear seat if the vehicle has one.
Michigan car seat requirements by age and size
| Stage | What Michigan law requires |
|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Infant to 2 years: rear-facing car seat until the child reaches the seat manufacturer’s maximum weight or height, or turns 2. |
| Forward-facing | 2 to 5 years: forward-facing car seat until the child reaches the seat manufacturer’s maximum weight or height, or turns 5. |
| Booster seat | 5 to 8 years: belt-positioning booster seat with a lap-and-shoulder belt, until the child is 4’9″ tall or 8 years old. |
| Seat belt only | Age 8 (or 4’9″ tall). |
Fines and penalties in Michigan
Fine: not published on the official state source. The Michigan OHSP’s official pages describe the updated requirements without stating a dollar amount — don’t rely on fine figures from unofficial sites.
Front seat rules in Michigan
Front-seat rule: all children under 13 must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle, if the vehicle has one available. This is one of the stronger back-seat rules in the country — it covers not just babies but pre-teens.
What the 2025 update changed
The April 2025 update (announced by the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning) pushed every stage later and tied each stage to the seat manufacturer’s limits:
- Rear-facing is now explicitly to age 2 or the seat’s maximum — whichever the seat allows first. Modern convertible seats rear-face to 40–50 lbs, so many Michigan 2-year-olds will legally stay rear-facing past their birthday if the seat allows.
- Forward-facing with harness runs to age 5 or the seat’s limits, closing the old gap where 4-year-olds moved straight to boosters.
- Boosters now run 5 to 8 with a lap-and-shoulder belt — and the 4’9″ height exit means a tall 7-year-old can graduate early on height, but a small 8-year-old is done on age.
The practical takeaway: in Michigan, the car seat’s manual is part of the law. “Until the child reaches the seat manufacturer’s maximum weight or height” appears in the first two stages — keep those limits where you can find them.
Michigan car seat law FAQs
What changed in Michigan’s car seat law in 2025?
Effective April 2, 2025: rear-facing to age 2 (or seat max), forward-facing with harness for ages 2–5 (or seat max), belt-positioning booster for ages 5–8 (until 4’9″), and rear-seat riding for all children under 13.
How long must my child ride rear-facing in Michigan?
Until age 2, or until the child reaches the seat manufacturer’s maximum weight or height — the seat’s limits are written into the requirement.
When can my child stop using a booster seat in Michigan?
At age 8, or when the child reaches 4’9″ tall — whichever comes first. The booster must be used with a lap-and-shoulder belt.
Do kids have to ride in the back seat in Michigan?
Yes — all children under 13 must ride in the rear seat if the vehicle has one available.
What’s the fine for a car seat violation in Michigan?
The fine amount is not published on the official state source we reviewed.
Where can I read the official Michigan car seat law?
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning child passenger safety page and its March 2025 news release on the updated law. The statute number is not specified on the official sources reviewed.
Check another state
Use our interactive car seat law checker for any state by age, weight, and height. Nearby: Ohio car seat laws and Indiana car seat laws.
This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Child passenger safety laws change — always verify current requirements with your state’s DMV, highway safety office, or the official statute linked above before making decisions.