Seat belts and child seats in Michigan (2026)
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
In short: The operator and front-seat passengers must wear a safety belt in Michigan, and children aged 13 to 15 must be belted; police may enforce this on its own. Children under 13 must be in a child restraint suited to their age, in a rear seat where available, and use a booster until 4 feet 9 inches or age 8. A rear-facing seat may go in the front only if the passenger air bag is deactivated. A seat-belt violation is a civil infraction costing $25 including court costs, with no points.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Seat belt compulsory in front seatsPassenger cars | Yes [1] |
| Seat belt compulsory in rear seatsPassenger cars | No [1] |
| Child restraint required untilPassenger cars | A child must be in a rear-facing child restraint system until the manufacturer's weight or height limit or age 2. Then a forward-facing system with an internal harness until the limit or age 5, then a belt-positioning booster seat until 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 m) or age 8. A child who is 8 or older or 4 feet 9 inches, but under 13, must wear a safety belt. [2] |
| Children in the front seatPassenger cars | A child must be positioned in a rear seat if the vehicle has one. If all available rear seats are occupied by children, a child may be positioned in the front seat. This applies to children under 13. [2] |
| Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbagPassenger cars | No [2] |
| Can police stop you for this alone?Passenger cars | MCL 257.710e(7) makes enforcement secondary (only after a stop for another violation) only if the Office of Highway Safety Planning certifies that belt use in the preceding year was below 80%. The statute states no other restriction; the current certification could not be found in an official source. [1] |
| Booster seat untilPassenger cars | After a child seat, a child must ride in a belt-positioning booster seat secured with a lap-shoulder belt until reaching 4 ft 9 in or age 8, whichever comes first. [2] |
| Fine for not wearing a seat beltPassenger cars | A seat-belt violation is a civil infraction; the civil fine and court costs together are $25. No points are added. [3] |
Notes
- The adult duty covers the operator and front seat passengers only; a child under 13 is covered by section 710d and a child aged 13 to under 16 must be secured in a belt by the operator under section 710e(5).
Sources
- Michigan Legislature: Michigan Compiled Laws, Michigan Vehicle Code, section 257.710e Safety belt required (Internet Archive snapshot of 7 March 2026) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- Michigan Legislature: Michigan Compiled Laws, Michigan Vehicle Code, section 257.710d Child restraint system (Internet Archive snapshot of 22 December 2025) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- Michigan Legislature: MCL 257.907 Civil infraction; fines and costs (Internet Archive snapshot of 8 January 2026) (consulted 10 October 2026) · all sources
Michigan and neighbouring states
| State | Seat belt compulsory in front seats | Seat belt compulsory in rear seats | Child restraint required until | Children in the front seat | Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Yes | Adults: no; under 16: yes | Child seat, then booster to 4 ft 9 in or 8; belt under 13 | Rear seat if available (under 13) | No: only if the front air bag is deactivated |
| Illinois | Yes, all seats | Yes, all seats | Restraint under 8; seat belt from 8 to 15 | No seating rule | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Indiana | Yes, all seats | Yes, all seats | Car seat or booster under age 8 | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Minnesota | Yes, driver and all passengers | Yes, driver and all passengers | Seats by age; adult belt from age 9 or when outgrown | Under 13 in rear seat when available | No if airbag active and rear seat available (under 6/60 lb) |
| Ohio | Yes | Only children under 16 | Under 8 and under 4 ft 9 in: booster | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | Under 8 (booster to 80 lb or 57 in) | Young children: back seat if the vehicle has one | ⚠ Not yet verified |
More rules in Michigan
- CannabisPossession for personal use: Legal for adults 21+, within limits · Growing at home: Yes: up to 12 plants
- Car speed limitsBuilt-up areas: 25 mph (business district) · Outside built-up areas (single carriageway): 55 mph
- Minimum age for a car driving licenceEarliest age to drive a car supervised: 14 years 9 months (level 1)
- E-bikes and speed pedelecsLegal class: Class 1, 2, 3 (bicycle) · Minimum age: 14+ for Class 3
- FireworksConsumers may buy and use category F2 fireworks: Yes (consumer fireworks; licensed retail) · Minimum age to buy: 18
- Knives and pepper sprayFolding pocket knives: Not named; "dangerous weapon" concealed is banned · Locking or one-handed knives: Former mechanical-opening ban repealed (2017)
- Statutory minimum wageNational statutory minimum wage: Yes · Current adult minimum wage (gross): $13.73 per hour
- Using a mobile phone while drivingHolding a phone while driving banned: Banned · Hands-free use: Hands-free allowed
- Tobacco and nicotine age limitsMinimum age to buy tobacco: 21 · Minimum age to buy e-cigarettes: 21
- Drinking age and alcohol salesMinimum age to buy beer and wine: 21 · Minimum age to buy spirits: 21
- Drink-driving limitsBlood alcohol limit for ordinary drivers: 0.08% · Lower limit for novice or young drivers: Any alcohol (under 21)
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.