Michigan Car Seat Laws (2023): Current Laws & Safety Resources for Parents

According to Michigan law, a “child less than 4 years of age” must be properly secured in a “child restraint system” ( that meets federal safety requirements. (MCL 257.710d(1)). To translate this law, a child should travel in a rear-facing seat until he/she is in the height and weight limit of the seat.

Michigan law says that a child will travel in an appropriate system until 4 years of age. After exceeding the limit of a rear-facing seat, this appropriate system will be a forward facing seat. However, don’t rush to graduate the child to the forward-facing. Rear-facing is the safer option and keep the child there for as long as possible.

Children who are between 4 to 8 years of age and less than 4’9” tall, must travel in a booster seat. According to law, they must be in a “child restraint system”, which essentially translates to booster seats.

Children younger than age 4 will ride in a car seat in the rear seat if the vehicle has a rear seat. If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.

750.135a says that a child under that age of 6 can’t be left alone in a car, in a manner that will put his/her life in danger. You can read more about it here.

There are currently no laws in Michigan that would make smoking in cars with child passengers a crime.

Michigan law doesn’t provide any guidance regarding car seat replacement in case of an accident. But a general rule is always to replace your car seat after a major accident as they can get invisible cracks in their plastic bodies and aren’t safe for further use.