Compare car seat laws
Put two states side by side to see which is stricter, dimension by dimension. Every comparison is built from official statutes and shows exactly where the two laws differ.
In-depth comparisons
Arizona vs California
California is stricter.
Arizona vs New Mexico
New Mexico is stricter.
California vs Florida
California is stricter.
California vs Nevada
California is stricter.
California vs New York
California is stricter.
California vs Oregon
California is stricter.
California vs Texas
California is stricter.
Colorado vs Kansas
Colorado is stricter.
Colorado vs Utah
Colorado is stricter.
Connecticut vs New York
Connecticut and New York are comparable.
District of Columbia vs Maryland
District of Columbia is stricter.
District of Columbia vs Virginia
Virginia is stricter.
Florida vs Georgia
Georgia is stricter.
Florida vs New York
New York is stricter.
Florida vs North Carolina
North Carolina is stricter.
Florida vs Texas
Texas is stricter.
Florida vs Virginia
Virginia is stricter.
Georgia vs North Carolina
Georgia is stricter.
Georgia vs South Carolina
South Carolina is stricter.
Georgia vs Tennessee
Tennessee is stricter.
Illinois vs Indiana
Illinois is stricter.
Illinois vs Wisconsin
Illinois is stricter.
Kansas vs Missouri
Kansas and Missouri are comparable.
Louisiana vs Texas
Louisiana is stricter.
Maryland vs Virginia
Virginia is stricter.
Massachusetts vs New York
New York is stricter.
Michigan vs Ohio
Michigan is stricter.
Minnesota vs Wisconsin
Minnesota is stricter.
New Jersey vs New York
New Jersey is stricter.
New Mexico vs Texas
New Mexico is stricter.
New York vs Texas
New York is stricter.
North Carolina vs South Carolina
South Carolina is stricter.
North Carolina vs Virginia
Virginia is stricter.
Oklahoma vs Texas
Oklahoma is stricter.
Oregon vs Washington
Washington is stricter.
How we decide which state is stricter
We compare the dimensions that actually change what restraint your child needs: the rear-facing requirement, the booster requirement, the back-seat rule, the seat belt graduation point, and the fine for a violation. A state is "stricter" on a dimension when it keeps a child in a more protective restraint longer, or sets a tougher penalty. Rear-facing and booster rules carry the most weight because they affect the most children for the longest time.
Where a statute is silent, we say so rather than treating silence as leniency. Best-practice guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics is shown separately and is never presented as the legal minimum. Every figure traces back to an official source, and each comparison shows its verified date.
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