Car seat & booster law
Maine
Verified · JUN 2026Quick answer · Maine
A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".
Children under 2 ride rear-facing; then in a harness; then in a booster until age 8, 80 pounds, or 57 inches. Children under 12 must ride in the rear seat if possible.
Car seat law checker
The legally required restraint, by state.
General information, not legal advice.
SeatCheckerRequired vs recommended
What the law enforces, and what pediatricians advise. They are not the same.
The law requires
Minimum, or it's enforceable
- Rear-facing until
- Age 2
- Booster until
- Age 8 or 4'9"
- Back seat
- Required under 12
Pediatricians recommend
AAP — safer, not the law
- Rear-facing until
- To seat limit (often age 2+)
- Booster until
- 4'9" — typically age 8–12
- Back seat
- Until age 13
AAP guidance is a safety best practice and is separate from Maine's legal minimum. Maine already requires the rear seat through age 11 and a staged progression that tracks the recommendations closely.
Every stage, by the law
Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Maine.
| Stage | Age | Height | Weight | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing | Birth – 2 yr | — | — | 29-A M.R.S. § 2081 |
| Forward-facing | 2 yr – 8 yr | — | — | 29-A M.R.S. § 2081 |
| Booster | until 8 yr | < 4'9" / 145 cm | — | 29-A M.R.S. § 2081 |
| Seat belt | 8 yr + | or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm | — | 29-A M.R.S. § 2081 |
| Back seat | under 12 yr | — | — | 29-A M.R.S. § 2081 |
- Age
- Birth – 2 yr
- Age
- 2 yr – 8 yr
- Age
- until 8 yr
- Height
- < 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- 8 yr +
- Height
- or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
- Age
- under 12 yr