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Car seat & booster law

Maryland

Verified · JUN 2026

Quick answer · Maryland

A car seat or booster is required until your child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9".

Children under 2 must ride rear-facing until the seat's limit. Children under 8 must be in a child safety seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller. Children under 16 must be in a safety seat or seat belt.

Rear-facing < 2 yr Forward 2+ yr Booster < 8 yr Belt 8+ yr
Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2 Read the statute

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The legally required restraint, by state.

3 yrs

General information, not legal advice.

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Required 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
Not required

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 Maryland's legal minimum. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in each stage longer than the law requires.

Every stage, by the law

Dual units shown throughout (in + cm, lb + kg). Rows marked Guidance are best practice, not a statutory requirement in Maryland.

Rear-facing Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Age
Birth – 2 yr
Forward-facing Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Age
2 yr – 8 yr
Booster Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Age
until 8 yr
Height
< 4'9" / 145 cm
Seat belt Md. Code, Transp. § 22-412.2
Age
8 yr +
Height
or ≥ 4'9" / 145 cm
Back seat Guidance
Age
Recommended < 13

Frequently asked questions

What is the car seat law in Maryland in 2026?
Children under 2 must ride rear-facing until the seat's limit. Children under 8 must be in a child safety seat unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller. Children under 16 must be in a safety seat or seat belt.
When can my child stop using a booster in Maryland?
Once the child is 8 years old or reaches 4 feet 9 inches. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child in a booster until the seat belt fits properly, usually around 4 feet 9 inches and ages 8 to 12.
Until what age must my child ride rear-facing in Maryland?
In Maryland, a child under 2 must ride in a rear-facing child safety seat until the child reaches the seat manufacturer's weight or height limit. Pediatricians recommend keeping a child rear-facing as long as possible, until the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat.
What is the fine for a car seat violation in Maryland?
A car seat violation in Maryland is subject to a fine of $50. A first violation of the rear-facing requirement is a written warning rather than a fine.

Sources

Verified · JUN 2026

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