Car Seat Laws in Maryland (2024) – Drive Your Child Safely

According to the Maryland State Law, children under 8 years old and less than 57 inches tall must ride in a child restraint system in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

The child restraint system includes a booster seat and other federally approved seats. They are necessary to ride a child safely in a motor vehicle.

It’s reported that car crashes are still the leading cause of death for both adults and children. Securing yourself and your children properly in a seat belt or safety car seat will reduce the risk of serious injury and fatal injury.

The Maryland seat belt use rate was kept over 90 percent. It still means some drivers are not secured rightly. That’s why the government updated the law on seat belts and child restraint devices.

New regulations took effect on October 1st, 2013.

What is the Car Seat Law in Maryland?

2013 Laws in Maryland Chapter 179 Article of Transportation Section 22–412.2. (d) says: "A person transporting a child under the age of 8 years in a motor vehicle shall secure the child in a child safety seat in accordance with the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions unless the child is 4 feet, 9 inches tall or taller." "A person may not transport a child under the age of 16 years unless the child is secured in a child safety seat or a seat belt."

Maryland State Regulations

Rear-Facing

Maryland Rear-facing Car Seat Laws

Forward-Facing

Maryland Forward facing Car Seat Rules

Booster

Maryland Booster Seat Laws

Front Seat Laws

When can child sit in front seat Maryland

Car Seats List

Best car seat to meet Maryland laws

US Car Seat Laws

Seat Laws across the United States

Maryland Car Seat Laws Rear-Facing

Maryland law does not mention the requirements for a rear-facing car seat. It just requires that children under 8 years old and shorter than 4’9” travel in a secure child restraint system.

For toddlers under 2 years old, this system would be the rear-facing seat.

You should always keep your children in the rear-facing as long as they fall within the height and weight limit of the seat announced by the seat manufacturer.

Infant car seats feature a top weight of around 35 pounds, for example, the Doona Infant and Stroller. Convertibles and all-in-one car seats are able to fit a child up to 50 pounds for facing the rear. Graco Extend2Fit and Diono Radia 3R are good choices.

Maryland Forward Facing Car Seat Laws

When can a baby be forward-facing in Maryland?

The Maryland law doesn’t mention the requirements for the forward-facing car seat.

According to the experts and guidelines from NHTSA, it is best to transition to a forward-facing car seat when the child reaches the height or weight limit of their rear-facing car seats.

That typically happens when the child is 2-4 years old.

What is The Law for Booster Seats in Maryland?

What is the law for booster seats in Maryland?

As mentioned earlier, the law requires children under 8 years old and 4’9” to travel in a child safety seat. Based on the law, after the child has outgrown the forward-facing seat, they will travel in a booster seat.

By law, a child who is at least 4 feet 9 inches is exempt from the child safety seat requirement, however, you should keep using the booster seat until the seat belt is a secure fit.

How much do you have to weigh to be out of a booster seat in Maryland?

No weight requirement is mentioned in Maryland law for a child to get out of a booster seat. The law only mentions an age of 8 years old and a height of 57 inches tall.

How tall do you have to be to ride without a booster seat in Maryland?

A child should be at least 4 feet 9 inches tall to ride without a booster seat in Maryland.

Seat Belt Laws for Child in Maryland

The Maryland law requires children who are between 8 to 15 years old or younger than 8 years of age but over 4 feet 9 inches in height to travel in the seat belt.

When can a child sit in the front seat in Maryland?

Maryland law doesn’t stop children from traveling in the front seat.

But a child can sit in the front seat under certain circumstances.

You should not place the rear-facing seats in the front seat with the airbags activated.

Penalty for Breaking Car Seat Laws in Maryland

According to the Maryland Law Chapter 79 22–412.2:

Violators who break the car seat laws in Maryland will be fined $50.

The rule is that multiple failures of not securing more than one child in the same vehicle will be treated as a single violation and fined for one time.

Maryland Car Seat Laws Apply and Exceptions

This law is applicable to in-state and out-of-state vehicles and covers all seated occupants in a motor vehicle including front and rear seats.

It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure all children are correctly buckled up.

Exceptions

Those who have a written certificate from their doctor stating a medical reason for not using their seat belt.
Drivers and passengers of Class L (historical) motor vehicles and of vehicles not required by federal motor vehicle standards to be equipped with seat belts.
Taxicab

Taxi (Uber) Car Seat Law in Maryland

The Maryland Legislature rule does not mention that taxis are exceptional from following the child restraint laws. The Maryland Department of Health has a program called Kids in Safety Seat (KISS for short). It indicates that taxis are exempt from the law right now. But it’s recommended for parents to keep their children safe in these vehicles. You may wonder if Uber should follow the laws or not. Are Ride-Sharing services exempt from the Maryland law? Unfortunately, ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are NOT exempt from the child restraint law. The drivers MUST follow Maryland law to ride with children under age 16.