Tools · Car Seat
Maine Car Seat & Booster Checker (2026)
Enter your child's age, height, and weight to see the minimum seat stage Maine law requires and the first-offense fine ($50 first offense). This is the legal minimum — not best safety practice.
Maine car seat checker
4′9″ = 57 in. Enter only the boxes you have. Maine uses booster required while ALL three are true (under 8 AND under 80 lb AND under 57 in); reaching age 8, 80 lb, or 57 in exits.
- Child
- Not entered
- Minimum legal stage
- Enter age / height / weight
- Booster-exit rule
- booster required while ALL three are true (under 8 AND under 80 lb AND under 57 in); reaching age 8, 80 lb, or 57 in exits
- First-offense fine
- $50 first offense
Plain-language summary, not legal advice.
This shows the minimum legal requirement in Maine, not best safety practice, which is usually stricter, and not legal or safety advice. Always follow your car seat's manufacturer instructions. For the full four-stage rules, front-seat rule, and citation, see the Maine car seat law reference, cited to 29-A M.R.S. §2081 (last reviewed 2026-07-11).
How Maine car seat law works
Maine spells out its booster rule with three factors joined by AND: a child must stay in a booster while they are under 8, weigh less than 80 lb, and stand shorter than 57 in. Because all three must be true to require the seat, crossing any one of them ends the requirement, so a heavy or tall child can exit before turning 8. Rear-facing under 2 is written into the statute, so it is law here, not just guidance, and a harness applies for children at least 2 who weigh under 55 lb. Maine does not ban the front seat by age; it directs that a child under 12 and under 100 lb ride in the rear “if possible.” Fines start at $50 and step up for repeat offenses.
This checker shows the Maine minimum legal requirement — not best safety practice, which is usually stricter — and is not legal or safety advice. For the full four-stage rules, front-seat rule, and citation, see the Maine car seat law reference.
Car seat checkers for other states
Same tool, each with its own booster-exit rule.