Tools · Car Seat
New York Car Seat & Booster Checker (2026)
Enter your child's age, height, and weight to see the minimum seat stage New York law requires and the first-offense fine ($25–$100). This is the legal minimum — not best safety practice.
New York car seat checker
4′9″ = 57 in. Enter only the boxes you have — New York uses required to age 8; affirmative defense if belted and taller than 4′9″ and/or over 100 lb.
Affirmative defense: New York keeps the mandate to age 8, but allows an affirmative defense if the child is properly belted AND taller than 4′9″ and/or heavier than 100 lb. New York is the only state that uses a 100-lb figure.
- Child
- Not entered
- Minimum legal stage
- Enter age / height / weight
- Booster-exit rule
- required to age 8; affirmative defense if belted and taller than 4′9″ and/or over 100 lb
- First-offense fine
- $25–$100
Plain-language summary, not legal advice.
This shows the minimum legal requirement in New York — 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 New York car seat law reference, cited to N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law §1229-c (last reviewed 2026-07-09).
How New York car seat law works
New York legislates the full ladder by age, which makes it clearer than most: rear-facing under 2 (unless the child is over the seat’s limits), a child restraint under 4, and a booster with a lap-and-shoulder belt for ages 4–7. The booster mandate ends at age 8. New York’s distinctive feature is its exit test: rather than a hard height line, the statute gives an affirmative defense once a child is properly belted and taller than 4′9″ and/or over 100 lb — New York is the only state that uses a 100-lb figure. Front-seat placement is a recommendation here, not a law: there is no absolute front-seat age ban, though under-16s must be belted. The civil fine runs $25–$100 plus any surcharge.
This checker shows the New York 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 New York car seat law reference.
Car seat checkers for other states
Same tool, each with its own booster-exit rule.