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.