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Car seat laws in North Dakota

What North Dakota law requires at each stage, from rear-facing to the front seat, next to what NHTSA and the AAP recommend. Plus the fine and where to get a free car seat check.

Checked October 2026 · 9 sources · Not legal advice

Short answer

Children under 8 must ride in a car seat or booster used per the manufacturer's instructions unless they are at least 4'9" tall, in which case a seat belt is enough. Ages 8 through 17 must use a seat belt or a child restraint.

Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch; North Dakota Health and Human Services. Data as of October 2026.

What does North Dakota car seat law require at each age?

The law sets the minimum. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping each stage until your child outgrows the seat, which usually means longer.

North Dakota car seat law at each stage, beside NHTSA and AAP guidance
StageWhat North Dakota law requiresNHTSA and AAP guidance

Rear-facing car seat

No state rule

No rear-facing requirement in state law.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping your child rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. A child under age 1 should always ride rear-facing, and most convertible seats allow rear-facing for 2 years or more.

Forward-facing seat with a harness

No state rule

No separate harness stage in law. A child under 8 must be in a child restraint system (car seat or booster) used per the manufacturer's instructions.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend using a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether once your child outgrows the rear-facing limits, for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height the seat's manufacturer allows.

Booster seat

Best practice goes further

A child under 8 must be in a child restraint system (car seat or booster). A child under 8 who is at least 57 inches (4'9") tall is not required to use one but must be correctly buckled in a safety belt.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend using a belt-positioning booster seat after your child outgrows the harnessed seat, until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach about 4 feet 9 inches tall and are 8 to 12 years old.

Seat belt

Children 8 through 17 must be in an approved child restraint or correctly buckled in a safety belt. A child under 8 who is at least 4'9" may use a seat belt.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend moving to the seat belt alone only when it fits: the lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt crosses the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or face. Children big enough for the belt alone should always use a lap and shoulder belt.

Back seat

No state rule

No back-seat requirement in law. The state health department recommends children under 13 ride in the back.

NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping all children younger than 13 in the back seat.

The law: N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-41.2.

Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch; North Dakota Health and Human Services; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Data as of October 2026.

What are the fines and exemptions in North Dakota?

First offense

$25

$25 fee (N.D.C.C. § 39-06.1-06) and 1 point against the driver's license (§ 39-06.1-10). The driver is responsible.

Exemptions

Does not apply in vehicles that were not equipped with safety belts when manufactured, or when a child is transported in an emergency.

Questions about the law

This is general information, not legal advice. For how the law applies to you, ask North Dakota Health and Human Services.

Secondary enforcement (39-21-41.5) was repealed by S.L. 2023, ch. 362.

Where can you get your car seat checked for free?

Certified child passenger safety technicians check car seats at inspection stations nationwide. NHTSA says they inspect seats free of charge in most cases and show you how to install and use the seat correctly, and some locations offer virtual inspections. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code or city (it can filter for Spanish-speaking technicians), or find a technician through Safe Kids Worldwide. North Dakota lists its own fitting stations.

Find a seat check in North Dakota How to get a free car seat

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)

Where are the car seat inspection stations in North Dakota?

NHTSA's locator lists 41 car seat inspection stations in North Dakota, in 26 cities and towns. Bismarck has the most (4), then Jamestown, Minot and Williston (3 each).

41

inspection stations in NHTSA's locator

NHTSA, October 2026

26

cities and towns with a station

NHTSA, October 2026

0

flagged as Spanish-speaking; ask when you call

NHTSA, October 2026

0

of 41 records updated since 2023

Newest: September 13, 2022

Cities with the most stations

  1. Bismarck4 stations
  2. Jamestown3 stations
  3. Minot3 stations
  4. Williston3 stations
  5. Cavalier2 stations
  6. Devils Lake2 stations
  7. Fargo2 stations
  8. Fessenden2 stations

Plus 18 more cities and towns. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code for the ones near you.

Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Data as of October 2026.

Choosing and getting a car seat

Infant vs convertible car seat: which to buy firstInfant vs convertible car seat, compared with AAP and NHTSA guidance: rear-facing limits, portability, when to switch, installation and free seat checks.How to get a free car seatWhere to get a free infant car seat in 2026: Medicaid plan extras, Safe Kids coalitions and 211, plus free installation checks and when a used seat isn't safe.

Questions about car seat laws in North Dakota

When can a child face forward in a car seat in North Dakota?

No rear-facing requirement in state law. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping your child rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer. A child under age 1 should always ride rear-facing, and most convertible seats allow rear-facing for 2 years or more.

When can a child stop using a booster seat in North Dakota?

A child under 8 must be in a child restraint system (car seat or booster). A child under 8 who is at least 57 inches (4'9") tall is not required to use one but must be correctly buckled in a safety belt. NHTSA and the AAP recommend going further: using a belt-positioning booster seat after your child outgrows the harnessed seat, until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach about 4 feet 9 inches tall and are 8 to 12 years old. The AAP says an adult seat belt fits when: the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly; and the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with knees bent over the edge of the seat without slouching, and can stay that way for the whole trip. NHTSA uses the same lap-belt and shoulder-belt checks. The 5-step test, which California writes into law from January 1, 2027, asks: 1) Does the child sit all the way back against the seat? 2) Do the knees bend over the edge of the seat? 3) Does the shoulder belt snugly cross the center of the chest and shoulder, not the neck? 4) Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs? 5) Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

How old does a child have to be to sit in the front seat in North Dakota?

No back-seat requirement in law. The state health department recommends children under 13 ride in the back. NHTSA and the AAP recommend keeping all children younger than 13 in the back seat.

What is the fine for a car seat violation in North Dakota?

$25 fee (N.D.C.C. § 39-06.1-06) and 1 point against the driver's license (§ 39-06.1-10). The driver is responsible.

Where can I get a car seat inspection in North Dakota?

NHTSA's locator lists 41 car seat inspection stations in North Dakota, in 26 cities and towns. Bismarck has the most (4), then Jamestown, Minot and Williston (3 each). Certified technicians check seats for free in most cases. Search NHTSA's locator by ZIP code and call the station before you go.

More for parents in North Dakota

Sources

  1. 1.N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-41.2, Child restraint devices - Evidence (chapter 39-21) North Dakota Legislative Branch. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. 2.N.D. Cent. Code ch. 39-06.1 (§ 39-06.1-06 fee schedule; § 39-06.1-10 point schedule) North Dakota Legislative Branch. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. 3.North Dakota's Child Passenger Safety Law North Dakota Health and Human Services. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. 4.Car Seat Help (North Dakota Child Passenger Safety Assistance) North Dakota Health and Human Services. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  5. 5.Car Seats and Booster Seats National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  6. 6.Car Seats: Information for Families (last updated 4/16/2026) American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). Accessed October 14, 2026.
  7. 7.California Vehicle Code § 27363 (exemptions; current version and version operative January 1, 2027) California Legislative Information. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  8. 8.Car Seat Inspection (inspection station locator) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 14, 2026.
Show all 9 sources
  1. 9.Car Seat Inspection Locator API (CSSIStation) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed October 16, 2026.

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