North Carolina car seat laws require that children under five must ride in the back seat. All kids must use a booster seat until the adult belt fits comfortably.

Written by Bonnie Stinson

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

What is it?
Noncompliance
Driving record
Insurance impact
Cheap insurance

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North Carolina car seat laws require that children under the age of five ride in the back seat. All kids must use an appropriate child restraint system and follow manufacturer guidelines until the adult seat belts fit comfortably.

Breaking car seat laws could earn you fines, along with putting young passengers in danger.

That’s why the car insurance broker and comparison shopping app

Jerry

has compiled everything you need to know to adhere to the car seat laws in North Carolina.

Before we wrap up, we'll even fill you in on how to lower your

North Carolina car insurance costs

What is the car seat law in North Carolina?

Children under five years old and less than 40 pounds must ride in the back seat. All children must use a federally approved child restraint system until they surpass the manufacturer’s requirements for height and weight.

The North Carolina child car seat law states that children can be forward-facing if they fit the manufacturer’s guidelines. However, experts say that children are safer in rear-facing seats until at least age 2.

It is legal (though not recommended) for kids in North Carolina to ride in the front seat, so long as there is no active passenger airbag or there is no rear seat.

Key Takeaway Children under the age of five need to ride in the back seat, and all kids must use restraint systems following the manufacturer guidelines.

MORE:

Everything you ever wanted to know about North Carolina’s seat belt laws

What are the penalties for breaking the car seat law in North Carolina?

If you break the car seat law in North Carolina, your penalty will be up to $25. You may also have to pay for court costs and administrative fees.

You will also get two points added to your driving record.

Key Takeaway Breaking the car seat law in North Carolina will earn you a $25 fine plus court fees, and you will get two points on your record.

Can breaking the car seat law impact my driving record?

Yes. Breaking the car seat law in North Carolina is a serious offense, and you’ll be penalized with two demerit points on your driving record. Points generally stay on your record for three years.

MORE:

What is a clean driving record?

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How breaking car seat laws can impact insurance in North Carolina

Points on your record are an indication of risk. Higher-risk drivers tend to pay more for car insurance.

If you break the law and get points on your record, your car insurance payment could skyrocket. It’s also important to pay your fine immediately so it doesn’t affect your credit score. People with poor credit tend to pay more for car insurance, too.

Tickets also appear on your driver abstract, which your insurance company may have access to. That means if you rack up lots of tickets, it could potentially impact your insurance premiums (not for the better).

MORE:

Tips to get a clean driving record

Finding cheap car insurance

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