North Carolina seat-belt laws say all drivers and passengers over the age of 16 must wear a seat-belt. The driver is responsible for passengers under 16.

Written by Bonnie Stinson

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

Seat-belt laws
Noncompliance
Driving record impacts
Insurance impacts
Cheap car insurance

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Seat-belt laws in North Carolina dictate that all passengers older than 16 must wear a seat-belt. Drivers are responsible for passengers under the age of 16. Passengers under the age of 16 are covered by the child safety law.

Studies show that people are far more likely to be injured or die in a car crash if they are not wearing a seat-belt. Be safe and buckle up!

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so you can avoid fines and stay safe behind the wheel.

What are the seat-belt laws in North Carolina?

All passengers over the age of 16 are required by North Carolina law to wear a seat-belt. Passengers under the age of 16 are covered by the child safety laws, which require appropriate restraint systems.

Passengers over the age of 16 are responsible for themselves, but drivers are responsible for passengers under the age of 16.

Key Takeaway All passengers over the age of 16 are required by law to wear a seat-belt in North Carolina. Child safety laws apply to younger passengers.

MORE:

What is North Carolina's car seat law?

What happens if you break the seat-belt laws in North Carolina?

Breaking the North Carolina seat-belt law could result in a fine of $25.50 plus $153.50 in court costs if the driver or front-seat passenger is not belted. A back-seat violation will result in a $10 fine.

In North Carolina, breaking the seat-belt is considered a nonmoving violation. This means you won’t get any

driver's license points

A police officer is allowed to pull you over in North Carolina if they spot a front-seat seat-belt violation, as it’s considered a primary offense. A back-seat violation is considered a secondary offense, which means you can only be ticketed if you’re pulled over for another reason.

Key Takeaway Breaking the North Carolina seat-belt law will result in a fine. The fine is higher for an unbelted driver or front-seat passenger.

Could it impact my driving record?

It’s unlikely. Since breaking the seat-belt law is considered a nonmoving violation in North Carolina, you will not receive points on your driving record. There is even a law in North Carolina that states that no insurance surcharge will be assessed based on a seat-belt violation.

MORE:

Tips to get a clean driving record

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Could it impact my insurance?

Possibly. Seat-belt tickets won’t affect your insurance in most states.

However, your insurance company will definitely notice if you wrack up a ton of seat-belt tickets. This could trigger an increase in your premiums.

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Car insurance scams to watch out for

Finding cheap car insurance in North Carolina

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