Pennsylvania seat-belt laws require that all passengers under 18 must wear a seat-belt. Adults are only required to wear a seat-belt in the front seat.

Written by Bonnie Stinson

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

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What are they?
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Seat-belt laws in Pennsylvania dictate that all passengers younger than 18 must wear a seat-belt. Adult passengers in the back seat do not have to wear a belt according to state law, but in the front seat, it is required. Drivers are responsible for making sure that their passengers between the ages of 8 and 18 are belted.

These laws are intended to keep you safe since 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. You will face consequences if you break the seat-belt laws in Pennsylvania.

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What are the seat-belt laws in Pennsylvania?

All passengers younger than 18 are required by Pennsylvania law to wear a seat-belt, no matter where in the vehicle they are riding. Adults older than 18 are required to wear seat-belts in the front seat, but they are not legally required to wear seat-belts in the back seat.

However, for safety’s sake it’s wise to wear a seat-belt at all times.

A police officer is allowed to pull you over if they spot an underage passenger riding without proper restraint. An adult without a seat-belt is considered a secondary offense. This means that you can’t be pulled over for it, but you can still receive a ticket for it if you get pulled over for another reason.

Key Takeaway All young passengers are required by law to wear a seat-belt in Pennsylvania, but adults are only required to wear a seat-belt if they’re riding in the front seat.

MORE:

Car seat laws in Pennsylvania

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

Breaking the seat-belt law will result in a $10 fine, plus you will have to pay court fees. In Pennsylvania, this is considered a nonmoving violation, so you won’t get any points on your record.

Key Takeaway Breaking the Pennsylvania seat-belt law will result in a $10 fine, plus court fees.

Could it impact my driving record?

It’s unlikely that breaking a seat-belt law in Pennsylvania will impact your driving record. Since breaking this law is considered a nonmoving violation, you will not receive

driver's license points

on your record.

It will show up on your driver abstract, however, which means that your insurance company will probably know about it.

MORE:

Tips to get a clean driving record

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Could it impact my insurance?

Possibly. Receiving a ticket for a seat-belt violation won’t affect your insurance in most states. You might see a very slight change in your premiums.

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

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Car insurance scams to watch out for

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