Car Seat Laws in Indiana
Indiana car seat laws require children under eight to be secured in a child restraint system that meets the manufacturer’s specifications.
Written by Tom Hindle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
Indiana
car seat laws stipulate that children under the age of eight must be secured in a child restraint system that meets the manufacturer’s specifications. Younger children are subject to stricter laws. Also, the rules don’t disappear as kids grow up. Make sure that your teen is buckled up, as it is illegal for children under 16 to ride without a seatbelt.
RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
What is the car seat law in Indiana?
Passengers under one year old, or less than 20 pounds, must be placed in a rear-facing car seat.
However, Indiana law enforcement encourages parents to keep children in car seats until they reach the maximum height or weight limit. For example, some car seats will restrain children up to 35 pounds.
Once a child passes their first birthday, it’s recommended that they be transitioned to a front-facing car seat with a safety harness.
In Indiana, children can be transitioned to a manufacturer-approved booster seat once they turn eight (or once they outgrow their child safety seat).
Children must be properly restrained by a seat belt until they turn 16. Failure to do so violates state law.
Key Takeaway: Young children should be kept in child safety seats for as long as possible.
What are the penalties for breaking the car seat law in Indiana?
Violating car seat laws in Indiana is a Class D Infraction and could earn you a fine of up to $25.
You can also expect to pay any court costs. You will not receive any
demerit points
on your Indiana driver's license
for violating Indiana car seat laws. RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Can breaking the car seat law impact my driving record?
Probably not. The violation will be documented, but it will not result in any points on your license.
Still, that doesn’t mean that car seat laws are to be taken lightly. Each time you don’t follow them, you put a child’s life at risk.
How breaking car seat laws can impact insurance in Indiana
Breaking the car seat law in Indiana won’t add any points to your license, so your insurance won’t likely increase.
However, if you continue to make mistakes or if the minor infractions start to add up, you become more of a risk to your insurance carrier. If that happens, you can expect your premiums to rise.
For safety and legal purposes, make sure to follow the law.
Additionally, if you don’t pay the $25 fine, your credit score could take a hit. In some states, that can lead to an insurance hike.
RECOMMENDED
Saved $725 annuallySaved $834 annuallySaved $668 annually
Haven’t shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.
Judith switched to Progressive
Saved $725 annually
Alexander switched to Travelers
Saved $834 annually
Annie switched to Nationwide
Saved $668 annuallyCheck if you are overpaying for car insurance.
No phone calls. No long forms. Quotes from 50+ insurance companies.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
