Seat Belt Laws in Missouri

Missouri seat belt laws require all drivers and front seat passengers to wear seat belts. You can be pulled over and fined for breaking this law.
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
background
Seat belt laws in
Missouri
say that all front seat passengers and drivers must wear a seat belt. Kids between 8-15 years of age must always wear seat belts. It’s a primary offense to break this law, so you can be pulled over and ticketed for it. Drivers are responsible for—and can be ticketed for violations by—passengers younger than 16.

What are the seat belt laws in Missouri?

The Missouri seat belt law says that drivers and front seat passengers must wear an appropriate restraint. Children should use
federally-approved restraint systems
, and those between the ages of eight and 15 must wear seat belts. In Missouri, drivers are held responsible for passengers under the age of 16.
Key Takeaway Everyone in the front seat is legally required to wear a seat belt in Missouri, along with young passengers between the ages of 8 - 15.

What happens if you break the seat belt laws in Missouri?

The penalty for breaking the seat belt laws in Missouri is a $10 fine plus court costs. The driver must pay the fine if the person who broke the seat belt law was under the age of 16. Drivers and passengers 16 and older will be ticketed for their own offenses.
Breaking the seat belt law is considered a nonmoving violation in Missouri and won’t add points to your
Missouri driving record
. However, it is a primary offense to break the seat belt law in Missouri. This means that you can be pulled over and ticketed for breaking it.
Key Takeaway You could face a $10 fine—plus court costs—if you or a young passenger in your vehicle breaks the seat-belt law.

Could it impact my driving record?

Possibly. Missouri doesn’t assign
driver's license points
to your record for breaking the seat belt law. Because of this, insurance companies are unlikely to increase your premium based on a single seat belt violation.
However, violations are added to your driver abstract. If you break this law more than once, it will definitely cause your insurance company to look twice.
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Could it impact my insurance?

It’s unlikely that not wearing a seat belt will raise your
auto insurance rates
as Missouri law does not add points to your record for breaking a seat belt law. However, accruing multiple violations or not paying your fines could lead to a situation where the insurance company is alerted. This could increase your premium. Be sure to pay your fees promptly!
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