New Hampshire Child Car Seat Laws (2024)

Every state has different laws regarding passenger restraints, particularly for children riding in a vehicle. Just as you need to follow New Hampshire auto insurance laws, you must follow NH’s car seat laws, which include age and weight requirements for the car seat or seat belt type necessary to transport children safely.

Read on to learn about the different seat types for each age required in New Hampshire, from the seat belt law in NH to booster seat laws in NH.

New Hampshire Child Safety Seat Laws

If you don’t follow the car seat laws in NH for your child passenger, you could get ticketed. The fine for your first seat belt offense is $50, and a second violation costs $100.

According to the NH car seat law, any child under 6 shorter than 57 inches must be in a child safety seat. The type of seat depends upon the child’s age, weight, and height.

Adult seat belts are permissible for children ages 7 and up, but they must be at least 57 inches tall and have outgrown a booster seat.

Below, we’ve listed what type of car seat restraint to use for each children’s age group.

New Hampshire Car Seat Laws: Rear-Facing Car Seat Restraint 

Children from birth to age 2 should be in a rear-facing car seat or a rear-facing convertible seat. Never place these seats in the front passenger seat — instead, put them in the back of the car.

Children older than 2 can still be in a rear-facing or convertible car seat, but the child should meet the age and height requirements listed on the seat’s manufacturing instructions.

New Hampshire Car Seat Laws: Forward-Facing Car Seat Restraint 

Children ages 2 to 6 should be in forward-facing car seats, although children up to 3 can remain in a rear-facing seat if desired. 

We recommend keeping children in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, as it’s one of the safest positions for children. However, once children outgrow a rear-facing car seat, they should be graduated to a forward-facing car seat. 

The weight limit for most forward-facing car seats is 40 to 60 pounds. Read your car seat manufacturer’s weight and height requirements to ensure your child is seated in a properly sized car seat.

New Hampshire Booster Seat Laws

Once a child outgrows a forward-facing car seat, they can use a normal seat belt placed on top of a booster seat. Booster seats ensure the seat belt is evenly distributed across the child’s body and won’t cause serious injury in a crash. The weight limit for booster seats generally goes up to 110 pounds.

Once a child exceeds the weight limit or is taller than the manufacturer’s usual height limit of 4 feet, 9 inches, they can graduate to a standard adult seat belt without a booster seat. Booster seat weight and height requirements are generally the same in all states, whether it’s booster seat laws in Wisconsin or New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Seat Belt Laws for Children

The New Hampshire seat belt law for children is that if a child is at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall, and over the weight limit of booster seats, they can use an over-the-shoulder seat belt without a booster seat.

Most children will graduate to a regular seat belt between 8 and 12. However, these ages vary depending on your child’s individual development. 

It’s important to ensure the child is big enough and ready to graduate from a booster seat before using an adult seat belt by itself. The weight and height limits of the NH seat belt law protect your child in the event of a crash. Not following New Hampshire’s child safety laws can result in serious injury or death.

When do children not need to be restrained in New Hampshire? 

In some cases, children don’t need to be restrained by a child safety seat in New Hampshire. The exceptions to the seat belt laws in New Hampshire are as follows:

• The child is in a taxi or bus, such as a school bus.
• The child is in a vehicle manufactured before 1968.
• The child’s physical condition prevents using seat belts or child safety seats.
• The child has a certain disability.

These are general exceptions and may not always apply in your specific case. Ensure you have proof of exemption if your child can’t use a seat belt or child safety seat. Making a copy and carrying it with you when you drive is best.

With proof of exemption, you can easily prove the child’s exemption from child restraint laws in New Hampshire if you get pulled over by law enforcement.

New Hampshire Child Safety Seat Tips 

Anyone who has assembled and used a child car seat knows that the child restraint systems can be frustrating and difficult. Below is a list of the common errors with child safety seats you should double-check.

• Ensure the vehicle seat is attached securely to the car.
• Ensure the harness straps aren’t too loose.
• Check the reclining angle of rear-facing child seats.
• Use the top tether to secure the top of all forward-facing child restraints.
• With booster seats, ensure the lap belt is across the child’s upper thighs, and the shoulder belt is behind the back or under the arm.

Carefully read the installation and usage instructions included with your rear-facing, front-facing, or booster car seat. Following the manufacturer’s instructions will ensure your child is as safe as possible in the vehicle. 

You should also do your research on brands of car seats before purchasing one. Just as you would research the best companies for car insurance, you should research the best car seat brands. It’s also a good idea to learn whether your car insurance covers car seats if you’re in an accident.

While it’s best to buy your child’s safety seat new, some parents may try to buy child restraint systems secondhand to save money. However, you should never buy a used car or booster seat unless you can verify its age since they all have an expiration date.

Once a child safety seat is beyond its expiration date, it’s no longer safe to use to restrain a child in the car.

The Final Word on Child Safety Seat Laws in New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s child safety seat laws are similar to other states. Parents must follow the weight and height requirements on child safety seats, and children can’t use an adult seat belt until they’re taller than 57 inches and outweigh a booster seat. 

New Hampshire will issue fines if children aren’t properly restrained in child safety seats while driving.

Though you and your child may have the proper restraints in your car, carrying the right car insurance is essential to pay for any injuries or damages if you’re ever in a car crash. Start shopping for free auto insurance quotes from local companies to find the best price for your policy