Montana’s New Car Seat Law

What Has Changed

The old law left much of car seat safety up to parental discretion, which unfortunately led to inconsistent practices across the state. The new Montana car seat law clearly defines stages of child restraint use based on age, weight, and height.

Rear-facing seats: Infants and toddlers must remain rear-facing until at least age 2 or until they reach the seat manufacturer’s height and weight limit. Previously, many children were turned forward-facing too early.

Forward-facing seats: Children who out grow rear-facing seats must use a forward-facing seat with a harness until at least age 5.

Booster seats: Children must then transition into a booster seat and remain in one until they are at least 8 years old or 4’9” tall, the point at which adult seat belts can properly fit.

Seat belts: Only when a child is big enough for the lap belt to sit low across the hips (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt to cross the chest (not the neck), are they ready to ride without a booster.

Why the Law Changed

Car crashes remain one of the leading causes of death and injury for children in Montana. Research shows that correct car seat use reduces the risk of fatal injury by more than 70%, yet studies also reveal that a majority of car seats are either misused or installed incorrectly. By strengthening the law, Montana is addressing preventable injuries and aligning with safety standards already adopted in many other states.

The updated law also reflects decades of data from pediatricians, engineers, and child safety experts who emphasize that the longer children remain in the correct stage of restraint, the safer they are in a crash.

How This Affects Missoula Families

For parents and caregivers in Missoula and throughout Montana, the biggest change is the extended requirement for rear-facing and booster seats. Families may need to purchase new car seats that fit their child’s age and size, or adjust the way their current seats are installed. While this may feel like an added responsibility, the payoff is life-saving protection for children.

Missoula also has a higher proportion of families that travel long distances on rural highways, where crashes often happen at higher speeds. Proper car seat use is even more critical in these conditions. The new law is not about ticketing parents, it’s about saving lives in a state where serious accidents are far too common.

Our Role with Safe Kids Missoula

At Ryan, Miller & Coburn, we’re proud to collaborate with Safe Kids Missoula to make sure local families understand these changes. Together, we’re creating educational videos, offering resources on correct car seat installation, and ensuring that the children in Montana are safe and protected on the road.

We know laws can feel overwhelming, but the heart of this update is simple: keeping Montana’s children safer on the road.

If you’re a parent, grandparent, or caregiver in Montana, stay tuned for upcoming car seat safety check events with Safe Kids Missoula.

For more information on the new Montana car seat law 2025, or if your family has been impacted by a crash, reach out to us anytime at Ryan, Miller & Coburn.

‍