How Much Is a Seatbelt Ticket in My State?

Seatbelt laws are designed to prevent passengers from being thrown from the car or sustaining injuries during an accident. Across the country — with the exception of New Hampshire — front-seat occupants are required to wear a seatbelt. There are also seatbelt laws for adult rear-seat passengers in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Most states also have child seatbelt laws, for which offenses are treated as moving violations. Seatbelt laws can vary from state to state so it’s important to know if not wearing a seatbelt is considered a moving violation. If it is, you’ll get points on your license and possibly a rate hike. Keep reading to learn more about seatbelt tickets and fines in your state.

On This Page

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  How Much Can You Expect To Pay For a Seatbelt Ticket?

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  How Much Is a Seatbelt Ticket - State-by-State

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  Who Gets Fined For Not Wearing a Seatbelt?

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  Not Wearing a Seatbelt a Moving Violation in Your State

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  FAQs

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  Not Wearing a Seatbelt Can Impact Your Car Insurance

How Much Can You Expect To Pay For a Seatbelt Ticket?

The cost of a seatbelt ticket depends on your state, which can either be a primary enforcement state or a secondary enforcement state. In a primary enforcement state, a police officer may stop and ticket you for not wearing your seatbelt. In a secondary enforcement state, a police officer can only fine you for not wearing a seatbelt after pulling you over for a separate moving violation like speeding or failing to yield. Fees can range from $10 (in Arizona) to $162 (in California). Fines and penalties also depend on if you are the driver or passenger, your age and if there is an unbelted minor in the car.

Seatbelt laws are designed to prevent drivers and passengers from being thrown from the car or sustaining injuries during an accident.

How Much Is a Seatbelt Ticket - State-by-State

Who Gets Fined For Not Wearing a Seatbelt?

If a driver is caught not wearing a seatbelt, they will be fined, but what happens if a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt? In almost every state, drivers are responsible for ensuring passengers are wearing a seatbelt according to local laws. Depending on your state's law, passengers over 18 or — in some states, 16 — may be fined for not wearing a seatbelt. In other states, both the passenger and the driver may be fined for a passenger without a seatbelt. The laws can vary from state to state. For example, Alabama drivers can be fined for all passengers not wearing seatbelts except for adults with a driver’s license.

In some states, not wearing a seatbelt is a moving violation, and you might get points on your driving record and a hike in car insurance.

In the following states, drivers are responsible and will be fined for any passengers not wearing a seatbelt, regardless of age:

• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Delaware
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Vermont
• Wyoming

Drivers will always be fined for minors not wearing a seatbelt since children need to be properly restrained in the car at all times.  All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have separate child seatbelt laws. Specific laws vary greatly from state to state, so check with your state regarding its specific seatbelt laws.

Not Wearing a Seatbelt a Moving Violation in Your State

There are also seatbelt laws for adult rear-seat passengers in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Not Wearing a Seatbelt Can Impact Your Car Insurance

If you’ve noticed the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, you’ll know that not wearing a seatbelt can result in fines and — depending on your state — can affect your car insurance rates. Additionally, the risk of sustaining fatal injuries increases when you’re not wearing a seatbelt. Don’t let a seatbelt violation result in a spike in your car insurance premium. SmartFinancial can help you lower your costs by giving you side-by-side car insurance comparisons. Just enter your zip code below and answer a few brief questions to get hundreds of quotes in your area today.