Find the car seat that fits your situation
Shopping for a car seat is a spec problem: which stage, will three fit across, can it fly, does it stay rear-facing long enough. SeatFitFinder organizes seats by those published specs so you can shortlist fast — then test-fit in your car.
Start here
- Car seat calculator — type your child's weight and height, see which seats' published limits cover them.
- By stage — infant · convertible · all-in-one · booster.
- Narrow / 3-across — the seats that fit three in a row.
- Extended rear-facing — stay rear-facing past age 2.
- Lightweight / travel + FAA-approved for flying.
- Car seat recalls — the official NHTSA record, by brand.
- Car seat laws by state — what your state requires, in plain language (sourced from IIHS).
- Car seat expiration by brand — how long each brand's seats last, with sources.
- How to actually check fit in your car.
Car seat law in your state
The rules that decide when your child moves stage are set by state. All 50 states and DC, in plain language, from the IIHS table:
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming