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How-to guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Indiana Seat Belt Law: What Drivers and Passengers Need to Know
In Indiana, everyone in a moving vehicle buckles up, front seat and back. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles says seat belts for drivers and front-seat passengers increase the chance of surviving a crash by 45 percent. Here is what Indiana law requires, the child car seat rule, the listed exemptions and how a belt should fit, for families around Michigan City.
Everyonein a moving vehicle with factory seat belts must buckle up (BMV)
Under 8passengers ride in a child car seat or booster seat (BMV)
Under 13children ride in the back seat (ICJI)
45%better chance of surviving a crash for belted front occupants (BMV)
The short answer
Indiana law requires every occupant of a vehicle with manufacturer-installed seat belts to wear one whenever the vehicle is in motion, in the front seat and the back. Passengers younger than 8 must be properly secured in a child restraint system such as a car seat or booster seat. Air bags do not replace seat belts.
What the Indiana seat belt law says
Indiana law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle equipped with a seat belt that is standard equipment installed by the manufacturer to wear the seat belt any time the motor vehicle is in motion, the Indiana BMV Driver's Manual says. Chapter 7 of the manual puts it plainly: a driver and all passengers must use seat belts at all times when a vehicle is in operation, and operators of buses must use one too.
A seat belt must be used even in a vehicle with one or more air bags, the BMV says. Air bags are designed to work in tandem with seat belts to slow the occupants in a collision, and not wearing a belt could result in injury from the air bag.
From the Indiana Driver's Manual (Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles), Chapters 1 and 7, read October 28, 2026. This page is a summary, not legal advice.
Children, car seats and the back seat
What the BMV manual and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) say:
Under 8: car seat or booster
Passengers younger than eight years of age are required by law to be properly secured in a child restraint system such as a child car seat or booster seat (BMV).
Booster to belt: usually 8 to 12
The move from a booster seat to a seat belt usually comes between 8 and 12 years old. Keep children in boosters until they outgrow the booster's size limits or fit the belt properly (ICJI).
Belt-ready checklist
The child sits without slouching, back against the seat, knees bent over the seat edge and feet flat on the floor; the lap belt lies across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face (ICJI).
Under 13: back seat
All children under 13 should ride in the back seat for maximum safety (ICJI). With a passenger-side air bag, the National Safety Council recommends children younger than 12 ride in back (cited by the BMV).
From the Indiana Driver's Manual, Chapter 7, and the ICJI Traffic Safety Division, "Occupant Protection," read October 28, 2026. Check your car seat's labels and manual for its exact limits.
Examples of seat belt exemptions
The BMV manual gives these examples of when seat belts are not required:
| Who | Exemption |
|---|---|
| Medical reasons | Drivers or passengers who should not wear a seat belt for medical reasons, with written documentation from a physician |
| Young children | A child who is required to be restrained by a child restraint system instead |
| Delivery routes | Commercial or U.S. Postal Service vehicles making frequent pickup or delivery stops; rural mail carriers on a rural route; newspaper route carriers and bundle haulers making deliveries |
| Farm and work sites | Occupants of a farm truck used on a farm for normal farming operations; occupants other than the operator of a truck on a construction site or a municipal waste vehicle |
| Special areas | A parade vehicle; the living quarters of a recreational vehicle; the treatment area of an ambulance; the sleeping area of a tractor trailer |
| Other listed cases | A BMV driver examiner conducting a driving exam; a tow-truck cab passenger whose vehicle is being towed; occupants other than the operator of a public utility vehicle in an emergency |
From the Indiana Driver's Manual, Chapter 7, Seat Belt Exemptions, read October 28, 2026. Grouped by this page; the BMV gives them as one list of examples. The BMV can also place a "Seat Belt Exempt" restriction (code 7) on a credential.
How to wear a seat belt the right way
Fit tips from the BMV and the ICJI:
Low and flat
Wear the belt low on the hips and flat across the collar bone (BMV). The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach (ICJI).
Shoulder belt placement
Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck. Never put it behind your back or under an arm (ICJI).
Seat and head restraint
The driver should sit at least 12 inches from the steering wheel, and head restraints should be higher than the top of, and as close as possible to, the back of the head (BMV).
Pregnant drivers and riders
Keep the lap belt below the belly, snug across the hips and pelvic bone, and the shoulder belt across the chest and away from the neck; never place the lap belt over the belly (ICJI).
From the Indiana Driver's Manual, Chapter 7, and ICJI, "Occupant Protection," read October 28, 2026.
Seat belt myths the ICJI corrects
The ICJI's myth-versus-fact list includes:
| Myth | What the ICJI says |
|---|---|
| I'm only going a short distance | Most fatal crashes happen within 25 miles from home and at speeds of less than 40 mph. |
| A belt can trap me in a fire or under water | Fire or water incidents account for half of 1% of crashes, and a belt gives you a much better chance of staying conscious and able to escape. |
| Pickups are safe enough without a belt | In SUVs, pickups and vans, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to the driver and front passenger by 60%. |
| Air bags are enough | Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them; an unbelted occupant can be thrown into a rapidly opening frontal air bag. |
From the ICJI Traffic Safety Division, "Occupant Protection," read October 28, 2026.
Routine checks at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. It is a general vehicle checkup; book it any time of year.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, October 28, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Indiana seat belt law FAQ
Do back-seat passengers have to wear a seat belt in Indiana?
Yes. The Indiana BMV Driver's Manual says Indiana law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle equipped with a manufacturer-installed seat belt to wear it any time the vehicle is in motion, and requires a driver and all passengers to use seat belts at all times when a vehicle is in operation.
What is the Indiana car seat law?
The manual says passengers younger than eight years of age are required by law to be properly secured in a child restraint system, such as a child car seat or booster seat.
Can my child ride in the front seat in Indiana?
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute says all children under 13 should ride in the back seat for maximum safety. The BMV manual cites the National Safety Council recommending that children younger than 12 ride in the back seat when the car has a passenger-side air bag.
Are there exemptions to the Indiana seat belt law?
The manual lists examples, including people with a physician's written documentation of a medical reason, a child who must use a child restraint system, delivery and rural mail carriers making frequent stops, farm trucks used on a farm, parade vehicles, and the living quarters of a recreational vehicle.
Do I need a seat belt if my car has air bags?
Yes. The BMV says air bags are designed to work in tandem with seat belts, and failure to use a seat belt could result in injury from the air bag.
When can my child stop using a booster seat?
The ICJI says the move from a booster to a seat belt usually comes between 8 and 12 years old, once the child can sit with their back against the seat, knees bent over the edge and feet flat on the floor, with the lap belt across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Book a routine checkup
Book The Works, which includes a tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection and battery test, at Michigan City Ford.
Sources
Seat belt and car seat details are from the Indiana BMV Driver's Manual and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Occupant Protection page, read October 28, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Indiana Driver's Manual: Chapter 1 Seat Belts; Chapter 2 Restrictions; Chapter 7 Seat Belts and Child Safety Restraints, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, read October 28, 2026
- Traffic Safety Division: Occupant Protection (belt fit, children, myths), Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, read October 28, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, October 28, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, October 28, 2026