Who must wear a seat belt
| Who | What the law requires |
|---|---|
| Driver | Wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt |
| Front seat passengers | Wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt |
| Children 13 through 15 | The driver must make sure they are buckled |
| Children under 13 | Car seat, booster or belt by age and height, in the back seat when there is one. See car seat laws |
| Back seat passengers 16 and older | Not required by Michigan law, though a belt still protects them |
The statute has narrow exceptions, such as certain medical exemptions. A violation is a civil infraction, and no points are added to your driving record.
How a seat belt affects an injury claim
- Your no-fault benefits: not affected. PIP pays medical care, lost wages and household help regardless of fault, belted or not.
- A claim against the at-fault driver: failing to wear a belt may be treated as evidence of negligence, but it cannot reduce your recovery by more than 5% (MCL 257.710e). See comparative fault.
Hurt in a crash and worried that not wearing a belt ruined your claim? It usually didn’t. Request a free case review or call.
Sources: MCL 257.710e; MCL 257.710d, as amended by 2024 PA 21. Text checked on the Michigan Legislature website, November 7, 2026.
Questions people ask us
Do back seat passengers have to wear a seat belt in Michigan?
Adults 16 and older in the back seat are not required to by Michigan law, though it is safer. Every driver and front seat passenger must wear one, children 13 through 15 must be buckled, and younger children must follow the car seat law.
Does not wearing a seat belt affect my car accident claim?
It can reduce what you recover from the at-fault driver, but by no more than 5% (MCL 257.710e). It does not affect your own no-fault benefits.
Do I get points for a seat belt ticket in Michigan?
No. A seat belt violation is a civil infraction, and the law says no points are added.
