Key points
All occupants must wear seat belts, even if the vehicle has air bags.
Source: Handbook p. 43
“Under the seat belt law, all occupants MUST wear seat belts even if the vehicle is equipped with air bags.”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 43The driver must make sure every passenger under 16 is properly secured.
Source: Handbook p. 44
“Every driver transporting one or more passengers younger than 16 years of age must make sure that each passenger under age 16 is properly secured”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 44A child under 8 who weighs less than 80 pounds must use a weight appropriate child restraint.
Source: Handbook p. 44
“A child under age 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds must be properly secured in a weight appropriate child passenger restraint system.”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 44With an active front air bag and a rear seat, a child under 5 and under 40 pounds must ride in back.
Source: Handbook p. 44
“then a child under age 5 and weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly secured in the rear seat”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 44Children age 12 and under should ride buckled up in a rear seat.
Source: Handbook p. 45
“Children age 12 and under should ride buckled up in a rear seat”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 45Infants in rear-facing seats should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger-side air bag.
Source: Handbook p. 45
“Infants in rear-facing child safety seats should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger-side air bag.”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 45Children under 16 may not ride in the open bed of a pickup truck.
Source: Handbook p. 45
“North Carolina law prohibits children less than age 16 from riding in the open bed of a pick-up truck.”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 45All motorcycle and moped operators and passengers must wear a motorcycle safety helmet.
Source: Handbook p. 45
“All operators and passengers on motorcycles and mopeds must wear a motorcycle safety helmet”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 45Tinted windows must let through at least 35% of light, and after-factory tint adds a $10 inspection fee.
Source: Handbook p. 102
“Vehicles with after-factory window tinting will be charged an additional fee of $10 as part of the vehicle inspection. The allowable light transmittance for tinted windows is no less than 35%.”
North Carolina Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 102
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | driver is responsible for passengers under this age | Handbook p. 44 |
| 8 | age below which a child restraint is required | Handbook p. 44 |
| 80 pounds | weight below which a child restraint is required | Handbook p. 44 |
| 5 | age for the rear seat rule | Handbook p. 44 |
| 40 pounds | weight for the rear seat rule | Handbook p. 44 |
| 12 | age at or below which children ride in back | Handbook p. 45 |
| 16 | children under this age may not ride in an open bed | Handbook p. 45 |
| 35% | minimum light transmittance for tint | Handbook p. 102 |
| $10 | extra inspection fee for after-factory tint | Handbook p. 102 |
3 questions from the North Carolina practice test
1. Who must wear a safety belt in a moving vehicle in North Carolina?
- Only the driver
- Every person occupying the vehicle
- Only front seat occupants
- Only passengers under 16
Show answer
Every person occupying the vehicle. North Carolina's law is broad: every person occupying a vehicle in motion must have a safety belt properly fastened. Children should ride in a rear seat in child safety seats approved for their age and size. Air bags are supplemental protection, not a substitute, and the lap belt should be worn under the abdomen and low across the hips with the shoulder portion over the collarbone. Failing to restrain a child also adds points.
2. What passenger restraint rule applies to all occupants in a North Carolina Level Two limited provisional vehicle?
- Every passenger must use a seat belt or child safety seat
- Only front-seat passengers must be restrained
- Only passengers younger than 16 must be restrained
- Restraints are optional when the trip is under five miles
Show answer
Every passenger must use a seat belt or child safety seat. The Level Two limited provisional rules require every passenger to be restrained by a seat belt or child safety seat. The requirement is not limited to the front row, a particular age, or a short trip. A quick drive can still produce a crash, so distance does not create an exception. Before moving, check that each occupant has the appropriate restraint secured. The useful cue is the license level and the word all: a Level Two vehicle may carry passengers only when each person is protected by the required belt or child seat.
3. What does North Carolina law require of the total light transmission of an after-factory tinted vehicle window?
- At least 50 percent
- At least 35 percent
- At least 20 percent
- Any level, as long as the windshield is clear
Show answer
At least 35 percent. North Carolina General Statute 20-127 says the total light transmission of a tinted window must be at least 35 percent, and a window that meters above 32 percent on an approved light meter is presumed to comply. Darker film is a misdemeanor for the installer and for the driver who uses it on a highway. Since December 1, 2025, NCDMV no longer checks tint during the safety inspection and the old $10 tint fee is gone, but the 35 percent limit itself still applies, so an officer can still cite a window that is too dark.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with laws and paperwork questions from the free North Carolina practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the North Carolina Driver Handbook, Chapter 4: Your Driving. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.