Except for New Hampshire, all states and the District of Columbia require adult front-seat occupants of motor vehicles to use seat belts. Adult rear-seat passengers are also covered by the laws in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Children are covered by separate laws.

State seat belt laws are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to stop a motor vehicle and to issue a ticket or citation to a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt without any other traffic offense having occurred. Secondary seat belt laws only allow law enforcement officers to issue a ticket or citation for not wearing a seat belt when there has been another traffic offense by an occupant of the vehicle for which the occupant may be issued a ticket or citation.

In South Carolina, seat belt use is mandated by law for all drivers and front-seat passengers, with the state enforcing a primary seat belt law. This means that law enforcement officers have the authority to stop a vehicle and issue a citation solely for a seat belt violation without the need for any other traffic offense to have occurred. Additionally, South Carolina law requires all passengers under the age of 17 to be secured by a seat belt or child restraint system, regardless of their seating position in the vehicle. The state's child passenger safety laws provide specific requirements based on the child's age, weight, and height. It is important for drivers and passengers to comply with these regulations to ensure safety and avoid penalties.