What year of car do you need seatbelts?

Seatbelt requirements have varied over time, depending on the jurisdiction and the type of vehicle. In general, however, seatbelts became mandatory in most countries and states from the late 1960s to early 1980s.

Here is a timeline of key dates related to seatbelt laws:

- 1959: The first state in the United States to pass a law requiring seatbelts was Massachusetts. This law only required front-seat passengers in vehicles of model year 1959 or later to wear a seatbelt.

- 1966: The National Highway Traffic Safety Act was enacted in the United States, requiring all new passenger vehicles to be equipped with seatbelts for all seating positions.

- 1968: New York State became the first state to require all front-seat occupants in vehicles to wear seatbelts, regardless of the model year of the vehicle.

- 1974: The United States federal government enacted a law requiring all new passenger vehicles to be equipped with automatic lap and shoulder belts for all seating positions.

- 1984: The United States federal government enacted a law requiring all states to have a mandatory seatbelt law for front-seat occupants.

- 2002: The United States federal government enacted a law requiring all states to have a mandatory seatbelt law for all occupants in vehicles.

It's important to note that these dates represent the general trends and may not apply to all jurisdictions. Some countries and states may have adopted seatbelt laws earlier or later than the dates mentioned above.