Do open container / alcohol in vehicle rules differ by state?

Yes. Open-container rules Crosstatelaws maps all 50 states for travelers who are physically in that state — not for what a state requires of its own plates or licenses.

Does open container / alcohol in vehicle apply if my vehicle is registered in another state?

Operate-here rules (speed, helmets, possession, inspections you must stop for) follow the state you are in. Registration-state rules such as a front license plate do not. Read the layer notes on the map.

Where can I see a open container / alcohol in vehicle map?

Open the Crosstatelaws interactive map with this layer soloed: https://crosstatelaws.com/?solo=alcohol_transport

All topics · Cannabis & alcohol

Open container / alcohol in vehicle laws by state

People search “Open container / alcohol in vehicle by state”, “Open container / alcohol in vehicle laws by state”, and “Alcohol map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for open container / alcohol in vehicle. Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Alcohol difference map

How states differ

Open-container rules.

Passengers may not drink — no passenger-area open container
Driver-only rule — passengers may drink / possess (MS has no statewide open-container law at all)
Passengers may not drink — trunk / locked cargo is the storage path

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

Open container / alcohol in vehicle by state
Open container / alcohol in vehicle laws by state
Alcohol laws by state
Open container / alcohol in vehicle map
Open container / alcohol in vehicle traveling across state lines
does open container / alcohol in vehicle change by state
open container laws by state
can passengers drink in the car
open alcohol in vehicle
open container passenger legal states
Mississippi open container passenger
Open container / alcohol in vehicle in California / Texas / Florida / New York
is open container / alcohol in vehicle legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL): Alabama: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol must be in the trunk or a locked cargo area — passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Alaska (AK): Alaska: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk / locked cargo exception.
Arizona (AZ): Arizona: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Arkansas (AR): Arkansas: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol stored in the trunk or behind the last seat; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
California (CA): California: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area (Veh. Code § 23223 / 23225); trunk exception.
Colorado (CO): Colorado: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Connecticut (CT): Connecticut: passengers 21+ may possess/drink open alcohol statewide. Driver may not consume while operating (§ 53a-213; Class C misdemeanor ≤ $500 / ≤ 90 days). No enacted statewide passenger-area open-container ban (Vision Zero PA 23-116 stripped that section).
Delaware (DE): Delaware: passengers may possess/drink open alcohol statewide. Driver may not consume while driving (§ 4177J; first offense $25–$200). HB 119 (2023) passenger-area ban died in Senate — not law.
Florida (FL): Florida: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or a locked glove box; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Georgia (GA): Georgia: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or behind the last seat; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Hawaii (HI): Hawaii: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Idaho (ID): Idaho: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Illinois (IL): Illinois: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open alcohol in the passenger area; trunk, locked glove box, or behind the last upright seat (625 ILCS 5/11-502).
Indiana (IN): Indiana: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or a locked cargo area; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Iowa (IA): Iowa: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Kansas (KS): Kansas: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Kentucky (KY): Kentucky: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or a locked cargo area; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Louisiana (LA): Louisiana: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or behind the last seat; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Maine (ME): Maine: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Maryland (MD): Maryland: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Massachusetts (MA): Massachusetts: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Michigan (MI): Michigan: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Minnesota (MN): Minnesota: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Mississippi (MS): Mississippi: no statewide open-container statute for drivers or passengers (NCSL). Passengers may possess and drink. Driver still faces DUI if impaired (§ 63-11-30).
Missouri (MO): Missouri: passengers may drink / possess open alcohol statewide — driver may not consume / possess open alcohol while driving; passengers are outside that statewide ban (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 577.017).
Montana (MT): Montana: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Nebraska (NE): Nebraska: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Nevada (NV): Nevada: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
New Hampshire (NH): New Hampshire: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
New Jersey (NJ): New Jersey: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
New Mexico (NM): New Mexico: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
New York (NY): New York: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
North Carolina (NC): North Carolina: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or a locked cargo area; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
North Dakota (ND): North Dakota: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Ohio (OH): Ohio: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Oklahoma (OK): Oklahoma: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or a locked cargo area; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Oregon (OR): Oregon: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Pennsylvania (PA): Pennsylvania: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Rhode Island (RI): Rhode Island: no unsealed alcohol in the passenger section while driving (§ 31-22-21.1). Operator is liable (≤ $200 / up to 6-month license hit first offense) if any open container is in the cabin — keep sealed or in the trunk.
South Carolina (SC): South Carolina: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or a locked cargo area; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
South Dakota (SD): South Dakota: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Tennessee (TN): Tennessee: passengers may drink / possess open alcohol statewide — driver may not consume alcoholic beverage while driving; passengers not covered statewide (Tenn. Code § 55-10-416).
Texas (TX): Texas: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or behind the last upright seat; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Utah (UT): Utah: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Vermont (VT): Vermont: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Virginia (VA): Virginia: passengers may drink / possess open alcohol statewide — driver may not consume while operating; passengers not covered by that statewide ban (Va. Code § 18.2-323.1).
Washington (WA): Washington: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
West Virginia (WV): West Virginia: passengers may not drink. Open alcohol in the trunk or a locked cargo area; passenger-area open containers are the ticket.
Wisconsin (WI): Wisconsin: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.
Wyoming (WY): Wyoming: passengers may not drink. Driver and passengers — no open container in the passenger area; trunk exception.

Related cannabis & alcohol topics

Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.