Car seat inspection stations in Maryland
17 stations across 14cities on NHTSA’s list. Call ahead, book a slot, and bring the seat and both manuals.
Annapolis
Fitzgerald Annapolis Auto Mall
34 Hudson Street
Annapolis, MD 21401- Serves: All
NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Baltimore
MD Kids in Safety Seats
201 W. Preston St.
Baltimore, MD 21201- Serves: Statewide
NHTSA listing updated September 2020
Frederick
Fitzgerald Frederick Auto Mall
114 Baughmans Lane
Frederick, MD 21702- Serves: Frederick
NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Gaithersburg
Fitzgerald Lakeforest Auto Mall
905 N. Frederick Rd.
Gaithersburg, MD 20879- Serves: Montgomery
NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Montgomery Co. CPS Program
100 Edison Park Dr
Gaithersburg, MD 20878- Serves: Montgomery
NHTSA listing updated September 2020
Hagerstown
Meritus Health
11116 Medical Campus Rd
Hagerstown, MD 21742NHTSA listing updated September 2020
Havre De Grace
University of MD--Upper Chesapeake Health
2027 Pulaski Hwy
Havre De Grace, MD 21078NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Lavale
Maryland State Police - C
1125 National Highway
Lavale, MD 21502NHTSA listing updated July 2020
Leonardtown
St Mary's Co Sheriff's Office
23150 Leonard Hall Dr
Leonardtown, MD 20650NHTSA listing updated July 2026
Oakland
Garrett County Health Department
1025 Memorial Drive
Oakland, MD 21550- Serves: Garrett/ Serving Western MD
NHTSA listing updated July 2020
Pikesville
The Car Seat Lady
7703 Eden Roc Way
Pikesville, MD 21208- Serves: Baltimore
NHTSA listing updated November 2015
Rockville
Fitzgerald Rockville Auto Mall
5501 Nicholson La.
Rockville, MD 20852- Serves: Montgomery
NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Fitzgerald White Flint
5501 Nicholson Ln
Rockville, MD 20852- Serves: Montgomery
NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Silver Spring
Safe Kids
14111 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20906NHTSA listing updated July 2020
Towson
University of MD St Josephs Med Center
7601 York Rd
Towson, MD 21204- Mobile station
- Listed for CPS Week events
NHTSA listing updated July 2026
Westminster
Carroll County Health Dept
290 S Center St
Westminster, MD 21157- Serves: Carroll
NHTSA listing updated July 2020
Human Services Programs--Family Center
10 Distillery Dr
Westminster, MD 21157NHTSA listing updated August 2018
Station data comes from theNHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator, copied October 2026. NHTSA updates its list; we don’t verify each station. Confirm by phone before you go. This is a directory, not safety advice for your specific seat or vehicle. Your seat and vehicle manuals are the authority.
Dana’s prep list
Before you drive over
Bring
The seat and its base, the seat’s manual, and your vehicle owner’s manual. Bring the baby if they’re here; if not, go anyway, before your due date. Install it yourself first. The tech isn’t there to do it for you. You should leave able to redo it alone at 3am in a parking garage.
What they’ll look at
- Right seat for your child’s age and size, facing the right way
- Less than an inch of movement side to side or front to back at the belt path
- Recline angle for a newborn
- Harness height and snugness, and chest clip at armpit level
- Open recalls and the seat’s expiration date
Call first. These listings don’t include hours, and many stations only check seats by appointment. Ask about cost too: many checks are free, but not all.
Car seat questions
Car seat questions parents ask before the check
- Do Car Seats Expire?Yes, car seats expire. Where the manufacture and expiration dates hide on the seat, why a hand-me-down's age matters, and what to do with one that's done.Get the answer →
- When to Turn a Car Seat Forward-FacingThe answer isn't an age. It's the rear-facing limits on your seat's label. What the AAP actually says, why bent legs aren't a reason to switch, and how to read the label.Get the answer →
- Do You Have to Replace a Car Seat After an Accident?Not after every fender bender. NHTSA's five-part minor-crash test, when your seat's manual overrides it, and what to ask your insurer.Get the answer →
- Is a Used Car Seat Safe?A used car seat can be fine, but only if you know its history. The six questions to ask before you take a hand-me-down, and why Marketplace seats are a no from me.Get the answer →
- Winter Coats and Car SeatsPuffy coats and snowsuits don't go under a car seat harness. Why, the 10-second pinch test, and four ways to keep a baby warm that don't mess with the straps.Get the answer →
- Car Seat Accessories to SkipMost car seat add-ons sold separately from the seat haven't been tested with it. Dana's skip list: inserts, strap pads, buntings, head huggers, and what's actually fine.Get the answer →
- What Happens at a Car Seat Check?A car seat inspection is a lesson, not a drop-off. What a certified tech actually does, how long it usually takes, whether it's free, and when to book it.Get the answer →
Other states
Checking a seat somewhere else?
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming