Car seat inspection stations in Montana
34 stations across 28cities on NHTSA’s list. Call ahead, book a slot, and bring the seat and both manuals.
Baker
Fallon County Health Department
225 S 3rd St W
Baker, MT 59313NHTSA listing updated July 2018
Belgrade
Central Valley Fire Department
205 E Main St
Belgrade, MT 59714- Serves: Gallatin
NHTSA listing updated July 2018
Billings
American Medical Response
1701 Montana Ave
Billings, MT 59101- Serves: Yellowstone
NHTSA listing updated December 2013
Bozeman
Bozeman Fire Department
34 N Rouse Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715- Serves: Gallatin
NHTSA listing updated July 2019
Browning
IHS Blackfeet Community Hospital
760 Hospital Circle
Browning, MT 59417NHTSA listing updated September 2015
Safe On All Roads
640 All Chiefs Rd
Browning, MT 59417NHTSA listing updated July 2019
Butte
Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department
120 S Idaho St
Butte, MT 59701- Serves: Butte-Silver Bow
NHTSA listing updated June 2018
Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls Fire Department
624 1st Ave W
Columbia Falls, MT 59912NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Columbus
Columbus Fire Rescue
944 E Pike Ave
Columbus, MT 59019NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Cut Bank
Opportunities Inc Head Start
202 5th Ave SW
Cut Bank, MT 59427NHTSA listing updated August 2018
Frenchtown
Frenchtown Rural Fire District
16875 Marion St
Frenchtown, MT 59834NHTSA listing updated May 2019
Glendive
Dawson County Health Department
207 W Bell ST
Glendive, MT 59330NHTSA listing updated June 2018
Great Falls
Cascade City-County Health Department
115 4th St S
Great Falls, MT 59401- Serves: Cascade
NHTSA listing updated September 2026
Great Falls Fire & Rescue
105 9th St S
Great Falls, MT 59401- Listed for CPS Week events
NHTSA listing updated September 2022
Hamilton
Mildenberger Motors
1717 N 1st St
Hamilton, MT 59840- Serves: Ravalli and Missoula
NHTSA listing updated June 2016
Ravalli County Public Health & WIC
205 Bedford street
Hamilton, MT 56840NHTSA listing updated September 2026
Harlem
Fort Belknap Tribal Health Department
669 Agency Main Street
Harlem, MT 59526- Serves: Blaine, Phillips
NHTSA listing updated March 2009
Havre
Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line
500 1st Ave
Havre, MT 59501NHTSA listing updated June 2016
Helena
Front Street Learning Center
815 Front St
Helena, MT 59601- Listed for CPS Week events
NHTSA listing updated September 2022
Montana Highway Patrol
2550 US-12
Helena, MT 59601- Listed for CPS Week events
- Serves: Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Broadwater
NHTSA listing updated September 2022
Kalispell
Flathead City-County Health Department
1035 1st Ave W
Kalispell, MT 59901- Serves: Flathead
NHTSA listing updated September 2018
Lewistown
Central Montana Head Start- Lewistown
25 Meadowlark Ln
Lewistown, MT 59457NHTSA listing updated March 2018
Libby
Families in Partnership, Inc
83 Collins Ave
Libby, MT 59923NHTSA listing updated April 2018
Montana Highway Patrol
512 California
Libby, MT 59923- Serves: Lincoln
NHTSA listing updated September 2007
Livingston
Livingston Fire and Rescue
414 W Callender St
Livingston, MT 59047- Serves: Park
NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Missoula
Missoula Emergency Services Inc.
2680 Palmer St
Missoula, MT 59808- Listed for CPS Week events
NHTSA listing updated September 2022
Missoula Rural Fire District
2521 South Ave W
Missoula, MT 59804- Listed for CPS Week events
NHTSA listing updated September 2022
Plains
Clark Fork Valley Hospital
10 Kruger Rd
Plains, MT 59859NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Polson
Lake County Health Department
802 Main St
Polson, MT 59860- Serves: Lake
NHTSA listing updated August 2021
Poplar
Fort Peck Tribal Health
107 H St E
Poplar, MT 59255NHTSA listing updated August 2019
Red Lodge
Red Lodge Fire Rescue
801 N Broadway Ave
Red Lodge, MT 59068NHTSA listing updated January 2018
Shelby
Toole County Health Department
402 1st St S
Shelby, MT 59474NHTSA listing updated July 2017
Superior
Mineral County Health Department
1203 5th Ave E
Superior, MT 59872NHTSA listing updated March 2021
Wolf Point
Roosevelt County Health Dept
124 Custer St
Wolf Point, MT 59201NHTSA listing updated July 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
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- 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