Car seat inspection stations in New Mexico
8 stations across 6cities on NHTSA’s list. Call ahead, book a slot, and bring the seat and both manuals.
Albuquerque
Albuquerque page →AFD Station #3
141 Girard Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106NHTSA listing updated February 2021
Albuquerque Fire Station #20
7520 Corona Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108- Serves: Bernalillo, Valencia
NHTSA listing updated February 2021
BCFR Station #38
3610 Prince Street SE
Albuquerque, NM 87105NHTSA listing updated February 2021
Carlsbad
Carlsbad Police Department
602 W Mermod St
Carlsbad, NM 88220NHTSA listing updated September 2024
Farmington
Farmington Fire Station #2
3800 English Rd
Farmington, NM 87402NHTSA listing updated February 2021
Las Cruces
Sisbarro Buick GMC
425 W Boutz Rd
Las Cruces, NM 88005- Serves: Dona Ana, Sierra, Luna, Hildago, Grant
NHTSA listing updated February 2021
Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho Fire Station 7
641 Rockaway Blvd NE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124- Serves: Sandoval, Bernalillo and Cibola (not McKinley or Catron)
NHTSA listing updated September 2008
Santa Fe
City of Santa Fe Fire Department Station # 1
200 Murales Road
Santa Fe, NM 87504- Serves: Santa Fe, Bernalillo, San Miguel, Rio Arriba, Taos (not San Juan or Torrance)
NHTSA listing updated February 2021
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
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- 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