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What Car Seat Do You Need? (Video Tutorials)

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is the first place to check when looking for a free car seat.

Inquire ‎them about their free car seat program if you are already enrolled in WIC. Most WIC programs require ‎you to take a short class to learn about car seat safety and usage and in return, you get a voucher that ‎can be used to buy a car seat.

If your local WIC doesn’t have such a program, you can ask them about ‎other local programs/charities/places that can help you.

If you are eligible for Medicaid, a free car seat might be covered by it. Check whether you are ‎eligible for receiving Medicaid, especially a car seat – by filling out an online application through the ‎Health Insurance Marketplace website.

Generally, Medicaid asks you to enroll in a short car seat safety ‎course before sanctioning a free car seat.

Typically, courses are designed to increase awareness about the proper use and installation techniques of car seats. Numerous insurance companies offer free car seats to insured pregnant women or new mothers. Simply contact your insurance provider (the number should be on your insurance card) and there is a high likelihood they will either cover up to a maximum cost or directly provide you with a car seat. Local police stations and fire departments can also prove a valuable resource for free car seats. They often run programs offering free car seat installation and, being familiar with various charities, they can help you find free new car seats. Local churches and hospitals may also assist in connecting you with charities or resources to get a car seat at no cost, especially if you’re in a low-income bracket.

Buckle up for life has donated 61,858 car seats so far to low-income families.

They work at a national level and collaborate with different organizations at a local level to provide resources, education, and training to parents all over the country.

Families in need, who participate in their child passenger safety classes, qualify to get a free car seat.

Center for Safe Alaskans’ Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Program supports state laws in keeping children safely secured each time they travel in a motor vehicle by promoting car seat and booster seat use.

They also provide car seats to families in financial needs by providing car seats for a small donation.

Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults hold monthly car seat safety checks for the public.

These events are free of charge and provide information about choosing the proper car seat or booster seat for your child along with hands-on instruction about proper installation, correct use, and other factors important to safe car seat usage.

Limited car seats are also available that you can get after completing the training.

The Juneau Police Department conducts free car seat inspections during weekdays, by appointment. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are on hand to assist with evaluations of car seat use, safety, and installation. In many cases, replacement seats are available at a nominal cost for qualifying individuals.

The Juneau Police Department is the Southeast Alaska Agency for child booster seats. For more information, please contact 907-586-0600, Officers Kathy Underwood, Jennifer Adams, or Blain Hatch.

Children of Alabama is an amazing organization that strives to provide people with health services choices.

Several programs cater to low-income individuals, providing equipment like bike helmets for as little as $10 and complimentary car seats. These free car seats are available specifically for Children’s of Alabama patients who lack a car seat upon discharge. Patients must also complete basic education before receiving the seat. Meanwhile, Huntsville Hospital, which services AL-Madison County, has a free car seat program for individuals on Medicaid, WIC, or food stamps. Expectant parents should reach out to them on 256-265-7296 for additional information.

People living in the area of Decatur, Alabama, can call Committee on Church Cooperation on (256) 355-8893. They help with diapers, clothing, car seats, and much more!

Broad Street Church of Christ is located in Scottsboro, Alabama, and they accept donations of clothes and car seats. They surely will be able to help you with a free new car seat. Talk to them today at 256-574-2489.

Phoenix Union High School District is one of the five district schools in Phoenix, Arizona. They have a wonderful program to distribute free car seats and you can take advantage of it if you live in that part of the Arizona state.

There are some conditions to be met before you can become qualified for the seat. These requirements include being pregnant, Low-income, the legal guardian of the child and get basic safety education.

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is working hard to make every kid safe in Arizona as more than 12000 kids, among those 0 to 19 years of age, die from unintentional injuries every year.

Through Child Safety Seat Donation Centers, ADHS is distributing car seats from these points.

In Phoenix, you can be on the right side of safety, even if you are on a budget. Some of the resources you can follow include Dear Valley school unified school district’s Child Safety Seats program.

TMC HealthCare serves more than 4,000 children annually. In 2018, TMC and SKPC educated more than 32,000 families and provided free car seats or booster seats to over 2,800 families in Southern Arizona.

In 2019, they secured $30,000 in funding from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, enabling them to distribute 600 seats to low-income families.

Farm Bureau is a union of farmers of Arkansas, and this organization represents more than 19,000 families.

If you are into the farming business, you can become a member of the Farm Bureau and get a car seat for $15 as they have an infant car seat program for low-income members of the bureau.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Child Passenger Safety Education Program (CPSE) is aimed at reducing car injuries in the state of Arkansas.

They not only provide free education, installation, and training but also loan out car seats to low-income families.

Arkansas Children’ is another similar organization that loans out car seats to low-income families.

They have a comprehensive program for injury prevention. You can call them at 501-364-3400 and get more information about the program.

There are a lot of great options in California if you are looking for a free car seat for your sweet kiddo:

Check out this comprehensive guide that has information on almost a hundred counties. You can find your area and see if someone has seats available at a free or reduced cost.

Keen ‘Em safe is one of such options, and it is run by Pacific Safety Center. For you to become eligible, you have to have proper identification, proof of low-income, and proof of relationship with your child.

Los Angeles County Public health department has a ton of programs for parents who can’t afford a car seat for their kids.

You can find information about all those programs here.

If you are living in Almeda county, you can find some great programs, information about the coordinators and the eligibility criteria here.

Venice Family Clinic also provides free car seats. The details of their program are as follow:

Santa Monica: Venice Family Clinic Simms/Mann Health & Wellness Center
Two-hour training for parents on child passenger safety.
Contact Person: Camillia Villate, Prenatal Educator
Contact Details: 310/664-7857 [email protected]
Address: 2509 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica 90405

Venice: Venice Family Clinic Levine Family Health Center
Two-hour training for parents on child passenger safety.
Contact Person: Luz Casillas, Prenatal Health Educator
Contact Details: 310/664-7864 [email protected]
Address: 905 Venice Blvd. Venice 90291

Both programs require you to show proof of low-income status and you have to reside in Los Angeles County.

Orange county health care service has created this amazing guide which includes a list of organizations that provide free car seats, training, and education. You have to check with the organizations listed in the guide to see if you are eligible for the program.

San Bernardino county’s public health department also provides car seats at reduced cost to parents who are in need of a car seat for their child and can’t afford one.

You have to complete a free small course to understand the working of the car seat before you become qualified. You can call them at 1(800) 782-4264.

Yolo County residents who qualify for low-income programs such as AFDC, CHDP, Medi-Cal, or WIC can get a low-cost seat from Yolo County Car Seat Safety Program.

In Colusa County, classes are currently being held at the local Family Action Centers and First 5 Colusa by a certified car seat technician.

Classes are held monthly in English and Spanish.

As part of the class, the technician will assist in the proper installation of your car seat. The cost of the class is $20.00 and families may qualify for a free car seat.

Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will teach you the five key points to safely installing your car seat as well as explain California safety laws and perform car seat installation.

Individuals enrolled in FHCSD’s Prenatal Program may be able to earn a free car seat!

To schedule an appointment, please call (619) 515-2428.

For Butte County residents, a car seat distribution program is available.

Low-income families can call 1-‎‎800-339-2941 to pre-register or for more information.‎

Plumas county provides free car seats for eligible families per their policy and procedure.

This program requires a Certified Car Seat Technician to provide training and installation for families.

For more information, please feel free to contact the Public Health Agency Clinic: (530) 283-6330

For free car seats in the Sacramento Area please refer to this resource.

Upon completion of a 3-hour class, families in Fresno County may be able to get a new car seat for $25.00. Call (559) 432-2223.

In Solano County, Solano Car Seat Connection is a family-oriented education program led and coordinated by the Health Promotion and Community Wellness Bureau. Gift certificates are provided to assist low-income families with the purchase of car seats.

Shasta County Health and Human Services agency offers a free car seat to expecting mothers who attend a child safety seat class!

To earn a free coupon for the class, participants must be seen by a participating doctor, receive Medi-Cal, and attend three Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP) classes.

Find out if you qualify by calling (530) 225-5168.

In a bid to reduce the frequency of preventable child injuries from vehicle-related accidents, Montezuma County’s public health department runs a Car Safety Seat and Bike Helmet Program for Children, targeted at low-income families in the region.

Car seats may be available for families at a reduced cost. You can find more information about this program here.

2.1.1 Colorado is a very good place to find free car seats. Search for ‘car seat’ on their homepage. The results will include places that provide inspections as well as places that provide free car seats.

Safe Kids Larimer County and partners are pleased to offer classes for families in financial need of a car seat/booster seat for their child.

Registration is REQUIRED and distribution is limited to one (1) seat per family, per year. (a $30 donation per seat is required) Classes are offered in both English and Spanish.

Inner City health center extends its program statewide and offers free car seats and gift baskets to families in need.

Custer County provides car seats at no charge, they do not rent them any longer. The contact information for Custer County is as below:

Elisa R. Livengood BSN RN
Director of Public Health
Custer County Public Health Agency
10 Hermit Ln #5
Silver Cliff, Co 81252
Office: 719-783-3369
Cell: 719-458-9211
Fax: 719-783-0959

The good folks at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center are providing car seats for just $5 each through their The Kids In Safety Seats – CT (KISS-CT) Program. You can get more information about the eligibility criteria here.

Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, is known for keeping babies warm and well.

They give vouchers for almost everything, and that include free car seats too. You can contact them at (860) 599-3285.

Hope pregnancy is focused on providing support to people who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies.

They also accept donations of baby equipment like cribs and car seats.

They have a program where you can earn points for completing courses and these points can be redeemed for free car seats and other resources.

Delaware Opportunities Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization, and they have a car seat donation program that provides free car seats to low-income families.

More information on the program can be found here.

Delaware general health district has collaborated with safe kids worldwide to provide seat installation, seat checks, and distribution of seats to qualifying residents of Delaware.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is looking after the farmers of Florida.

Their mission is “to increase the net income of farmers and ranchers, and to improve the quality of rural life.” Childsource Child Safety Seat is a program to improve the quality and safety of the kids of the Bureau’s members.

Through this program, the members can get a high-quality car seat for one-third of the retail price! 

Florida health Pinellas county is providing installation training and free education to all the children hospitals throughout the Tampa Bay area.

They have a professional staff that is certified by National highway traffic and safety administration. They also provide free seats to families in financial difficulties.

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is a prestigious institute and a well-respected name in the world of research and medicine.

Car seats are supplied at a significantly lowered price of $20 to families participating in government-assisted programs. For details, contact them at 1-800-756-7233 Ext. 4. The St. Johns County Buckle Up Program offers discounted car seats to qualifying residents who are parents or legal guardians of a child. Qualifying families must be WIC, food stamps, Medicaid, Florida KidCare or Head Start beneficiaries. For further information, connect with the St. Johns County Tax Collector’s Office at 904.209.2250 x4636. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office can also provide free car seats. For inquiries, call their Car Seat Hotline at 904.213.5927.

Can’t afford a car seat? Sign up for one of Wolfson Children’s monthly workshops by calling 904.202.4302.

Georgia department of public health has a comprehensive guide on kids’ safety in the cars. This resource includes videos, tips, and safety programs.

They will also help you get a free car seat through your local counties. You can contact your local country to inquire about the availability of the car seat.

Children’s Hospital of Georgia will charge you $10 for an extensive course on how to keep your kids safe in the car.

As 4 out of 5 car seats are used incorrectly, this is a great place to learn how to make sure you are using the seat properly and not putting your kid’s life in danger. They will also provide free car seats to deserving people.

You can contact them at 706-721-7606.

South Health District of Georgia Department of Public Health also has a car seat programthat aims at facilitating low-income families by providing them free car seats.

The seats are distributed through local counties, and you have to complete a small course before getting the seat.

SAFE KIDS Cobb & SAFE KIDS Douglas Counties is a collaboration between Cobb, Douglas Counties, and safe kids worldwide.

They offer several child safety-related educational and training courses on diverse topics such as water safety, Bicycle Safety, Fire Safety, Pedestrian Safety, and Youth Sports Safety. Their inspection stations can assess the safety of your car seat. Additionally, they provide free, albeit restricted, car seats. For these services, it is advised to contact them and schedule an appointment beforehand.

According to World health organization, each year, nearly 10 million kids suffer disablement and injuries from car accidents.

Idaho department of health and welfare is trying to change that through a statewide program that distributes free car seats.

You have to check with your local authority to make sure the availability.

St. Luke’s Car Seat Program in the Boise area is available at (208) 381-1719. They provide car seats at a discounted price depending on your budget.

You can get a seat for free too. Give them a call first to get an appointment which only takes five minutes.

Canyon County Paramedics Alice and Middleton Fire Department are two great places to get a car seat for free.

They serve the Canyon County, and you can contact them at (208) 795-6930 and (208) 585-6650 respectively.

In 2018, 675 kids under the age of 12 died in car crashes, and you can prevent that happening to your kid by using a car seat.

And If you are living in Chicago, you are in luck as low-cost car seats are available at Stroger Hospital. This program is open to all community members, and you can call them at 312-864-2016.

Grant A wish, Inc, run by Vital Thomas, is a donation-based program, and it helps families with basic needs of their kids.

They provide necessities like baby food, diapers, milk, baby bottles and, of course, car seats. If you are in need of such items, you can contact them here.

They are also in need of free car seat donations; if you want to donate or know anyone who wants to donate car seats, please guide them to their organization.

All donations are tax deductible, and everything they provide to economically disadvantaged families is given away free of charge.

People donate car seats to them, and they recycle them to those who need them or apply for their program.

Lurie Children’s is a well-known hospital, and the Buckle Up Program aims at reducing car accident fatalities by providing free or reduced-priced car seats. So far, they have distributed more than 1000 car seats.

The Decatur Township Fire Department has partnered with Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to provide free car seats.

You can fill out this registration form, and a representative of the fire department will contact you with the availability and schedule.

You have to be on government assistance to get a free car seat, but even if you aren’t, you can still get a car seat for $25.

Community Health Network is a statewide organization, and they are helping families who are struggling financially. Car Seat Program provides free car seats to all the community’s hospitals. You can contact them at toll-free number 800-777-7775 or chat with an agent here.

The Spencer County Health Department offers free child safety seats for children that meet low income financial eligibility.

Since the child safety seat program began, in April 2004, the health department has provided more than 3,000 car seats to protect the children.

The car seats are available to children from newborn through 8 years old.

EveryStep Care and Support Service is a non-profit organization. Its goal is to provide comfort to people in difficult circumstances.

Some of its services include Hospice, Community health and wellness, and home care. Stork’s nest is an educational program of EveryStep that awards points for healthy behavior. These points can be redeemed for car seats and other resources.

The University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Safety Store stocks a variety of car seats and brands that are sold at prices that won’t be a barrier for families.

They can also process special order car seats from a variety of vendors.

They also provide free education and training by certified child passenger safety technicians on how to use the seats whether you purchase the seat through them or not. 

The Hannah Geneser Learning Center & Safety Store doesn’t provide free car seats but instead, they partner with manufacturers to provide car seats at a very low cost.

The bright side is you get free one-on-one education on how to use the safety devices. By buying a car seat from them, you will also contribute towards the Center for Advocacy and Outreach.

Johnson County Empowerment receives a grant from HOPE for Johnson County and can help you with car seats, pack-n-plays, and/or baby sleep boxes. You will have to complete this form and return it.

Variety helps children with special needs gain mobility, confidence, freedom, and independence.

It’s hard to find specialized free car seats and Variety Iowa provides just that. If you are interested in receiving a piece of mobility equipment or know of a child in need, please fill the application Microsoft Word l PDF.

Car seats can reduce the risk of injury in case of a car accident by up-to 80%. Why not make sure that your kid is safe in the car by taking advantage of the Car Seat program from Swap Health Services.

They provide education, training, and car seats to eligible families for just $15. You can apply for the program by calling at 816-599-5409.

Baby Talk Pregnancy and Newborn Education is offering a free educational course where you can get a free car seat after completing the course.

To be able to get a Graco infant carrier from the Baby Talk program you need to attend all 6 of our FREE prenatal education program sessions.

Their program consists of 6 classes taught by labor and delivery nurses where moms get to learn about safe sleep, breastfeeding, smoking cessation, signs of preterm labor, nutrition, physical activity during pregnancy, and much more. 

Injury-free Coalition for kids provides car seats to hospitalized patients regardless of their financial situation. The goal is to promote safe travel and increase the safety of newborns.

If you are enrolled in Anthem Medicaid, you should check this manual out. According to it, the prenatal program makes people eligible for free car seats when “when you go to your PCP or OB/GYN at least seven times while you are pregnant”.

You can contact them at 1-855-690-7784.

Cornell Police has a government-funded program that is aimed at providing free car seats to members of the Cornell community.

Although the availability is limited, but you should still check out with them by calling (607) 255-7305.

They will only provide free child safety seats to the Cornell community and you must be below a certain income level which they verify by requiring you be enrolled in specific public assistance programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, DSS, SS and/or WIC.  

They will provide checks of child safety seats for anyone who makes an appointment, and you do NOT need to be a member of the Cornell community.

They currently have approximately half a dozen certified child safety seat technicians within their Department alone. 

Ashland County Health Department also has a free car seat program.

You have to provide documentation like an income statement to qualify for this program, and you can Call 419-282-4357 for an appointment.

If you are enrolled in government programs like WIC, Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP, you are eligible for a free car seat. In Maine, the Bureau of highway safety distributes car seats through these locations.

Baltimore Pregnancy Center located at 7311 Harford Road provides many resources to low-income families. These include bassinets, car seats, strollers, furniture, beds, and more. You can give them a call at 410-426-9992.

In Maryland, Holy Cross Health offers a Kids in Safety Seats car seat rental program. These car seats are rented for 9 months.

This is a great resource if you have a temporary financial difficulty and you don’t want that to get in the way of your kid’s safety.

You have to make an appointment one month before the delivery, and you can contact them at 301-754-7158.

Maryland department of health is also running a Kids in Safety seat program. The goal of this program is to assist eligible families with the purchase of low-cost seats. They also have a loner program for special needs.

You can call them at 800-370-SEAT or email them at [email protected] 

It is required by law in Massachusetts that all kids under 8 years old are fastened in car seats.

Boston Medical Center is helping with that, and they have a great free car seat program.  Mothers should contact the center one month before the delivery date.

You can call them at 888-566-0010 to request your free car or booster seat.

According to a study, 4 out of 5 car seats are used wrong and Injury prevention program at Boston Children’s hospital is aimed at changing that.

They provide free training, tips, instructions, and free car seats to people earning low-income. You can call the Injury Prevention program at 617-355-7332 for more information.

Among kids aged 4 to 8, booster seats reduce the risk of serious injury by 45%. Michigan state police have a car distribution program to do exactly that. You can get more information about that program here.  

Let’s be honest, car seats are not cheap. In the state of Michigan, you have many great resources to get a car seat at a reduced cost.

For example, through Kids Always Ride Safe program by Health system Portage, you can get a car seat for a reduced cost.

This program is an education-based program where you will have the opportunity to learn how to use the car seat and keep your kids safe.

Safe kids west Michigan’s Injury Prevention Programs, Wayne Metro community action agency’s reoccurring free car seat distribution program are some other examples of great resources that can help you in the hard times.

Car Accidents is and will remain a Top Child Killer; Belts and car seats will always provide reliable solutions.

If you are in need of a free car seat and you live in Minnesota, you can use this directory by Office of Traffic Safety to find out who has free car seats available and exactly whom to contact in your area.

Everyday Miracles is a great resource to get a car seat for free if you are on a shoestring budget.

Having a government-funded program through Health Partners, Blue Plus, or UCare makes you eligible for a free car seat and you can request that through this link.

SEATS by UCare, car seat program by Baby Blanket, and car seat program by the  Vadnais Heights fire department are some other examples of great resources you can use to get a free car seat for your kids.

Having these awesome options means you have no excuse but to get a car seat for your kid and make sure of their safety. Please refer to the individual programs for contact information and eligibility criteria.

You can also get a free car seat from Wakota Life Care Center. To become eligible for a free car seat, you need to attend 2 classes, and the car seat safety seminar. 

In Beltrami County, Bemidji Police Department provides free car seats. They receive a grant from the Minnesota Child Passenger Safety Program through the Office of Traffic Safety.

Their program gets a limited number of seats. Detective Leffelman and Officer Carrigan are the two points of contact at the department.

There are requirements of the grant that you must meet including financial eligibility, and you are also required to complete the educational portion before you can get a child safety seat,

Mille Lacs County also has a car seat program where you can get free car seats. Please contact Nikki Herr at ([email protected]) or (320) 983-8208.

Meeker County Public Health offers free child passenger safety checks for pregnant women, or families and caregivers with children of all ages. Call MCPH at 320-693-5370.

Carver County Public Health has car seats available free of charge for families that meet specific income requirements. Call Carver County Public Health at (952) 361-1329 to learn more.

Sherburne County also has a reduced cost car seat program.

You will have to attend a 90-minute class ‎to receive a new child safety seat and receive instruction on proper use and installation. Distribution ‎classes are scheduled twice a month. Call 800-433-5237 or 763-765-4112 to find out if you are eligible ‎and to enroll in the next class. ‎

You might be surprised to hear that injuries related to car accidents are the biggest cause of death among the kids.

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Safety Program is aimed at reducing such fatalities because they are preventable.

They provide resources like CPR classes, Baby Safety 101 classes, and seats at no cost to eligible families.

Lincoln county health department is also working towards making people more educated about child passenger safety.

Their program is carefully carved to educate new parents on using car seats.

A free car seat distribution program is also a part of this amazing educational course.

Car seats are limited and only provided to families that are really in need. You call them at (636) 528-6117 to make an appointment.

Safe kids Missouri has collaborated with Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and their goal is to provide education, training and safety tips to parents and caregivers.

 A reduced-cost car seat program lets you get a brand-new car seat for only $25.

You can call Cathy at 314-612-5770 or email [email protected] for more information.

Safety and Health Council: Offers carseats with a $20 donation.  Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110, 816-842-5223 ext. 233, 5829

City County Health Department is a place worth checking out if you need a seat at a reduced cost.

The car seat’s availability is not sure but you can call Mary Kay at 454-6750 or Davida at 791-9298 to inquire. 

The health department will also help you with instructions on how to use the car seat.

SafeSeat for Baby, a program under Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies- The Montana Coalition, provides car seats at no cost to families in need.

On identification of eligible families, referrals are made to the program by local public health departments or early childhood specialists. This protocol ensures Montana children have access to safe car seats. Parents receive education and training from certified Car Seat Technicians regarding correct car seat installation. Note a processing period of 1-2 weeks. Due to limited funds, families should contact their local health department to express their need.

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center provide great training and educational material but they are not currently providing a free car seat. In such a case, you are encouraged to contact the injury prevention team at [email protected].

The always dependable safe kids have collaborated with non-profit childhood injury prevention organization in Hastings, Nebraska.  

They provide education to families on how to use car seats without any cost. They also have free car seats available but you have to be registered with WIC, Medicaid or Kids Connection. You can call them at 402-460-5884 for more information.

Three river’s public health department also have car seats available at no cost for families that are in need and low-income.

Further, they assist in car seat installation, with technicians acting as educators and allowing you to handle actual installation – an effective practical learning experience.

Nonprofit, Baby’s Bounty, supports underserved families by promoting educational interventions and providing vital tools to assure a positive beginning for every baby. Upon completion of their Safety Sleep & Baby Basics class, this referral-based agency provides families with newborns resources such as clothing & accessories, diapers & wipes, a convertible car seat, a portable crib, and more!

You can reach them via phone (702.485.2229) or email ([email protected]).”

Free Car Seat for Low-Income Families is a blog that will direct you towards a resource where you can find a free car seat. You can check out this blog here.

The Car Seats for Christy Foundation provides car seats and boosters to those in need and raises awareness about child passenger safety through outreach events and social media.