Quick Answers
Drop in, no appointment (Morrisville): Any Morrisville fire station, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Crews may be out on a call or in training.
Drop in, no appointment (Chapel Hill): Fire Station 2, 1003 S. Hamilton Rd., Saturdays 2-4 p.m. Free.
Book an appointment (Durham): Safe Kids Durham County, Durham County EMS Station 6, 226 Milton Rd., Tuesdays 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Book at bit.ly/safekidsdurham or call 919-323-5073. No checks Oct 20, Nov 3 or Nov 17.
Book an appointment (Wake): Wake County Child Passenger Safety Program, Monday-Thursday. Call 919-250-3094 or email armanda.leach@wake.gov.
Free seat by referral (Orange): Safe Kids Orange County gives free car seats to families referred by agencies such as WIC, Piedmont Health or Public Health. Ask your caseworker or care manager to place the referral.
Qualify first (Durham seats): Welcome Baby gives car seats to Durham County residents only, after a 2-hour safety class.Wake County
Wake County Child Passenger Safety Program: book an appointment. Certified technicians give hands-on help to parents and caregivers. The county says, "You will need to call and schedule an appointment with one of our technicians." Checks run Monday through Thursday. Call Armanda Leach at 919-250-3094 or email armanda.leach@wake.gov, and include your name, phone number and the day you'd like. The page lists no address or fee.Wake Forest Police Department: book an appointment. The town says "All child seat inspection and education program activities are by appointment only." The station is at 225 S. Taylor St., Wake Forest. Call 919-554-6150. The town calls it free.Fuquay-Varina Police Department: clinic dates or appointment. At 401 Old Honeycutt Road. The town says there is "no charge for this service and no limit to the number of seats installed." Plan on 30 to 45 minutes. Book with the form on the town's page.Morrisville Fire/Rescue: drop in. "No appointment is needed - just drop in," at any Morrisville fire station, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The town says its firefighters are Safe Kids Worldwide certified and crews may be away on a call or in training. The page lists no station addresses or direct phone.Durham County
Safe Kids Durham County: book an appointment. Checks are Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Durham County EMS Station 6, 226 Milton Rd., Durham. Book at bit.ly/safekidsdurham, call 919-323-5073, or email safekids@duke.edu. Book one slot per car seat, vehicle and child. When you book, have your child's age, height and weight (or due date), plus your vehicle and seat make and model. The schedule lists no checks on Oct 20, Nov 3 or Nov 17. The page states no fee.Welcome Baby car seats: qualify first. Welcome Baby's registration form is for Durham County residents only. The form says, "To qualify for a car seat, you must complete a 2-hour safety class," held at 721 Foster Street in Durham. Infant carriers are not provided. Welcome Baby gives one seat per family every five years. Families on WIC or Medicaid pay a $20 copay (cash) and must show proof in class. Allow up to 5 business days for a reply.Orange County
Chapel Hill Fire Rescue: walk up. "Our weekly clinics are on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.," and "no appointment is necessary," at Fire Station 2, 1003 S. Hamilton Rd. The town says the clinics are free. Other times: 919-969-2781.Carrboro Fire-Rescue: Saturdays, walk-in not stated. Saturdays, Fire Station 1 (301 W. Main St., Carrboro) 9:30-11:30 a.m., and Fire Station 2 (1411 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill) 1:30-3:30 p.m. The page doesn't say whether you can walk in. It says to use the form on the page to request an appointment if you can't make those hours. For a seat, the page says to contact the department to ask what's available.Safe Kids Orange County Community Car Seat Program: referral needed. Chapel Hill Fire doesn't hand out seats itself; it points families here. Participating agencies such as WIC, Piedmont Health and Public Health "can refer their clients and families to the program to receive a free car seat." If you get public assistance, ask your care manager or caseworker to place the referral. The program "prioritizes Orange County residents," and seats are handed over at permanent checking stations such as Chapel Hill Fire Rescue. Questions: 984-974-2437 or tarheeltrauma@unchealth.unc.edu.What to bring to a check
Two sites say what to pack:
Wake County: "Please bring both the safety seat instructions and your vehicle's owner manual to your appointment." Bringing your child helps but isn't required.
Fuquay-Varina: Bring the child who rides in the seat, plus both manuals and any equipment that came with the seat. Clear the area around the seat, or take a new seat out of its box.Other sites don't say, so when in doubt bring the seat, both manuals and your child.
Is my seat expired or recalled?
Check the label on the seat. It shows the model name, model number and manufacture date, which you need for the expiration date and recall lookups, according to BuckleUpNC. Register your seat with the manufacturer and check NHTSA's recalls (nhtsa.gov/recalls). BuckleUpNC's second-hand checklist says not to use a seat that is expired or has been in a crash, and that "if you are not sure about the answer to any of the questions, it is best not to use the seat." This is general information, not advice.
Nowhere close?
NHTSA has a car seat inspection station search by zip code, and BuckleUpNC.org lets you pick your county and find a permanent checking station. BuckleUpNC says to contact stations to confirm hours. For other help, see our free and low-cost family resources and free diapers guide. New to all this? Start with our first-time parent guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an appointment for a car seat check?
Morrisville fire stations and Chapel Hill's Saturday clinic say no appointment is needed. Wake County, Wake Forest, and Safe Kids Durham County book by appointment.
What does a car seat check cost?
Morrisville, Chapel Hill and Fuquay-Varina say their checks are free, and Wake Forest calls its program free. Wake County and Safe Kids Durham County state no fee, so ask when you book.
What does North Carolina law require?
Under G.S. 20-137.1, a child less than eight years old and less than 80 pounds must be properly secured in a weight-appropriate restraint. A child under five and under 40 pounds must ride in the rear seat if the car has an active passenger-side front air bag and a back seat.
Can I get a free car seat?
Sometimes, through the right door. In Orange County, Safe Kids gives free seats to families referred by WIC, Piedmont Health, Public Health or a care manager. In Durham County, Welcome Baby requires a 2-hour class and charges WIC and Medicaid families a $20 copay. Wake County's page says nothing about seats, so ask when you call.
