Looking for a free car seat program in Maine? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about car seat safety and how to find a free car seat program in Maine.
Car seat safety is incredibly important, and we want to make sure that everyone has access to a safe and reliable car seat. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on finding a free car seat program in Maine.
We’ll also provide some alternative ways of finding a car seat, as well as some information on the car seat laws in Maine. By the end of this article, you’ll be an expert on finding a free car seat program in Maine!
Free car seat programs in Maine (2022)
Bureau of Highway Safety
The Bureau of Highway Safety in Maine offers a free car seat program to those who are enrolled in government programs such as WIC, Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP. The program is designed to help parents learn how to properly set up and use car seats, in order to protect their children during trips and journeys. To be eligible for the program, parents must bring a document to prove their financial struggles and make an appointment with an instructor or technician. The program is available in Lewiston, Norway, Caribou, Bangor, and other places across Maine.
Alternative programs to get a free car seat in Maine
The first place to check is WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). Many WIC programs will provide a free car seat if you take a short class on car seat safety and usage.
If you are eligible for Medicaid, a free car seat may be covered. You can check 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.
Buckle up for life is a national organization that has donated 61,858 car seats to low-income families. If you participate in their child passenger safety classes, you may qualify to get a free car seat.
If you’re struggling to find an affordable car seat, your local CPST is a great resource. CPSTs are constantly going through extra training and need to be informed of all car seats on the market. Many police and fire professionals are also certified CPSTs. Even if they aren’t, most police/fire departments have resources needed to help you find the right place to go.
Most insurance companies provide car seats free of charge to insured new mothers or pregnant women. Contact the insurance company (the number should be on your insurance card) and it’s very likely they will cover the cost up to a certain point or directly provide you a car seat.
You can also ask your local church for help, and they will be glad to get you in contact with a charity or institute that provides resources to low-income families.
Hospitals are another possible place to get car seats without any cost. They will either help you or direct you towards some great local resources.
A great source to get a free car seat is your local police station or fire department. These guys are professionally trained, and often they set up programs for the free installation of car seats. They can also help you find new car seats for free as they are familiar with various charities.
What are the car seat laws in Maine?
In Maine, the law requires that children who weigh less than 40 lbs. must ride in a child safety seat. Children who weigh at least 40 lbs., but less than 80 lbs. You can read more about Maine car seat laws here.
Final Thoughts
We hope that the information we have discussed above will be able to help you find free car seat programs in Maine. If you are unable to find any free car seat programs in Maine, we suggest that you reach out to your nearest police or fire department. Most police and fire departments have the resources needed to help you find free car seat programs in your state if they are available. Please feel free to leave a comment for more information.
