Wyoming’s car seat infrastructure runs through two pillars I’ve consistently recommended to families: the Kohl’s Car Seat Distribution Program at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center — part of a national partnership with 160 hospitals where Kohl’s funds seats for families who can’t afford them — and the Safe Kids Campbell County program in Gillette, where EMS-based technician instructors provide free inspections and replacement seats for a contribution. In a state with fewer than 600,000 people spread across 97,000 square miles, these hospital- and county-based programs are often the only realistic option for families outside the two metro areas.
Wyoming recorded 107 traffic fatalities in 2024, an improvement from the prior year. But 2025 reversed that progress — fatalities climbed roughly 12%, with speed contributing to 44% of fatal crashes and lack of seat belt use increasing 56%. On Wyoming’s long stretches of open highway where speed compounds every collision, a properly installed car seat reduces a child’s fatal injury risk by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.
This guide covers Wyoming’s current child passenger safety laws, every free and reduced-cost car seat program I’ve been able to verify, and a step-by-step action plan to get your child buckled in correctly — whether you need financial help or not.
View our lists of free car seat programs by type:
Wyoming car seat laws
Wyoming’s child restraint statute (§ 31-5-1303) applies to all children under 9 and includes specific rear-facing requirements:
Rear-facing (under age 2): Children under 2 years old must be secured in a rear-facing car seat. The rear-facing seat must never be placed in front of an active airbag.
Child safety restraint (ages 2–8): Children ages 2 through 8 must be properly secured in a child safety restraint system appropriate for their height and weight. Wyoming doesn’t mandate a specific harness-to-booster transition age or weight — the law requires the restraint to be “appropriate,” which means following the seat manufacturer’s guidelines. Best practice: keep children in a harnessed seat until they exceed its limits (typically around 40–65 pounds) before transitioning to a booster.
Back seat required (under 9): Children under 9 must ride in a seat other than the front seat, unless the vehicle has only one row of seats or all rear seat belts are occupied by other child passengers. This is a legal requirement, not just a recommendation.
Seat belt (age 9+): Children 9 and older must wear a seat belt. Wyoming’s seat belt law applies to all front-seat passengers and all passengers under 18.
Fines: First offense carries a fine plus court costs, but the court will waive the fine if the driver shows proof of acquiring an appropriate car seat before the court date. Second and subsequent offenses carry a 0 fine plus court costs.
Wyoming’s child restraint law is a primary enforcement law — officers can pull you over solely for a child restraint violation. If you’re unsure which seat type your child needs, the best-rated convertible car seats we’ve tested cover every stage from rear-facing infant through booster-ready child.
Wyoming-specific programs worth knowing about
Kohl’s Car Seat Distribution Program at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center — This is the most established car seat distribution program in Wyoming. A collaboration between Kohl’s and Cheyenne Regional’s Injury Prevention team, the program educates parents on proper car seat installation and use and provides seats to families who cannot afford them. The Kohl’s Associates in Action team assists with several distribution events throughout the year. Contact the Injury Prevention Coordinator at 307-633-7525 for upcoming events and eligibility details.
Safe Kids Laramie County (Cheyenne) — Led by Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, this Safe Kids coalition runs car seat checkup events, safety workshops, and distribution programs throughout Laramie County. They’re closely integrated with the Kohl’s program and serve as the primary resource for families in southeastern Wyoming.
Safe Kids Campbell County (Gillette) — Operated through Campbell County Health’s EMS division, this program provides free car seat inspections by certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructors. Inspections take about 30 minutes and are held on Wednesdays at the EMS Base, 502 Stocktrail Avenue in Gillette — appointments required. Replacement seats are available for a contribution. Call 307-688-7233 (307-688-SAFE) to schedule.
Teton County Health Department / Fire EMS (Jackson Hole area) — The Teton County Health Department may assist with obtaining a car seat (pending funding availability) and offers free car seat checks by appointment. Teton County Fire/EMS also provides installation assistance. Call 307-733-6401 to schedule.
Buckle Up for Life Wyoming — A statewide initiative focused on child passenger safety education and resources. They maintain information about fitting stations and events across the state. Visit buckleup4lifewy.org for resources.
Safe Kids Wyoming (statewide) — The statewide coalition coordinates car seat events and resources across multiple counties. Visit safekidswyoming.net for event schedules and local coalition contacts.
Local hospitals and fire departments — In a state as rural as Wyoming, your local hospital or fire department may be the closest resource. Many have at least one certified CPS technician. Hospitals in Casper (Wyoming Medical Center), Sheridan, and Rock Springs have been known to provide car seat assistance.
Important: Program availability and funding change from year to year. If any of the above programs are temporarily out of stock, check our complete guide to free car seats for additional national and regional resources that ship to Wyoming.
Start here — the fastest path to a free or low-cost seat
1. Contact Cheyenne Regional’s Injury Prevention team. If you’re in southeastern Wyoming, call 307-633-7525 and ask about the Kohl’s Car Seat Distribution Program. They run multiple events per year and can provide seats to families who can’t afford them.
2. Call your county’s Safe Kids coalition. Safe Kids Laramie County (Cheyenne) and Safe Kids Campbell County (Gillette) are the two most active coalitions. Campbell County’s program at 307-688-7233 offers inspections and replacement seats.
3. Call 2-1-1. Wyoming’s 2-1-1 helpline can connect you to the nearest available car seat program based on your location. In a state this large, knowing exactly where to go first saves significant time and travel.
4. Contact your local hospital or fire department. In rural Wyoming, your closest hospital or fire department may be the only resource within driving distance. Ask specifically about CPS-certified technicians and whether they have seats available.
A quick warning about secondhand seats
A used car seat is not always a safe car seat. Before accepting a hand-me-down or buying from a yard sale, check every item on this list:
Expiration date: Every car seat has one — usually stamped on the base or shell. Most seats expire 6–10 years from manufacture. An expired seat’s plastic and foam may have degraded beyond the point of reliable crash protection.
Crash history: A seat that has been in any moderate-to-severe crash should be retired immediately, even if it looks undamaged. Internal components can be compromised in ways you can’t see.
Recall status: Check the seat’s model and manufacture date against the NHTSA recall database. If a recall applies and the fix wasn’t completed, the seat is not safe to use.
All parts present: Missing harness clips, chest clips, base components, or padding compromises the seat’s ability to perform as designed. If the manual is missing, most manufacturers offer free PDF downloads.
If you need a safe, affordable seat right now, the Cosco Mighty Fit 65 runs about and the Evenflo Tribute about — both are NHTSA-compliant and cover the rear-facing-to-forward-facing transition. You can also review the safest car seat brands to compare options.
Don’t do this alone
Wyoming is the least populated state in the country, which means car seat resources are more spread out than anywhere else — but they do exist, and the people running them tend to be deeply committed. The Kohl’s program at Cheyenne Regional has been distributing seats for years, Safe Kids Campbell County’s EMS-based technicians in Gillette are among the most thorough I’ve seen, and Teton County covers the Jackson Hole corridor. Whether you need a free seat, a replacement, or just someone to check that your installation is right, help is available.
If you’re still working through the basics of which seat type your child needs, when to transition between stages, or how to get the harness tight enough, our car seat safety basics guide walks through every step with photos and common mistakes to avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a free car seat in Wyoming?
The primary option is the Kohl’s Car Seat Distribution Program at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center — call 307-633-7525 for upcoming events. Safe Kids Campbell County in Gillette also provides replacement seats for a contribution (call 307-688-7233). Teton County Health Department may have seats available pending funding.
What are Wyoming’s car seat laws?
Children under 2 must be rear-facing. All children under 9 must be in a child safety restraint appropriate for their size and must ride in the back seat. First offense is a fine that can be waived by showing proof of acquiring a seat before your court date. Second and subsequent offenses carry a 0 fine.
What if I live in a rural area with no nearby program?
Call 2-1-1 for statewide referrals, or contact your nearest hospital — Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Sheridan Memorial, and other regional hospitals may have CPS technicians or seat resources. Budget seats like the Cosco Mighty Fit 65 (~) are also available online and ship statewide.
Where can I get my car seat inspected in Wyoming?
Safe Kids Campbell County offers Wednesday appointments at the EMS Base in Gillette (307-688-7233). Cheyenne Regional runs periodic check events. Teton County Fire/EMS provides inspection appointments (307-733-6401). Use the NHTSA technician locator for additional options.
Can Wyoming courts dismiss my car seat fine?
Yes. For a first offense, the court will waive the fine if you show proof of acquiring an appropriate child safety restraint system before your court date. This waiver applies only to first offenses — second and subsequent violations carry a non-waivable 0 fine.
Can I use a secondhand car seat in Wyoming?
Wyoming doesn’t prohibit used car seats, but safety experts strongly advise against it unless you can confirm the seat hasn’t been in a crash, isn’t expired, isn’t recalled, and has all original parts. Check the NHTSA recall database before using any secondhand seat. Our guide on what to do with old car seats covers safe disposal and recycling options.
