New Car Seat Rules In Montana: A Parent’s Checklist

There Are New Car Seat Safety Laws In Montana

Montana's House Bill 586 goes into affect on October 1, 2025. HB586 basically brings Montana more in line with the laws regarding car seats in America which rely on age along with height and weight.

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Montana Car Seat Law before October 1, 2025:

Jalyn Keighley//Canva

(Before October 1, 2025) Montana law requires all children under age six and weighing less than 60 lbs. to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat.--Montana Department of Transportation

Montana's Child Passenger Safety Law as of October 1, 2025:

From Fast Democracy:

Children under 2 years old should ride in a rear-facing seat
Children 2-4 years old in a rear or forward facing seat with a harness
Children 4-8 years old in a forward facing seat or booster seat
9 and older, or when they outgrow the booster seat, they must use an adult seat belt in the vehicle, if it fits correctly.

Where Can I Have My Child's Car Seat Checked In Montana?

There is a lot of help making sure your car seat is safe and installed correctly for your child. When researching this, my first go-to would be a local fire department. Numerous fire stations around Montana have certified car seat technicians and will happily assist you.

The NHTSA has all the information you could ever want about car seats, including how to find someone to inspect your seat and make sure it's installed right.

Montana Department of Transportation has a plethora of information about car seats and safety including car seat checking events all over Montana.

Target Does Trade-In Events For Car Seats

It's not year-round, but Target has car seat events that will help you save on a new car seat.

Sources: Bill Track 50, Target, Montana Department of Transportation, Fast Democracy, NHTSA, Legiscan

Keep Scrolling For Common Car Seat Mistakes ⤵⤵

Top 9 Car Seat Mistakes Parents Commonly Make

Car seat misuse is more common than you think. This is partially due to the fact that once installed, most parents don't make the necessary adjustments as their child grows. I spoke with Karen Mitchell, the traffic safety specialist with the Behavioral Traffic Safety Section at the Texas Department of Transportation, about the biggest mistakes that parents make that could impact their child's safety.

Gallery Credit: Heidi Kaye