How Long Are Car Seats Good For?

Modern cars are equipped with numerous safety features – many of which don’t require human intervention to maximize their effectiveness. While most trigger a warning light if a repair is needed, others are not as integrated into the vehicle. For instance, child seats add more variables to the equation and require more attention than built-in features. Similar to other safety features, child seats have evolved dramatically over the years into a crucial element in protecting occupants in crashes. In fact, child seats reduce the risk of infant fatality in an accident by 71%. 

What’s the purpose of child seats?

Cars are designed for adults, as are their seats. Thus, a child does not receive the same level of protection when sitting in a normal car seat as an adult would. Child seats and booster seats are designed for children from infancy through age 12 and are intended to provide superior protection for their body type in a collision. 

There are many factors that parents need to take into consideration with child seats. The first steps include acquiring the correct seat for both your child and vehicle as well as learning how to properly install the child seat. The next step is to monitor your child’s growth to understand when it is time to transition the child seat, whether it’s moving from rear-facing to forward-facing or up to the next size class. 

Why do car seats expire?

In addition to monitoring the child’s growth, the car seat itself may need to be changed regardless of the child’s size. Over time, car seats endure an enormous amount of wear and tear. Buckling and unbuckling, high temperatures, spills, and more all affect the integrity of the seat. As materials deteriorate, the effectiveness of the car seat decreases. Consequently, car seats, car seat bases, and booster seats have an expiration date.

How long do they last?

There is no exact timeline in which a car seat expires. However, one can generally assume within 7 to 10 years from when the seat was manufactured. The manufacturer of the seat determines the expiration date.

Where do you find the expiration date?

While there is not a standard place on the child seat that lists the expiration date, there are a few areas to check. For some seats, there may be a small white manufacturer sticker indicating the expiration date, manufacture date, model number, and serial number. The instruction manual as well as the back, bottom, or base of the car seat may also contain expiration information. 

What if a car seat is in a crash?

If a car seat is involved in a moderate or severe accident, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) recommends immediate replacement of the car seat as it could be compromised from the accident. The car seat should also be replaced in minor collisions unless the vehicle’s air bags did not deploy, there were no passenger injuries, the door closest to the car seat was unaffected, the vehicle was still drivable, and there was no observable car seat damage. If any of the above is not true, the car seat must be replaced even if it was a minor accident.

What should you do with an expired car seat?

Once a car seat has expired, it is no longer considered safe. Thus, proper car seat disposal is important as you want to ensure no one else tries to use it. Those disposing of child seats on their own will want to make the car seat unusable by cutting the straps and harnesses, removing the foam and fabric, and recycling plastic components. It is also advised to write “DO NOT USE/EXPIRED” on the seat to further caution against future use. 

Fortunately, there are easier disposal options as some communities and retailers have recycling centers for car seats. There are also national programs that focus on safety and sustainability like Car Seat Recycling, which has recycled materials from 550,000 used car seats.

Recalls

Although a car seat comes with an expiration date, other factors may prevent the car seat from reaching its expiration date without expert support. For instance, the car seat could be recalled due to the manufacturer needing to resolve a defect. Along with making sure it is installed correctly, staying up to date on recalls for the child seat is imperative to continue to place children in the safest environment possible. One way to stay aware of any updates regarding the car seat is to register the product with the company. For instance, Graco has a product registration page for owners to share their contact information, the product model number, and the manufacture date. This enables owners to receive notifications if their product is recalled. 

Summary

Car seats are a crucial element in protecting the youngest vehicle occupants. Those transporting children should register their child seats at purchase in case of recalls. Noting the expiration date of any car seat, booster seat, or seat base their child uses will also give them peace of mind to prepare for when replacement is needed. Lastly, when a child seat has been in all but the most minor of accidents, has expired, or has been broken, it will need to be disposed of in a way it will not be reused. 

Matt Yantakosol is a lifelong automotive enthusiast and former consultant focused on the consumer aspect of the industry. He has traveled to New York, Detroit, Chicago, L.A., Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, and Tokyo Auto Shows to track and observe the newest industry innovations. In addition to JDPower.com, Matt's writing has appeared on Pcarmarket.com.

Related Resources

• Research a Vehicle
• New and Used Electric Cars for Sale
• All Cars for Sale
• Sell My Car
• Compare Cars
• Car Finder Tool
• Car Ratings
• New Car Previews
• Expert Car Reviews