Using a secondhand car seat may seem like a thrifty alternative to a pricey new car seat. While it isn’t illegal to use an expired car seat, opting to do so poses a significant risk to your child’s safety.

If you’ve browsed for new car seats for your child only to be flabbergasted at the price, you aren’t alone. While you can find savings on most children’s items by buying secondhand, car seats are one thing you should never buy used. Sure, you might save a hundred bucks, but most used car seats come with huge safety risks for your child.

The world of child car seats can be complex to navigate, so

Jerry

—the

trusted car insurance comparison app

—is here to lay out all the details. We’ll go over all you need to know about expired car seats, how to choose a car seat for your child, and how to find extra protection on the road.

Can you use an expired car seat?

Technically, you can use an expired car seat—but that doesn’t mean you should. Child safety seats expire for a whole list of reasons, including wear and tear, technology advancements, and temperature changes.

All of these—and more—compromise the car seat’s safety and structural integrity. When a car seat is expired, it no longer fits the safety standards to keep your child safe in the car.

In general, if a car seat is more than six years old, it’s likely expired and needs to be disposed of properly.

MORE:

How to install a car seat

Where can you find car seat expiration dates?

The lifespan of a car seat or booster seat is different depending on the specific car seat manufacturer, but it typically ranges from six to 10 years after it was made. If you aren’t sure of a car seat’s expiry date, you can find it in two ways:

Checking the manufacturer’s website

Locating the date listed on the physical car seat

The location of a car seat’s listed expiry date will differ by brand. For example, Graco products list the expiration date on the bottom or back of the car seat, while Britax car seat users must locate the seat’s serial number and instruction manual to find the manufacture date.

How to get rid of an expired car seat

Since car seats have expiration dates, you can’t just trade in or donate them to your local thrift store—especially since a child’s safety could be at stake. You’ll want to dispose of your expired seat in a way that ensures nobody else could use it.

Experts recommend that you dismantle the car seat completely and dispose or recycle the parts separately. This includes cutting all straps and harnesses, which guarantees that it won’t be used again.

MORE:

How to clean baby car seats

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How to tell if a car seat is safe to use

Since car seats typically have a lifespan of about six to 10 years, you could potentially use an old car seat for a new baby as long as it hasn’t expired yet. Here are some considerations before deciding to use a car seat.

The seat is the right size for the child

Before you opt for a used car seat—whether it’s yours or someone else’s—you’ll want to make sure it’s the right size for the child who will use it. Seat types and positions largely depend on your child’s age and size, but here are the general guidelines for car seats based on age:

Birth to 12 months: Rear-facing infant car seats

1 to 3 years: Rear-facing car seat with a harness and until reaching the top height and weight of your specific car seat

4 to 7 years: Forward-facing car seat with a hardness and tether until reaching the top height and weight limit

8 to 12 years: Booster seat until outgrowing the height and weight limit and can fit in a seat belt correctly (usually when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height)

The straps and harness fit securely around the child

Choosing the right car seat for your child is only half of car seat safety. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13—which is why it’s critical for the child’s car seat to fit properly.

Here’s how to make sure the car seat’s straps and harness fit your child:

When you tighten the harness, the straps should have no slack. If you can pinch the harness strap fabric between your fingers, it needs to be tighter.

The harness chest clip should be in the middle of your child’s chest, aligned with their armpits. If the harness clip is in the wrong place, the straps could fall down, possibly ejecting your child from the car seat in the event of a wreck.

In a convertible car seat, make sure to adjust the harness straps from the top slots to the bottom slots when moving from rear-facing to forward-facing.

No matter what type of seat you have, it’s always best to consult the manual (physical or online) to make sure you’re following the manufacturer’s instructions.

There are no manufacturer recalls

Before going with a used car seat, check the seat’s registration with the

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA) to make sure it hasn’t be recalled. You’ll also want to check that there aren’t any missing parts.

The seat hasn’t been in an accident

One major factor that compromises the safety of a car seat is a car accident. According to the NHTSA, if a car seat is involved in a car accident, it should be replaced immediately—even if it was a small collision.

If you’re using a secondhand car seat, be sure to check the registration on the NHTSA website. It should list if the car seat has been involved in a collision.

MORE:

How to get a toddler or baby to stay in a car seat

How to find affordable protection for your car

Car seat safety is crucial for keeping your most precious cargo safe and sound. To protect your wallet, you’ll need a different kind of protection—a solid

car insurance

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FAQs

Is it illegal to use an expired car seat?

While it’s not technically illegal, using an expired car seat raises the risk of injuries in the event of a car accident.

How can I tell if a car seat is expired?

The car seat expiration date is usually listed on the bottom or back of the car seat. Keep an eye out for a sticker or imprint that lists the serial number, model number, manufacture date, and expiration date.

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