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How do I find out when my car seat expires?

My sister-in-law gave me her old car seat, thinking I wouldn't need to buy a new one. As much as I appreciate the gesture, I'm a little nervous that it's too old. How can I find out when the car seat expires?

avatar
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
While it’s great to save money on car seats, you are right to be cautious. Most car seats expire six years after their manufacturing date.
To find out when your seat expires, check the sides, back, and bottom for a manufacturer’s sticker. The sticker should tell you the expiration date and detail the height and weight requirements for the seat.
If you can’t find the sticker, you can use the seat’s model number to locate the expiration date on the manufacturer’s website. Sometimes you can even directly call, message, or email the company for the information.
Don’t forget to look into the car seat’s accident history. If the car seat was ever involved in a
collision
, it could have internal damage that makes it unsafe. Do not let your child use a car seat that’s been in an accident.
Another good tip for driving with little ones is to invest in a dependable roadside assistance plan. Nothing can ruin your day like waiting for a tow truck while taking care of grumpy kids.
But with
Jerry
‘s leading roadside assistance, you’ll never have to worry about getting stranded. Jerry’s roadside assistance membership includes jump starts, lockout service, key replacement, and towing. Plus, they’ll even pay for your Uber if you end up needing a tow.
MORE: 8 pro tips for long car rides with kids
View full answer 
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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