While you should never use an expired car seat – no California Car Seat Laws make them illegal to use. Are Car Seats Reusable? Yes and no. If you have multiple children close in age, you can reuse the car seat as long as it isn’t past its expiration date.
Full Answer
Is it okay to use expired car seats?
As we've noted, government agencies in the United States and Canada do discourage parents from using expired car seats, and in these countries it is common for used car seats to be shredded or sent to the landfill, expired or not. But in some other countries, the use of used car seats is viewed as perfectly acceptable and is actually encouraged.
What are the car seat laws for children in California?
While booster seat laws pertain mainly to children who are eight years old, laws related to the convertible car seat, for instance, may apply to younger children. An explanation of all ages, weights and heights that apply to children passengers in CA as of 2017 is provided below:
What are the fines for violating California's Car Seat guidelines?
Car seat guidelines violators in CA face fines of $475 or $1,055 depending on the frequency of the offense.
Is it legal to sell secondhand car seats after they expire?
"There is no law prohibiting the sale of secondhand car seats post expiration or before," Minter tells Motherly. There is no law, Minter learned, because there is nothing proving that age alone makes a car seat unsafe.
Can you use carseats past expiration date?
Expired car seats may not adequately protect riders in the event of a crash. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urges parents to avoid using car seats that are past their use-by dates, or seats without expiration dates that are more than six years from date of manufacture.
What is the California car seat law?
California's Occupant Protection Law California law requires all children under two years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds OR is 40 or more inches tall. Children under the age of 8 are required to be secured in a car or booster seat.
Is it illegal to sell a used car seat in California?
Unfortunately it is not illegal to buy or sell an expired car seat in the US, other than in CA (although in many states it is illegal to use them for a child to ride in). It's common to come across them at yard sales, on buy/sell/trade groups or on craigslist.
Does the expiration date on a car seat matter?
How can a piece of plastic, metal, and fabric expire? safetyMost manufacturers give their car seats expiration dates of 6 to 10 years after they're made, at which point a car seat could, at best, have outdated technology, and at worst, no longer meet the safety standards of the seats on the market.
How much is a ticket for no car seat in California?
There are four important points to know about California car seat law. The “base fine” for not using a child restraint system is $100 for the first violation; and, $250 for every other violation. Base fines are much less than the actual fine given since actual fines include fees and penalty assessments.
Can a child sit in the front seat in California?
Are children allowed to ride in the front seat in California? Yes. Children in California can ride in the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle when they are eight years of age or older. However, safety standards recommend keeping children in the rear seat because of risks associated with front airbags.
Is it illegal to sell second-hand car seats?
However, it is not illegal to sell second-hand car seats online, with listings available on well-known websites. Or you might be able to pass it on to a family member. But if you've had the seat for a while, even that might not be a good idea, according to experts, since child car seats have a "best before date".
Can you reuse car seats for babies?
Can you reuse an old car seat? You can save a car seat for a younger sibling or pass it on to another family if it isn't expired, damaged, recalled or missing any of its original parts. Before reusing the seat or giving it away, always be sure to: Check the expiration date.
Why do car seats expire?
In general, car seats expire between 6 and 10 years from the date of manufacture. They expire for a number of reasons, including wear and tear, changing regulations, recalls, and the limits of manufacturer testing.
How long can car seats be used?
Yes, car seats typically expire after six years from the date of manufacture. A sticker that provides the serial number includes manufacture and expiration dates. Of course, the seats don't dissolve on the expiration date at the stroke of midnight.
Do car seats expire Graco?
Graco defines “useful life” as 10 years for belt-positioning boosters and for steel-reinforced belt path car seats and 7 years for plastic-reinforced belt path car seats.
Can an expired child restraint system be used when it still looks in good shape?
Under the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, a child restraint system in use must not be past the manufacturer's specified expiration date, while products without a specified expiration date must meet product safety standards prescribed by the Bureau of Philippine Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI ...
How do you know when your car seat or booster seat expires?
Every car seats or booster seats have a different lifespan depending on the manufacturer. Generally, they take 6-10 years after the day of the manu...
Where can you find the expiration date on an infant car seat?
Most car seats or boosters have expiry dates printed or stamped on the seat. Some are written on the plastic shells in caps, while others are indic...
What do you recommend doing with infant car seats after they expire?
After expiry, infant car seats should not be used any longer as they can risk the life of your baby. Instead, reuse it at home or donate it to a ca...
How many bases should you have for your infant car seat?
Infant car seats are designed for babies weighing 22-40 pounds. They are meant to stay in the car even though they're portable. You can install you...
Do you need to replace an infant car seat base after an accident?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, infant car seats should be replaced immediately after a crash or an accident. Even...
Is It Illegal To Use An Expired Car Seat?
No, it's not illegal and there's no actual law, rule, or regulation against it. However, using an expired car seat increases the chances of injurie...
What are the car seat laws in California?
The current car seat regulations in CA indicate which child restraint devices children must ride in as well as the age, weight and height restrictions for each child restraint. While booster seat laws pertain mainly to children who are eight years old, laws related to the convertible car seat, for instance, may apply to younger children.
How to install a child restraint?
The following tips can help any parent or driver install a child restraint effectively: 1 Check the stability of the seat. In compliance with state laws, child restraints should not move an excessive amount and potentially endanger children secured in them. A secure restraint should not move more than one inch in any direction. 2 Position shoulder straps at armpit level. For babies, straps and harnesses should be at or below their shoulders. For children, straps should be at or above their shoulders. 3 Ensure the straps are taught. Loose straps can endanger a child. While children should be comfortable, straps should not have much slack when pinched. 4 Review the instruction manual. Car seats should be attached to seat belts properly using the correct slots. Check the manual for specific installation instructions.
How much should a child restraint move?
A secure restraint should not move more than one inch in any direction. Position shoulder straps at armpit level.
What is a forward facing car seat?
Forward facing car seat. This is a toddler seat meant for children older than two years old who have outgrown their previous seat. This seat can be convertible and adjusted to the specific height of the child. Booster seat.
What is booster seat?
A booster seat is reserved for children older than four and is designed to heighten children so that the seat belt affixed to the vehicle properly fits the child. Unlike the other types of seats, these do not usually provide additional straps or harnesses.
How long can a child ride without a restraint?
Despite all the state laws in place that may imply a child is ready to ride without a child restraint, children should remain in a child restraint device as long as possible or until they are 12 or 13 years old.
How old do you have to be to ride in a car seat?
Children younger than two years old. These children must ride in a rear facing car seat, but they may be secured in another type of seat with a five-point harness if they exceed 39 pounds or are taller than 39 inches. The child must meet height and weight limits as specified by the manufacturer of the child restraint device.
Could we be throwing away tons of perfectly good car seats?
Those are the questions that journalist Adam Minter set out to uncover while writing his book, Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale. The answers he got didn't satisfy him, and suggest that car seat expiration dates are more about increasing consumption than increasing protection.
There is no law, Minter learned, because there is nothing proving that age alone makes a car seat unsafe
Minter reached out to numerous car seat manufacturers and retailers expecting that they would be able to point him to a specific study or testing protocol used to determine when and why car seats expire. But he didn't get a clear answer. Most companies did not reply or declined to comment.
Bottom line
In an era when parents are extremely concerned about reducing consumption and carbon footprints, should so many car seats be thrown away, especially when there are parents struggling to afford car seats in the first place?
