Car seats are meant to protect children from injury in the case of collision. Using any child safety restraint past its expiration date can undermine that safeguarding function. It may also be illegal, depending on your state. Some states have laws on the books that, when interpreted a certain way, may make the use of an expired car seat illegal. Using a car seat past its expiration date is considered not following instructions.
Using an expired child safety restraint may even result in a penalty. In Virginia, parents may have to pay a fine. In Michigan, the state considers use of an expired car seat or booster to be in violation of laws that require children under a certain age to be properly restrained when in a moving vehicle, meaning law enforcement can issue tickets if this is found to be the case. When a car seat is expired, the best thing to do is dispose of it.
However, someone else may pick up the seat as a free item, not realizing or caring about its expired status. Since this can put other children at risk, many child safety advocates advise dismantling the seat before you put it out for pick up.
To dismantle a car seat, cut the straps and harness, and remove all of the foam padding. If possible, separate the metal and plastic parts, which you may be able to recycle. Check with your local recycling center to see what they accept. As a parent, protecting your child is your number one priority, and when it comes to selecting the car seat meant to safeguard your child in the event of an accident, your decision can literally mean life or death.
Whether you choose to buy new or go secondhand, be sure to check the expiration date. Car Seat Mart. Please enter your comment! Please enter your name here. For information relating to your particular car seat, please refer to your user guide. To prevent injury due to deterioration or hidden damage, do not use car seats or booster seats older than their useable life or if it has been in a moderate or severe crash. By signing up for emails, I accept the Privacy Policy.
Categories: Expiration Dates. There are several reasons why car seats have expiration dates: The materials that compose the seat plastics, fabrics, webbing, etc. This chamber allows us to perform tests replicating an expected life span of the seat. The materials the seat is made from, the process by which the seat was made, the design of the seat, and the size and weight of the child using the seat are all designed in accordance with the life cycle test requirements.
Britax Car Seats manufactured June or after Infant car seats have a useable life of 6 years. Convertible car seats excluding the Classic line have a useable life of 7 years. ClickTight Convertible car seats have a useable life of 10 years. If they do, ask how they like it delivered; some do not mind the car seat brought in without dismantling while others request that you break it down first. If they prefer dismantling it first, remove any unrecyclable materials they will not need, such as padding, fabric, and metal.
You can then take the recyclable plastic parts to the program. Still, if this sounds like too much work for you, there are recycling programs that require you to pay for the shipping box and follow a certain guideline. If you cannot recycle it, trade it in or donate it, you should trash it.
Before you do, take the seat apart to avoid a desperate family taking it and putting their child at risk. Like when taking it to the recycling plant, remove the padding, straps, metal, and cover and mark the seat's plastic "unsafe" or "expired. After six or ten years, your car seat is not going to protect your child anymore. Fortunately, there are many options for getting rid of it. Of course, most people who still have a child would go for the trade-in option, but regardless of the method you choose, your mind will be at peace knowing that your child's safety is not compromised by holding on to an expired seat.
So, have you checked your car seat's expiration date? To contact me directly please click here. Table Of Contents. Why Do Car Seats Expire? Technological advancements. Discontinuation and Recalls. Donate Your Used Car Seat. Recycle Your Used Car Seat. Trash It. Wrapping Up. B-Safe Located on infant car seat and base. B-Safe 35 Elite. B-Safe Ultra. Located on label under seat cover. Frontier ClickTight.
Label on back of car booster. Pinnacle ClickTight. Pioneer HarnessBooster Seat.
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