Buying a Used Car Seat Safely

Why car seats need extra care

A car seat is a piece of safety equipment whose whole job is to protect a child in a collision. Unlike a stroller or a high chair, much of what determines whether it's still safe to use can't be seen — its age, whether it's been in a crash, and whether the exact model has a recall. That's why car seats sit in a different category from most preloved baby gear. You can buy one used and save a lot of money, but only if you can verify its history with confidence. If you can't, the conservative choice is to buy new.

Check the expiry date

Car seats have a limited usable life. The plastics, foam and webbing degrade over years of temperature swings inside a car, and standards evolve, so manufacturers print an expiry or "use by" period on the seat. Look for a sticker or moulded stamp on the shell showing the manufacture date and, often, the expiry date. As a general rule, a seat past its expiry — or one whose manufacture date you can't find — should not be used. Always confirm the actual date printed on the seat rather than relying on the seller's estimate.

Confirm it's never been in a crash

A car seat that has been in a collision may have damage that's invisible from the outside — micro-cracks in the shell or weakened webbing that won't perform in the next impact. There's no reliable way to inspect for this after the fact. Because of that, the widely-accepted guidance is to only buy a used car seat from someone you trust to tell you honestly that it has never been involved in a crash. If the seller can't confirm the full history of the seat, treat that as a reason not to buy.

Look up recalls

Search the brand and exact model name together with the word "recall" before you commit. If the model has a recall, only consider it if the seller can show the corrective fix was carried out. Knowing the precise model and manufacture date — which you'll need anyway for the expiry check — also lets you confirm the recall status.

Check for missing parts and the manual

A car seat only protects properly when it's complete and installed correctly. Make sure nothing is missing — the harness pads, chest clip, base, infant insert if the model uses one, and especially the instruction manual. The manual tells you the correct installation and the child weight and height limits, and without it you can't be sure you're using the seat as designed. Inspect the harness for fraying, the buckle for a firm click, and the shell for any cracks.

When NOT to buy a used car seat

Walk away from a used car seat in any of these situations:

• You can't find or verify the manufacture/expiry date.
• The seat is past its expiry date.
• The seller can't confirm it has never been in a crash.
• There are any cracks in the shell, frayed webbing or a buckle that doesn't click firmly.
• Parts or the manual are missing.
• The model has an unresolved recall.
• You simply don't know enough about the seat's history — when in doubt, buy new.