The easiest way to tell if a car seat is expired is to locate its expiration date, which is typically stamped on the manufacturer's label or molded directly into the plastic shell. All car seats have an expiration date, usually 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture, because materials like plastic and EPS foam degrade over time, compromising safety. You should never use an expired car seat.
Car seats expire for several critical safety reasons. Plastic degrades with exposure to extreme temperatures inside a car (from freezing cold to intense heat), becoming brittle and less able to withstand the forces of a crash. The energy-absorbing foam can also deteriorate. Furthermore, safety standards and technology improve significantly over a decade; an older seat likely lacks the latest safety enhancements.
You can find the expiration date by checking these common locations:
- On the manufacturer's label (often on the back or bottom of the seat).
- Molded into the plastic shell on the underside or back.
- In the instruction manual, which you should always keep.
If the date is not immediately obvious, look for the manufacture date and add the recommended lifespan. The following table provides examples of typical expiration periods for major brands, but you should always verify the specific date for your model.
| Car Seat Brand | Typical Expiration/Lifespan | Common Location for Date |
|---|
| Graco | 6 to 10 years | Stamped on a label on the back or bottom |
| Britax | 6 to 10 years | Molded into the plastic shell |
| Chicco | 6 to 8 years | Printed on a label on the side or back |
| Evenflo | 6 to 8 years | Stamped on a label on the back or bottom |
| Maxi-Cosi | 6 to 8 years | Printed on a label or molded into the shell |
| Clek | 7 to 9 years | Molded into the plastic shell |
| UPPAbaby | 7 to 8 years | Printed on a label on the back |
| Diono | 8 to 10 years | Molded into the plastic shell |
If your car seat has been in a moderate or severe crash, it may need to be replaced immediately, even if it's not expired—check the manufacturer's policy. If you can't find the date after a thorough search, contact the manufacturer directly with the model name and number. When a seat expires, the safest practice is to dismantle it (so it can't be used again) and dispose of it according to local regulations, often with retailers offering trade-in events.
