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When Do Car Seats Expire? How Long They Last by Maker

Car seats expire on a date set by each maker. See what Britax, Chicco, Evenflo and Safety 1st state, where the date is printed and how to retire a seat.

By Baby Product Recalls editorial teamUpdated 4 min readHow we research

An orange Free Car Seat Check sign in front of a fire district vehicle
Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Yes, car seats expire, and each maker sets the date, usually counted from the date of manufacture. Britax and Chicco publish 6 to 10 years, Evenflo 10 years for newer seats and Safety 1st eight to twelve. The American Academy of Pediatrics says never to use a seat that is too old.

Those figures span whole product lines, so the only number that applies to you is the one on your own seat’s label or in its manual.

How long car seats last, by maker

Car seat lifespans differ by maker and by model, and the four makers below publish their own figures. Each line is that maker’s statement, not a rule from a government agency.

Maker Lifespan the maker states Where the maker says to look
Britax “Generally 6 to 10 years from the Date of Manufacture, depending on the model” Serial label for the date of manufacture; many models made after 2018 also list the expiration there. The manual has the exact timeframe.
Chicco “6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture, depending on the car seat type and model” Label on the underside of the seat or on the base, plus the product manual
Evenflo “10 year expiration from the date of manufacture” for all car seats and boosters; a seat made before January 2025 “may have a different expiration date” Label usually on the bottom, side or back of the seat. Follow the date on the seat you own.
Safety 1st “Eight to twelve years, depending on the product” Sticker on the back of many seats for the date of manufacture; the manual for the lifespan

A single maker can vary a lot. Britax’s guide lists 6 years for its Willow infant seats, 9 for Grow With You and 10 for Poplar, Galaxy360 and One4Life. Evenflo’s guide says that across the industry, dates may run from 4 years up to 10 or 12.

If your seat comes from Graco or another brand not listed here, read its label and manual. A longer stated life is not a safety rating, and the AAP says no one seat is the best or safest.

Where to find a car seat expiration date

A car seat expiration date is usually printed on a label on the seat or worked out from one. Follow these steps with the seat out of the car:

  1. Find the manufacture label. Check the back, sides, bottom and base.
  2. Look for a printed date. Evenflo gives two common wordings: “DO NOT use this car seat after [month/day/year]” or “DO NOT use this car seat ___ years after the date of manufacture.”
  3. Check the manual if no date is printed. Britax says its manuals carry a line telling you to discontinue use once the seat is older than a stated number of years.
  4. Do the sum. Add the lifespan to the date of manufacture, unless your label or manual says otherwise. A seat made in March 2022 with a 10 year life runs out in March 2032.

If the label is gone

The date is gone too. The AAP says never to use a seat without a label showing the date of manufacture and model number.

Why car seats have expiration dates

Car seat expiration dates exist for reasons the makers explain in similar terms:

  • Materials age. Britax says plastics and foams can degrade, particularly when a seat sits through big temperature swings in a vehicle. Chicco points to the potential effects of heat, UV exposure and other conditions.
  • Standards change. Britax, Chicco and Evenflo all say safety standards or regulations change over time. Britax says an older seat “may not provide the same level of protection as a newer model.”
  • Paperwork gets lost. Evenflo notes that labels and instructions may be lost, illegible or no longer available from the manufacturer.

Replacement parts do not reset the clock on a Chicco seat. Chicco says parts can refresh a seat during its labeled lifespan “but they do not extend the expiration date.”

What NHTSA and the AAP say about old seats

NHTSA and the AAP both treat a seat’s age as a reason to stop using it. Their family guidance names no number of years, and the AAP sends you to the maker for the figure.

In their own words

NHTSA’s used seat checklist says the date and model labels are how “to find out if there is a recall on the car seat or if the seat is too old.”

The AAP says: “Look on the label for the date the seat was made. Check with the manufacturer to find out how long it recommends using the seat.”

Age is one check among several. A seat within its date can still be ruled out by a recall, a crash, visible cracks or missing parts, so run the full used car seat checks on any hand-me-down.

What to do with an expired car seat

An expired car seat should come out of use, and Britax and Evenflo both publish steps to stop anyone else using it. Together they cover:

  1. Remove the fabric cover, or cut the webbing and cover as Britax advises.
  2. Cut the harness straps.
  3. Remove the serial number and manufacturing date or make them unreadable (Britax).
  4. Mark the shell clearly as expired and not for use, with a permanent message or label.
  5. Put it in a large trash bag (Evenflo), then recycle it if a local program accepts car seats, or use regular waste services. Britax suggests asking your local waste department where to take it.

Before the old seat goes, check that the new one suits your child’s size using the forward facing car seat limits guide, and look up its model in car seat recalls by brand. The car seat recalls page shows how to search NHTSA’s records.

Frequently asked questions

Do booster seats expire too?

Evenflo and Britax both publish booster figures. Evenflo says all of its car seats and booster seats now have a 10 year expiration from the date of manufacture, though a seat made before January 2025 may differ. Britax lists 10 years for its Highpoint, Skyline and UpNGo boosters.

Does the expiration count from the day I bought the seat?

Usually not. Britax says the date of manufacture is not the date of purchase. Evenflo says most expiration dates are worked out from the manufacture date, though some brands may allow a count from the purchase date, so follow your own seat's label or manual.

Can replacement parts make an expired car seat usable again?

Not on a Chicco seat. For any other brand, ask the maker. Chicco says replacement parts can refresh a seat during its labeled lifespan but do not extend the expiration date.

What if my car seat has no date label?

Do not use it. The AAP says never to use a seat without a label showing the date of manufacture and model number, because without them you cannot check whether the seat has been recalled.

Filed under Car seatsStart with Car Seat Recalls: How to Check Yours and What to Do

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Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0