Car seat expiration: where to find the date and what to do

Car seats have a useful life set by the manufacturer. After that date, the maker says to stop using the seat. The date is on the seat itself or in the manual, and it takes about a minute to find. Always check the date label on your seat and its manual. Your seat's manufacturer has the final word on when to stop using it, and their label overrides any general guide, including this one.

Why do car seats expire?

Manufacturers give a few reasons:

• Plastics and foams can break down over years of use and big temperature swings in a parked car (Britax, Graco).
• Standards and crash protection designs change over time (Evenflo, Britax).
• Labels and manuals get lost, which makes it harder to check for recalls or use the seat correctly (Evenflo).

NHTSA's used car seat checklist says you need the labels with the date of manufacture and the model number "to find out if there is a recall on the car seat or if the seat is too old" (NHTSA).

Where to find the expiration date

Look for the label with the model number and date of manufacture. It is usually on the back, side or bottom of the seat. On infant seats, also check the base, because bases have their own date.

You will see one of two things:

1. A printed expiration date, such as "Do not use after [date]." Many newer seats show this on the label. Britax, for example, prints it on the serial label of many models made after 2018 (Britax).
2. Only a date of manufacture. In that case, find the lifespan in the manual or molded into the plastic shell. Look for wording like "Do not use this child restraint after..." or "discontinue use if older than..." (Graco, Britax).

Then add the lifespan to the date of manufacture. Graco gives this example: made 3/15/2020, with a 10-year life, means the seat expires 3/15/2030 (Graco).

The date of manufacture is not the date you bought the seat. Most brands count from manufacture. Evenflo notes that some brands count from purchase instead, so read your label (Evenflo).

How long are car seats good for?

It depends on the brand and the type of seat. Here is what three manufacturers publish. If your brand or model is not listed, go by the label or manual on your seat.

Evenflo also says that across the industry, useful life can range from 4 years up to 10 or 12 years (Evenflo). That spread is why the label on your seat matters more than any general rule.

What to do when a car seat expires

1. Stop using it and get a seat that fits your child's current height and weight (Graco).
2. Make it unusable so nobody picks it up later. Graco, Britax and Evenflo all suggest removing the cover and cutting the harness straps. Graco and Evenflo also suggest writing "EXPIRED, DO NOT USE" on the shell and putting it in a trash bag.
3. Recycle it if a local program takes car seats, or throw it out with regular trash.

Before you reuse or buy a used seat

Check the expiration date, look for open recalls and make sure the seat has never been in a moderate or severe crash. NHTSA recommends replacing a seat after a moderate or severe crash (NHTSA). Our used car seat checklist walks through each point.

To check for recalls, search the model number on our home page, browse car seat recalls, or use NHTSA's lookup at NHTSA.gov/recalls. While you have the label in front of you, register the seat so the maker can contact you about a recall.

FAQ

Do car seats really expire?

Yes. Manufacturers set a useful life for each seat and print it on the label, in the manual or in the plastic shell. After that date, the manufacturer says to stop using the seat.

Where is the expiration date on a car seat?

Look for the label with the model number and date of manufacture, usually on the back, side or bottom of the seat. Some labels show a "do not use after" date. If yours shows only the date of manufacture, find the lifespan in the manual and add it to that date.

How long are car seats good for?

It depends on the brand and model. Graco lists 7 or 10 years depending on construction. Britax lists generally 6 to 10 years. Evenflo lists 10 years for current seats. Check your own seat's label or manual for the exact date.

Does the expiration date start from when I bought the seat?

Usually not. Most brands count from the date of manufacture, which is printed on the label. Some brands count from purchase, so read your label or manual.

Do car seat bases expire?

Yes. Infant seat bases have their own label and date. Check the base separately from the carrier.

What should I do with an expired car seat?

Stop using it. Cut the harness straps, remove the cover and mark the shell as expired so no one else uses it. Then recycle it or put it out with the trash.

Can I use an expired car seat if it looks fine?

Manufacturers say not to. Britax notes that plastics and foams can break down over time and that standards change, so an older seat may not protect as well as a newer one. Follow the date on your seat.

KidsRecallChecker is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by CPSC, NHTSA, or any government agency.

Sources

• Graco, Car Seat Expiration: https://www.gracobaby.com/carseatexpirationpage.html
• Britax, Expiration Dates FAQs: https://us.britax.com/support/frequently-asked-questions/expiration-dates
• Britax, Car Seat Expiration and Date of Manufacture guide (lifespan by model): https://us.britax.com/knowledge-center/how-tos-and-britax-guides/car-seat-expiration-and-date-of-manufacture-a-britax-guide
• Evenflo, When Do Car Seats Expire? (Mar 17, 2026): https://www.evenflo.com/blogs/evenflo-blog/when-do-car-seats-expire-what-parents-need-to-know
• NHTSA, Used Car Seat Safety Checklist: https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/used-car-seat-safety-checklist
• NHTSA, Car Seat Use After a Crash: https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/car-seat-use-after-crash
• NHTSA recall lookup: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?prodType=C