Most car seats last between six and 10 years but car seat expiration dates vary by manufacturer. The clock starts ticking from the date of manufacture not the date of purchase.

Why Child Car Seats Expire

An example of the graco expiration statement is shown below.

Car seat expiration law. The graco car seat expiration date is either seven or ten years after initial production depending on the model. A sticker that provides the serial number includes manufacture and expiration dates. The expiration date is most often printed near the manufacturer s label on the car seat base or back.

Children under the age of four must ride in safety seats. Due to frequent changes in vehicles regulations safety technology and general wear and tear graco recommends not to use a car seat past its expiration date. If not check the instruction manual for each car seat you own or give the manufacturer a call.

Children under the age of 16 must wear seat belts when they are in the front seat or the back seat. Sometimes instead of an expiration date the car seat will have a manufactured on date. This safety device comes with a precise expiration date telling owners when the seat is no longer legal to use.

Ohio s children are required to use belt positioning booster seats once they outgrow their child safety seats. Yes car seats typically expire after six years from the date of manufacture. Check the owner s manual.

Ohio s child passenger safety law is defined in ohio revised code 4511 81. If you find a great deal on a car seat because it is the previous year s model. 7 2009 ohio s children are required to use belt positioning booster seats once they outgrow their child safety seats until they are 8 years old unless they are at least 4 feet 9 inches 57 inches tall.

Only a few seats may be good for longer than that. See the information above about safety restraint systems required for children until their 8th birthday. Most car seats will have an expiration date imprinted somewhere on the seat.

Generally a car seat will expire six years after the date of manufacture. Of course the seats don t. The expiration date is often printed on the seat itself.

Graco defines useful life as 10 years for belt positioning boosters and for steel reinforced belt path car seats and 7 years for plastic reinforced belt path car seats. If you can t find it there you can assuredly find it in the instruction manual. Graco has an expiration statement located on the bottom or back of every car seat we make with the statement do not use this car seat after month year.

However some car seats can be used longer than 6 years. If there is only a date of manufacture you should be aware that car seats are recommended to be used up to 5 6 years after the date of manufacture and be careful not to confuse it with the date of purchase. New york state law requires all front seat passengers to wear seat belts.