Wondering if your car seat is still safe? Car seats expire, usually 6 to 10 years after they are made. Use the free checker below: pick your brand and model, enter the manufacture date from the sticker on your seat, and get your expiry date in seconds.
Car Seat Expiration Checker
Select your brand and model to see exactly when your seat expires.
From the sticker under or behind your seat (“Date of Manufacture”).
Expiration Rules by Brand
Every brand sets its own lifespan, from 6 years to 12
Britax
6 years for infant seats, 9 years for harness-2-booster seats, 10 years for convertibles, all-in-ones and boosters
Evenflo
10 years for seats made from January 2025 on; older seats mostly 6 years (8 for Symphony, Transitions and Evolve)
Nuna
7 years for PIPA infant seats, 10 years for convertibles, all-in-ones, rotating seats and boosters
Maxi-Cosi
8 to 12 years depending on the product; Mico infant seats 8 years, Pria and Emme 360 10 years
UPPAbaby
7 years for the MESA V2, MESA MAX and ARIA, 10 years for the MESA V3, ROVE and KNOX, 8 years for the ALTA booster
. Tap your brand for its full rules, where its date is printed, and what it says after a crash.
How to Use the Expiration Checker
- Select your brand. Choose from popular brands like Graco, Chicco, Britax, Evenflo, Clek and more.
- Select your model. Pick your exact model, for example Chicco KeyFit 30 or Graco 4Ever DLX. If you are not sure, choose “Other / not sure”.
- Enter the manufacture date. Find it on the sticker under or behind your seat.
- Click Check Seat. You will see your expiry date, a countdown of safe use left, and clear next steps.
Where to Find the Manufacture Date
Flip your car seat over or look behind it for a white sticker. Every car seat sold in the US must carry its Date of Manufacture on the label. Many stickers also show a “Do Not Use After” date. If the sticker is missing or unreadable, check your manual or contact the manufacturer before using the seat.
What Your Result Means
Still safe to use (green). Your seat is within its lifespan. Keep using it and register it with the manufacturer for recall alerts.
Expiring soon (amber). Your seat is near the end of its life. Start comparing replacement seats now.
Expired (red). Replace the seat as soon as possible. An expired seat may not protect your child in a crash. Cut the straps of the old seat so no one else uses it.
Why Do Car Seats Expire?
Car seats expire for real safety reasons. Plastic and harness materials weaken over years of heat, cold and sunlight. Safety standards also improve, so newer seats protect better. Expiry dates make sure children ride in seats that meet current standards and have no hidden wear. Think about the temperature swings your car goes through, from freezing winter mornings to scorching summer afternoons. Those heat and cold cycles slowly make the plastic shell brittle, and the harness webbing wears a little more with every buckle and unbuckle. And because crash testing and safety rules get stricter every few years, an older seat may not protect as well as a new one.
FAQs by Parents
Q.1 What if my brand or model is not listed?
Choose “My brand is not listed” or “Other / not sure”. The checker will use the typical 6 to 10 year range and advise you to confirm with your manual.
Q.2 Can I use a car seat after it expires?
No. An expired seat should be replaced. The materials may be weakened in ways you cannot see, and it may not meet current safety standards.
Q.3 Does a second-hand seat expire too?
Yes. Expiry counts from the manufacture date, not the purchase date. Always check the sticker before accepting a used seat, and never use one with unknown history.
Q.4 How accurate is the checker?
The checker uses the lifespan each manufacturer states for that model, so it is a solid guide. But exact lifespans can vary by model year, so always confirm with your manual and the sticker on your seat.
Q.5 Do booster seats expire too?
Yes, they do. Booster seats use the same plastic and foam parts, so they expire just like any other seat. Check the label on the booster the same way you would for a convertible seat.
Q.6 What if my seat has no sticker at all?
Treat the seat as expired if you cannot confirm its age. Contact the manufacturer with the model number and any date code stamped into the plastic; they can often look it up for you.