Do car seats really expire?

Yes. Car seats have expiration dates set by the manufacturer, typically 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture. The expiration date accounts for plastic degradation over time, changes in federal safety standards, and the increasing difficulty of obtaining replacement parts and recall notifications for older seats.

Where do I find the expiration date on a car seat?

The expiration date or manufacture date is printed on a label on the bottom, back, or side of the seat — or sometimes molded directly into the plastic shell. Some manufacturers print an explicit expiration date; others print only the manufacture date and state the lifespan in the manual. Check your owner's manual if you cannot find the label.

Is it safe to use an expired car seat?

No. Using an expired car seat is not recommended. The plastic shell and harness materials degrade over time and may not perform as designed in a crash. Expired seats also cannot be verified for recall status, and replacement parts may no longer be available. Safety organizations including NHTSA advise against using expired car seats.

How long does a Graco car seat last?

Graco car seat lifespan is 7 years for plastic-reinforced belt path seats and 10 years for steel-reinforced belt path seats and belt-positioning boosters. The expiration date is printed on a label on the bottom or back of the seat.

Reviewed & Verified by Firefighter & Paramedic Professionals

Do Car Seats Expire? How to Find the Expiration Date on Your Seat

Yes — car seats expire. Manufacturers set expiration dates of 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture. Using an expired car seat means relying on materials that have degraded, potentially recall-affected hardware, and a seat that has not been verified against current federal safety standards.

First Responder Insight: Expired plastic behaves differently in a crash than new plastic — it is more brittle and more likely to fracture in ways that change how crash forces transfer to the child. The expiration date is not a manufacturer gimmick to sell more seats. It reflects a real degradation in material performance.

Why Car Seats Have Expiration Dates

Several factors drive the expiration window manufacturers set on their seats:

Plastic degradation

Polypropylene and other plastics used in car seat shells become brittle over time, especially with repeated exposure to heat, cold, and UV light from sunlight through vehicle windows.

Harness material wear

Webbing, buckles, and chest clips are subject to repeated stress cycles, UV exposure, and chemical breakdown from cleaning products over years of use.

Evolving safety standards

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) evolve. Older seats were built to older standards. Manufacturers cannot guarantee older seats meet current requirements.

Recall and parts availability

After a certain age, replacement parts may no longer be manufactured. Identifying whether an old seat is subject to a recall also becomes difficult without proper labels.

How to Find the Expiration Date on Your Car Seat

Look for a label in one of these locations:

Bottom of the seat — the most common location for the manufacture date label
Back of the seat — some manufacturers place it here, particularly on infant carriers
Molded into the plastic shell — some brands stamp the date directly into the plastic rather than using a sticker
Owner's manual — if you cannot find the date on the seat, the manual states the lifespan from manufacture date

If the label is missing:

A car seat without a manufacture date label cannot be confirmed as safe to use. The label is required under federal law. If it is absent — due to wear, peeling, or removal — treat the seat as expired and replace it.

Car Seat Expiration by Major Brand

Always verify with your specific model's manual — lifespans vary within brands by product line.

Brand	Typical Lifespan	Notes
Graco	7–10 years	7 years for plastic-reinforced belt path; 10 years for steel-reinforced and belt-positioning boosters
Britax	6–10 years	Infant seats: 6 years; Convertibles: 7 years; ClickTight: 10 years; Harness-2-Booster: 9 years; Booster: 6 or 10 years depending on model
Chicco	Varies by model	Check label on underside of seat and product manual for your specific model
Evenflo	6–8 years	Most models 6 years; Symphony extends to 8 years due to use across multiple stages
Nuna	6–10 years	Varies by product line; check label and manual
UPPAbaby	8–10 years	Check your specific model; date is stamped on the seat shell
Clek	9–10 years	Foonf and Fllo: 9 years; Oobr booster: 10 years
Safety 1st	6–10 years	Varies by product; date of manufacture on label under seat

What to Do With an Expired Car Seat

An expired car seat should never be passed on, sold, or donated — even with disclosure. Someone else may use it without understanding the risks, or pass it on again.

Safe Disposal Steps

Cut or remove all harness straps
Write “EXPIRED — DO NOT USE” on the seat in permanent marker
Check your municipality's recycling program — many accept car seat polypropylene plastic
Some retailers (Target, Walmart, and others) periodically host car seat trade-in events where expired seats are accepted and recycled
Place in a closed trash bag before discarding to prevent retrieval

Saving a Car Seat for a Second Child

If you are planning to use a car seat purchased for an older child for a younger sibling, check the expiration date before assuming the seat is still usable. A seat purchased when your first child was an infant may be expired or close to expiration by the time a second child is ready for it.

Additionally, confirm the seat was never in a moderate or severe crash — see our guide on car seat replacement after accidents.

Key Takeaway

Check the expiration date on every car seat in your vehicle today. The label is typically on the bottom of the seat. If it is expired — or if the label is missing — replace the seat. A car seat that cannot be confirmed as unexpired and undamaged is not a seat you can rely on to protect your child.