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8 minute read Published on Jul 30, 2026 by BrokerLink Communications
If you have a baby or young child, you know how important choosing the right car seat can be. It’s what keeps them safe and comfortable when you’re on the road. But did you know that car seats expire? Like many safety devices, car seats have a useful lifespan. When they expire, their ability to protect your child is no longer guaranteed.
In this guide, we’ll cover how long car seats are good for in Canada, when to replace them, how to check expiry dates, what to look for with used car seats and more. Key takeaways:
Car seats have a manufacturer’s useful life, which ranges from 6 to 10 years, depending on the type and brand.
Check labels, the manual and the seat shell for the Date of Manufacture (DOM) and expiry.
Replace car seats after any moderate or severe crash or sooner if they suffer damage.
Used car seats come with risks. Only accept one if you know the full history, all parts are intact and there is no recall or crash history.
Yes, all car seats have an expiration date. But the length of time that a car seat is “good for” varies depending on the manufacturer, the type of car seat and how long it’s been used. “Good for” means:
The period during which the manufacturer guarantees the car seat will perform safely when installed and used correctly.
Beyond this set time period, the materials and safety features may no longer meet promised safety standards.
In Canada, all car seats sold must:
Meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Have a National Safety Mark
Have an expiration date posted on the car seat.
Car seats without this may not meet Canadian crash performance requirements and should be returned/replaced immediately.
Car seats may deteriorate with time, which is why expiration dates are included by manufacturing companies. While the car seats themselves won’t suddenly fail on their own by the expiry date, after the date has passed, their performance levels are not guaranteed.
Car seats are designed to last a specific number of years before needing to be replaced, primarily due to safety reasons:
Whether due to cold, heat, sun, humidity or simply age, the plastic that car seats are so often made of will eventually become brittle and break. Webbing can also stretch or fray and the foam padding can compress over time.
Frequently installing and removing your car seat from your vehicle, spills and cleaning can all lead to wear and tear of the seat itself, which, over time, reduces the seat’s effectiveness.
Safety regulations and testing protocols evolve as technology advances and manufacturing companies strive to create newer, safer products for their customers.
Car seat manufacturers are the ones who determine a car seat’s expiration date. They do this by:
Testing and design life: Manufacturers determine the expiration date of a car seat based on materials used, crash testing and long-term durability studies.
Child car seat expiration date ranges: Most car seats expire within 6 to 10 years.
Let's take a closer look at expiry dates:
You’ll be able to find the expiration date of your child’s car seat by:
Checking the outer shell of the seat.
Locating a printed label on the bottom, side or back.
Your owner’s manual.
Look for specific language like “Do not use after [date]” or "Useful life: ___ years from date of manufacture (DOM). Note that Transport Canada doesn’t legally require car seat expiration dates to be posted on seats sold. But, they still highly recommend them.
Car seat lifespans vary by seat type and manufacturer. Here’s a quick outline of the different types and common lifespans of varying car seats as per Transport Canada:
Brand
Typical useful life (from DOM)
Notes
Britax
6 to 10 years
Infant seats often last around 6 years. Some convertible/booster models can last up to 10 years.
Graco
7 to 10 years
Car seats made after 2011 generally can last 7 years for infants/convertible models. Boosters and other all-in-one models can last up to 10 years.
Evenflo
Standard Evenflo seats can last around 6 years. Some models, like the SafeMax All-In-One, can last up to 10 years.
Maxi-Cosi
10 years
Many Maxi-Cosi and Safety 1st brand seats have an average useful lifespan of 10 years.
Chicco
6 years
6 years from the manufacture date or date of purchase.
Not all car seats are built the same and several factors can influence how long a seat is considered safe to use:
Some car seat manufacturers design car seats with longer useful lifespans, while others are solely meant to last a couple of years. The materials used to create a new car seat, its overall design complexity and features can all impact the expiration date of the seat.
How you use and take care of your car seat also matters. Car seats that are used daily, constantly moved between vehicles and those exposed to extreme temperatures will likely age faster. Taking proper care of your child’s car seat, by correctly installing it using the instruction manual, gently cleaning it and storing it safely, can all help in keeping their seat in good condition, but it will never actually extend the expiration date.
Transport Canada testing standards change often as safety standards advance, which means newer car seats may include improved protection levels and updated designs. Therefore, even if a car seat hasn’t technically expired, it may not offer the same level of protection to your child as a new model.
As we mentioned, all car seats sold in Canada must display a Date of Manufacture (DOM) and the National Safety Mark (NSM). These verify that the car seat meets Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The expiry date should be posted directly on the seat and there are a couple of common locations where you will find it:
The back of the plastic shell near the car seat base.
The underside or bottom of the car seat.
Inside the shell side panel.
On the bottom of the detachable base for baby car seats.
On a sticker near the harness straps.
When you look at the label, pay attention to the following wording:
Manufactured on or DOM: ____.
Do not use this child restraint after ____.
Useful life: ____ years from the date of manufacture.
If you can’t find the date of manufacture or the expiration date, check the manufacturer’s instruction manual, visit the manufacturer’s website or contact their customer service with the model number and date of manufacture.
Numerous scenarios should prompt parents to replace their child’s car seat before it reaches its expiration date:
Transport Canada recommends that parents replace their child’s car seat following moderate to severe crashes, even if there is no visible damage to the seat itself. Some manufacturing companies even recommend replacing them after minor crashes. Visible damage to pay attention to includes:
Cracks, warped plastic or other stress markings.
Frayed, cut or melted harness straps.
Chest clips, buckles or adjustment pieces that do not function correctly.
Remember that exposure to extreme environmental factors can also impact how car seats expire. Whether freezing or scorching temperatures, severe conditions can accelerate material degradation.
If a car seat’s history is unknown, it should never be trusted. This goes for seats you find at garage sales, online marketplaces or the side of a curb. There’s a high chance these car or booster seats could have been involved in a collision, recalled or past their expiration date.
Further, car seats should also have all of their original parts. That includes the manual, buckles, chest clips, harness, bolts, etc. Purchasing aftermarket replacement parts that are not approved by the manufacturing company can compromise your child’s safety. Additionally, if there are signs that the car seat has been misused or modified, steer clear.
Generally speaking, hand-me-down car seats should be avoided. But if you’re receiving it from a family member or close friend that you trust and who provides you with the seat’s history, exceptions can be made. If you’re considering a second-hand car seat, make sure to confirm the following:
The date of manufacture and expiration date are visible and within the useful lifespan.
Has a Canadian National Safety Mark.
Has never been involved in a collision.
Has all of its original parts and instruction manual.
There are no recalls on the car seat.
Has a safety label posted on it.
Stay away from car seats that:
Come with no documentation.
Has an uncertain history.
Is missing parts or labels.
Was purchased outside of Canada.
Registering your car seat with its manufacturing company is one of the best ways to be notified about any safety issues that may arise after your purchase. By doing so, you’ll be directly notified if the seat has been recalled or if it requires a safety update.
You can often register your car seat directly on the manufacturer’s website by entering the model serial number and date of manufacture or mail in your information. You can also check Transport Canada’s online recall page for active recalls.
Unless the car seat or booster seat has a Canadian National Safety Mark, parents should refrain from using seats sold outside of Canada.
Car seat manufacturers strongly urge customers to safely dispose of expired car seats by disassembling them and recycling the parts. Check on their website to see if they have a recycling program available. Let's take a closer look:
Yes, even booster seats have an expiration date that needs to be followed. Check the labels and instruction guide to find this information.
Although there are many benefits to shopping secondhand, a car seat is not something that you want to buy used. Whether for expiration or recall-related reasons, it is generally safer to replace your expired car seat with a brand-new car seat.
Car seats don’t last forever. Every seat has a limited useful lifespan set by its manufacturing company and it should be followed in order to keep your child safe on the road. Even if a car seat looks okay to use, wear and tear, recalls, collisions and age can affect how the seat performs.
Take a couple of minutes after reading today’s blog to double-check the date of manufacture, expiry date, National Safety Mark and whether there are any active recalls on your seat model. If you’re still unsure, contact the manufacturing company directly or a child passenger safety technician for more information.
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