Car Seat Expiration Dates by Brand (2026): How Long Every Major Brand's Seats Last

Car seats expire, and the date varies more than most parents expect: from 6 years for some infant seats to 12 for some boosters. The table below gives each major brand's rule as the manufacturer states it on its own website or in its own manual, checked in September 2026. Where a brand's rule depends on the model, we say so.

Key point: this is a guide to where to look, not a substitute for your seat's own label. Models change, and the label and manual on your seat are the final word.

At a glance

• Shortest: 6 years, for Chicco and Doona infant seats, some Baby Trend infant seats, and the low end of the Britax and Cybex ranges.
• Longest: 12 years, for some Maxi-Cosi and Safety 1st products and Peg Perego boosters.
• Most common: 7 to 10 years, depending on seat type.
• Starting point: the date of manufacture (or production) for most brands here. Peg Perego counts from the purchase date, and Cybex points to the label on the seat.
• No date on the seat: the AAP's fallback is 6 years from manufacture.

How Long Do Car Seats Last, by Brand?

Brands we could not confirm. Nuna, Clek, Diono and Cosco are popular too, but we could not load a page on their own sites that states the period. We do not copy numbers from third-party blogs.

Check the label on your seat instead: Nuna says the recommended use period is typically on a sticker underneath the seat.

Where the Variations Are

Graco splits convertibles by frame. The same kind of seat can last 7 or 10 years depending on whether it has a steel-reinforced frame. Check the back of the seat rather than assuming from the seat type.

Peg Perego counts from the purchase date. Every other brand here counts from the date of manufacture. Peg Perego falls back to the manufacture date if you do not know when the seat was bought, so keep your receipt with the manual.

Baby Trend's Cover Me has two dates. It expires in harness mode after 7 years but can keep going as a booster until 9.

Evenflo changed its rule in 2025. Seats made from January 2025 get 10 years across the range. For an older Evenflo, follow the date printed on the seat itself.

Ranges mean "check your manual". Britax, Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Safety 1st publish a range, not a per-model list, on the pages we found. The exact figure for your seat is in its manual and on its label.

Why Do Car Seats Expire?

The manufacturers give the same reasons in different words:

• Materials age. Graco points to general wear and tear. Chicco says sunlight, extreme temperatures and humidity can degrade car seat materials over time, and that straps stretch and loosen with use.
• Standards and vehicles change. Britax notes that NHTSA updates its standards and new technology arrives. Graco adds that vehicles change as well.
• The seat's history gets harder to know. Evenflo notes that an expiration date also keeps secondhand, crashed or incomplete seats out of use.

Where Is the Expiration Date on a Car Seat?

Look for two things: the date of manufacture (sometimes shown as DOM) and either an expiration date or a lifespan in years.

• A label on the seat. Usually on the back or underside of the shell, and on the base for infant seats. It also carries the model number you need for recall checks.
• Molded into the plastic. Some brands, including Baby Trend, stamp the date into the shell.
• The manual. Graco lists it in a Useful Life section and Britax in the Warnings section, and the Joie manual above states it under Best Practices.

Key point: if the label is missing or unreadable and you cannot tell the seat's age, treat that as a reason not to use it. The AAP warns against seats with missing labels.

Can You Use a Car Seat After It Expires?

Bottom line: no. The manufacturers' own pages are clear on it.

• Chicco says there are no circumstances in which to use an expired seat, and calls expiry one of the few situations that requires replacing the whole product.
• Doona and UPPAbaby say not to use their seats past the date.
• Graco says to replace a seat once it reaches its useful-life date.

The American Academy of Pediatrics gives one fallback for a seat with no expiration date: use 6 years from the date of manufacture.

What to Do With an Expired Car Seat

Make sure nobody else can use it. Doona's instructions are a good template for any brand:

1. Cut the straps, harness and padding.
2. Write "EXPIRED" on the shell.
3. Put the seat in a garbage bag.
4. Follow your local disposal rules, recycling the plastic parts where you can.

Do not sell or donate an expired seat.

Do You Need a New Car Seat After a Crash?

Key point: after a moderate or severe crash, yes. The AAP says not to use a seat that has been in one.

After a minor crash, the answer depends on whether it meets NHTSA's definition. The AAP's summary of NHTSA's criteria counts a crash as minor only if all of these are true:

• The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.
• The door nearest the car seat was not damaged.
• Nobody in the vehicle was injured.
• The air bags did not deploy.
• There is no visible damage to the car seat.

Some manufacturers recommend replacing a seat after any crash, so check your manual as well.

Buying Used? Check the Date First

A used seat needs a readable label with its date of manufacture and model number. Without them you cannot check the expiration date or look up a recall. The AAP advises against a used seat if you do not know its history, and against any seat that:

• has been in a crash;
• has been recalled;
• is too old;
• has cracks in its frame;
• is missing parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do car seats really expire?

Yes. Every major manufacturer sets an expiration date, usually 6 to 10 years after the date of manufacture and up to 12 for some boosters. They cite materials that degrade with heat, sunlight and use, and safety standards and vehicles that change over time. The date is on the seat's label or in its manual.

Where is the expiration date on a car seat?

On a label on the seat, usually on the back or underside of the shell. Infant seats often also carry one on the base. Some brands mold it into the plastic. The manual gives the lifespan too: in Graco's Useful Life section, in Britax's Warnings section, and in the Best Practices section of the Joie manual we checked.

Can I use a car seat after it expires?

No. Chicco says there are no circumstances in which to use an expired seat, Doona and UPPAbaby say not to use theirs past the date, and Graco says to replace a seat at its useful-life date. If your seat has no expiration date at all, the AAP's rule is 6 years from the date of manufacture.

Do Graco car seats expire?

Yes. Graco infant seats and bases expire 7 years after the date of manufacture, as do convertibles and harness boosters without a steel-reinforced frame. Graco's all-in-one seats, convertibles and harness boosters with a steel-reinforced frame, and high-back and backless boosters last 10 years. The back of the seat states the date.

Does the expiration date start when I buy the seat?

For most brands, no: it counts from the date of manufacture, which can be months before you buy. Peg Perego is the exception here, counting from the date of original purchase. Check the date of manufacture before you buy, especially on a clearance seat.

Do I have to replace a car seat after a minor accident?

Not always. NHTSA's minor-crash definition needs all five conditions: you could drive away, the nearest door was undamaged, nobody was hurt, no air bags deployed, and the seat shows no damage. Some manufacturers recommend replacement after any crash, so check your manual.

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This page summarizes manufacturer policies and public guidance; it is not legal or medical advice. For help checking or installing a car seat, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can inspect it, often for free. Your seat's own label and manual always take priority over this table.