Car seat registration and recalls: how to keep your child's seat safe
How to register a car seat, check recalls and know when a seat must be replaced
A car seat is one of the most important safety purchases a family makes. But a seat can only protect a child if it is installed right, used right and free of known defects. Registration and recall checks take five minutes and are easy to forget in the rush of new parenthood.
This guide covers how to register a seat, how to check for recalls and when a seat needs to be replaced.
Why registration matters
Every new car seat comes with a registration card. Federal rules require it [1]. When you send it in or register online, the maker can contact you directly if the seat is recalled. Your information is used only for safety notices.
Without registration, the maker has no way to find you. You would have to hear about a recall in the news.
Car seat recalls are not rare. In 2025, NHTSA recorded 8 child seat recalls covering 744,665 seats [2].
How to register
- Use the card in the box. Postage is prepaid. Fill it out and mail it.
- Or register online. Most makers have a registration page. The card lists the web address.
- Have this information ready: the model name and number and the date of manufacture. Both are on a label on the seat.
- Register every seat, including boosters and seats at a grandparent’s or caregiver’s house.
How to check for recalls
You can check anytime, even if you registered:
- Go to NHTSA.gov/recalls and choose car seats
- Enter the brand, model name and model number from the seat’s label
- Check again every few months, and before using a seat a friend or relative gives you
If your seat is recalled, read the notice carefully. Many car seat recalls are fixed with a free part or kit sent by mail. Follow the notice on whether to keep using the seat until the fix arrives.
A new federal side impact rule
Until now, federal car seat rules have tested only frontal crashes. A new standard, FMVSS 213a, adds a side impact test. Under a final rule NHTSA issued in September 2026, seats made on or after December 5, 2026, must pass it [3]. Some makers have already certified seats to the new test.
What this means for parents:
- Seats you already own were built to the rules in place when they were made
- Nothing in the rule requires families to replace seats that are not expired, damaged or recalled
- When you shop, ask whether a seat is certified to the new side impact standard
The updated rules also raise the minimum weight for booster seats from more than 30 pounds to more than 40 pounds [4]. Experts already urged families to keep children in harnessed seats longer.
Car seats expire
Plastic weakens over time, and standards improve. Most car seats have an expiration date, often 6 to 10 years after manufacture. Look for it on a label or stamped into the plastic. When it passes, stop using the seat.
When to replace after a crash
NHTSA recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe crash [5]. A seat may not need replacing after a minor crash, which NHTSA defines as one where all of these are true [5]:
- The vehicle could be driven away from the crash
- The vehicle door nearest the car seat was not damaged
- No one in the vehicle was injured
- The air bags did not deploy
- There is no visible damage to the car seat
If any of these is not true, replace the seat. Many auto insurers pay for a new car seat after a crash. Ask for it as part of your claim.
Be careful with used seats
A used seat can be a good option only if you know its full history. Do not use a seat if:
- You do not know whether it has been in a crash
- It is past its expiration date
- It has missing parts, labels or instructions
- It has cracks, frayed straps or broken buckles
- It has an open recall that has not been fixed
Get the installation checked
A recalled seat is a risk, but a poorly installed seat is a far more common one. A NHTSA study found that 46 percent of car seats and booster seats were misused in ways that could reduce their protection [6]. Certified child passenger safety technicians check seats for free in many communities. Find one through NHTSA’s car seat inspection locator or Safe Kids Worldwide.
Warning: If your car seat is recalled for a problem with the buckle, harness or shell, read the notice right away. Some recalls advise using a different seat until the fix arrives.
Checklist: car seat safety
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- I registered every car seat and booster we use
- I checked NHTSA for recalls in the last few months
- I know each seat’s expiration date
- No seat we use has been in a moderate or severe crash
- I know the full history of any used seat
- A certified technician has checked our installation
Frequently asked questions
I lost the registration card. Can I still register?
Yes. Go to the maker’s website or call its customer service line. You will need the model number and date of manufacture from the seat label.
Should I buy a new seat because of the side impact rule?
Not because of the rule alone. Replace a seat if it is expired, damaged, recalled without a fix or has been in a moderate or severe crash.
Are more expensive seats safer?
All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet the same federal standards. The safest seat is one that fits your child, fits your car and is used correctly every time.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
- 1Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. “49 CFR 588: Child Restraint Systems Recordkeeping Requirements.” ecfr.gov/…/part-588
- 2National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “2025 Annual Recalls Report.” nhtsa.gov/…/2025-annual-recalls-report.…
- 3National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213a; Child Restraint Systems, Side Impact Protection” (final rule). September 2026. public-inspection.federalregister.gov/…/2026-18380.pdf
- 4National Child Passenger Safety Board. “FMVSS 213 Updates.” November 2025. cpsboard.org/…/FMVSS-213-Updates-FINAL-202…
- 5National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Car Seats and Booster Seats.” nhtsa.gov/…/car-seats-and-booster-seats
- 6National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Results of the 2015 National Child Restraint Use Special Study.” crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/812142
This article reflects the safety priorities of child passenger safety. It is general education, not professional installation guidance. Check NHTSA and your car seat manual for current advice. Reviewed November 2026.
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