When a crash means your child needs a new car seat
Advice from a certified child passenger safety technician
A crash can damage a child’s car seat even when you can’t see a crack. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says to replace a seat after a moderate or severe crash. A seat that went through a minor crash doesn’t automatically need replacing. The company that made the seat may set a stricter rule. Check its manual as well. [1]
A crash is minor only if all five conditions fit
NHTSA counts a crash as minor only when every one of these five things is true:
- The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.
- The door closest to the car seat wasn’t damaged.
- None of the passengers were hurt.
- No air bag went off.
- The car seat shows no damage you can see. [1]
If even one of these doesn’t fit, the crash doesn’t count as minor under this guidance. After a serious crash with injuries, plan on replacing the seat from the start. [1]
Get the next ride right
Write down the seat’s make, model, serial number and the date it was made. Take photos of its labels and of the crash damage. Read the maker’s instructions. Then line up a suitable new seat before your child rides again. [1, 2]
Ask the insurer if it will pay for a new seat. Don’t hold up your child’s travel plans while you wait for its answer, though. A certified child passenger safety technician can help you choose the new seat and put it in. [1, 2]
Keep a damaged seat out of another family's car
If the seat needs replacing, follow local advice on how to get rid of it so no other family uses it. Hold on to the manual and the proof of purchase for the new seat. [1]
Settle these questions today
- Did all five of NHTSA’s minor crash conditions apply?
- Does the company that made this seat require a new one?
- What approved restraint will my child use on the next ride?
Find the label on the seat
Locate the seat’s label now. Then read what the maker says to do after a crash. [1]
Sources and further reading
This is U.S. child passenger safety guidance, so check local rules if you live elsewhere. The seat maker’s instructions and the seat’s exact history both matter. Never reuse a seat that was in a moderate or severe crash.
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