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When it comes to keeping children safe in the car, a car seat is one of the most important investments parents can make. And they can be quite pricey, which makes buying a used car seat pretty tempting.
There is a lot of opportunity out there to purchase second hand baby items, including car seats. And I get it. As a seller, a parent is thinking, “I barely used this seat, it’s perfectly good so maybe I can get some of my money back by selling it.” And as a buyer, a parent is thinking, “it looks like perfectly good car seat and it’s a fraction of what it would be new, ‘Score!'”
This may seems like a practical solution. But there are several reasons why buying a used car seat — or using a free car seat picked up on the side of the road (see below) — can be a risky choice. So before you hit the “message seller” button on Facebook Marketplace or skip out of the second-hand baby store with your super duper on-the-cheap Doona, take a minute to consider the following reasons to not buy a second hand car seat.
The Mystery History Problem
One of the biggest issues with buying a used car seat is that you can never be entirely sure of its history. That pristine-looking seat might have been in a fender bender last month. And here’s the kicker — even a minor crash can compromise a car seat’s ability to protect your precious cargo.
The damage isn’t always visible. Even a close inspection may not reveal hairline cracks in the plastic or how the webbing has already been stretched in a previous crash.
When buying used, you may not be able to ask the previous owner about the crash history of the car seat. And even if you can, how do you know you can trust their not skipping over that totally minor event in the parking lot that “couldn’t have possibly done damage to the seat.” And maybe it didn’t… or maybe it did. Who can tell? Even car seat experts won’t look at a car seat after a crash and say whether or not it was damaged.
How Much Life is Left
In case you didn’t already know, car seats expire. I know it’s seems like a wild conspiracy and that car seat manufacturers are just out to make more money. I’m not even sure if it’s a manufacturer thing or a NHTSA thing, but car seats do expire for a few reasons like plastics getting brittle or components getting stuck with age and dirt.
Most seats last 6-10 years from their manufacture date, but that used seat you’re eyeing? It might be halfway (or more!) through its lifespan already.
The expiration date is usually printed on the seat itself or can be found in the user manual. When buying a used car seat, sometimes that sticker is rubbed off or the manual was lost so you can’t even tell when the expiration date is.
What’s the recall status
Car seat recalls happen more often than you might think. Sometimes the recall is something as simple as the manual having slightly wrong language. Other times the recall is serious, like the buckle stops working after some time.
When you buy new and register the car seat, manufacturers can let customers know about recalls and what needs to happen to fix it or replace it. But with a used seat? You’re basically playing recall roulette.
Yes, there are ways to check whether or not a car seat has a recall. You could check the model number against recall lists or contact the manufacturer to ask. But what happens if you find out there is a recall on the seat and only the original registered owner is eligible for the repair? That means no fix for you.
Missing Pieces Puzzle
Ever tried to put together a 1,000-piece puzzle only to find out there are pieces missing? Super annoying, right? Now imagine those missing pieces are crucial safety components of your car seat! Or even worse. you don’t even know it’s missing!
Sometimes when cleaning a car seat or what have you, pieces get misplaced. What if the parent substitutes that piece with some thing else that seems to work but is definitely not safety tested. (Like the safety pins and locking clip on the harness straps above.)
Buying a new car seat ensures that all parts are intact, functioning correctly, and meet the manufacturer’s safety standards.
Sure it looks clean now
When buying a used car seat, how do you know if the previous owner let their toddler drip sugary goo into the buckle? It might work OK now but how about in a few more months?
Car seats are designed to withstand typical wear and tear, but over time, even normal use can degrade important components. A used car seat is a case where what you don’t know might hurt your child in a crash.
Up to Snuff
Federal safety standards don’t necessarily change often. And manufacturers are given time to implement new standard. But standards may have changed since that used seat you are looking at was manufactured. (NHTSA recently updated standards for side impact.)This also is one of the reasons for expiration dates on car seats. When standards do change, new features are added to new seats.
While you can continue using an older seat up to the expiration date, it doesn’t have that new safety feature (whatever that is) that new seats will have.
Even if there are no updated standards, manufacturer’s are always trying to make seats better and safer.
Download our report: Common Car Seat Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Feeling left out
Manufacturers warranty car seats much like anything else. If there is a defect or issue, the manufacturer may offer to repair or replace the seat. But this is usually only for the original, and sometimes registered, owner of the seat. That means you as a second-hand owner is out on any sort of warranty.
When it is OK
Is there ever a time when buying a used car seat is OK? The ONLY time it’s relatively safe to use a used car seat is when you know its complete history. This typically means buying it from a close family member or a trusted friend, basically someone you personally know and completely trust enough to put your child’s life in their hands.
Even when you know and trust the previous owner and know the history, you still want to check the expiration date and check for recalls. Also check to make sure everything seems to be working properly.
New is just too much
We get it. The economy is tough and a lot of people are in a financial bind. And while we experts can say your child’s safety is worth every penny of a new car seat, sometimes it’s seriously not feasible.
If cost is truly a barrier, there are options! Many organizations offer car seat assistance programs. Check with local health department or hospital safety programs. You can also watch for sales at major retailers. Remember even an inexpensive car seat has to meet all the federal safety standards. When selecting a car seat, you don’t need to go full out name brand with all the bells and whistles.
If all that fails and you feel like it’s come down to a buy used or not use a car seat situation, it’s quite likely a used car seat is better than no car seat. In that case, before buying used:
- Make sure the seat still has the manufacturer’s label.
- Check for any recalls.
- Verify the expiration date.
- Check for cracks and ask about crash history of the seat as crash damage may not always be visible. If the store or owner doesn’t know the full history of the seat, pass on the purchase.
- Make sure all parts has all the parts.
- Check the straps and components to make sure they work
- Make sure there’s an instruction manual and labels.
Summing it up
Although buying a used car seat may seem like a quick way to save money, the long-term value of a new car seat often outweighs the initial cost savings of a used one. New car seats last longer and have a longer lifespan before they expire. They also might have updated safety features that make them a safer choice. Over time, the peace of mind that comes with knowing your child is secure is well worth the investment of a new car seat.
By Amie Durocher, Creative Director at Safe Ride 4 Kids and certified CPS Tech since 2004
Copyright 2025 Safe Ride 4 Kids. All rights reserved. You may not publish, broadcast, rewrite or redistribute this material without permission. You are welcome to link to Safe Ride 4 Kids or share on social media.
We originally published this post in November 2024. We updated the article for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
