Car Seat Expiration Calculator
Find when a child car seat expires from its manufacture date, and how long it is still safe to use.
How it works
Expiration = manufacture date + lifespan years · Time left = expiration − today
Car seats carry an expiration date because plastics grow brittle with heat and cold, labels and instructions fade, and safety standards evolve — so a seat that is fine on paper may not protect a child in a crash years later. Most manufacturers set a lifespan of 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture (not the purchase date), printed on a sticker on the shell or base. This tool counts forward from that date so you know when to retire the seat.
Worked example
A seat made on 1 January 2022 with a 7-year lifespan expires on 1 January 2029. Measured from a date in 2026, that leaves roughly 3 years of safe use.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the manufacture date?
Look for a sticker or embossed stamp on the seat’s base or the back of the shell. It lists the date of manufacture and often the model and expiration date directly.
Why do car seats expire?
Repeated temperature swings in a car make the plastic brittle over years, harnesses and buckles wear, recall and instruction labels degrade, and crash-safety standards improve. The expiration date is the maker’s limit for reliable protection.
Can I use a hand-me-down or second-hand seat?
Only if you know its full history: it must be unexpired, never in a crash, free of recalls, and complete with its label and manual. If any of that is unknown, do not use it.
Related calculators
General guidance only — always follow the specific expiration and instructions printed on your car seat.