Child car seats after a collision: when should they be replaced?

Start with the seat manufacturer

Find the brand, model number and date of manufacture on the seat’s label. Locate the manual for that model and read its crash-replacement instructions. Check a detachable base separately where applicable, and contact the manufacturer if the instructions or crash circumstances are unclear.

For example, Graco recommends replacement after any accident, including when the seat was unoccupied. That illustrates why one brand’s rule cannot be assumed to apply to another. Use the current instructions for your actual seat.

What NHTSA means by a minor crash

NHTSA recommends replacing car seats after moderate or severe crashes. Its guidance allows that replacement may not be necessary after a minor crash, while still directing owners to follow manufacturer instructions.

All five of these conditions must be true to meet NHTSA’s minor-crash criteria:

• The vehicle could be driven away from the crash scene.
• The door closest to the child seat was undamaged.
• No vehicle occupant was injured.
• No airbags deployed, if the vehicle has airbags.
• The child seat has no visible damage.

Meeting all five does not override a manufacturer’s instruction to replace after any crash. If you cannot establish a condition, contact the seat manufacturer for guidance rather than assuming the seat qualifies for reuse.

What if no child was in the seat?

Tell the manufacturer that the seat was unoccupied and describe how it was installed, including any separate base. Graco’s guidance specifically includes unoccupied seats. An empty seat is not automatically cleared for continued use.

The repaired vehicle and the child restraint also need separate consideration. A body-shop inspection or completed vehicle repair cannot certify a child seat for reuse after a crash.

Keep a clear record

Before disposal, photograph the seat and its identification labels where it is safe to do so. Keep the manual or manufacturer’s written replacement guidance, crash information, any purchase receipt you have and correspondence about replacement. Identify each seat and base individually if several were in the vehicle.

Ask the insurer what documentation it needs and whether replacement is covered in your claim. Keep receipts for any replacement. Do not assume reimbursement is guaranteed or that a payment decision settles whether the manufacturer permits reuse.

Arrange safe transportation

Do not reuse a seat that requires replacement. If its status is uncertain, resolve that with the manufacturer and arrange an appropriate alternative restraint before transporting the child. Do not sell or donate a crashed seat that should be taken out of service; ask the manufacturer about disposal.

For help selecting, installing and using an appropriate replacement, NHTSA provides a locator for child passenger safety inspection stations. A certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can help with correct installation and use. Follow both the child-seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual.

Questions for the manufacturer

• Does this exact model require replacement after this crash?
• Does that instruction include a separate base or an unoccupied seat?
• Can you provide the applicable guidance in writing?
• How should a seat taken out of service be disposed of?

Consumer safety information. Big Chris Collision does not certify child restraints for continued use after a crash. Contact the seat manufacturer about reuse or replacement and a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician for installation help.