Are used car seats safe?

Question

Other then avoiding recalled products, and making sure the expiration date is not expired is there any reason not to buy a used car seat from Craigs list or Ebay?

Answer 1

Yes.  There are a few.

I would suggest buying a new carseat to every parent.  The safety of your child far outweighs the $20 you may save by getting a used car seat.

You do not know the history of the seats in question on these sites.  If a car seat has been through an auto accident, certain parts of it may be stressed from impacts, and may not be as strong as when it was first made.  This could cause the seat to be weaker, and possibly fail as a safety device should YOU be in an accident with your child.

The seat may have been mistreated, missing parts, or even broken by the previous owner.

A new seat will come with all the manuals and instructions you will need to insure your child is safe.  You will also be able to register your new seat so that the company can send you any future postings of recalls so that your child is protected.

I hope this helps!