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Safety is always top of mind for parents of young children, from the toys their kids play with to the food they eat.

But parents shouldn’t have to worry about how reliably their children’s car seats can protect them. Yet, a growing trend of counterfeit car seats has parents on the lookout.

What Are Counterfeit Car Seats?

Like other counterfeit items, counterfeit car seats are car seats designed to look like the real thing. This means counterfeit car seats aren’t always an obvious fake — they often look like real versions of reliable car seat brands.

However, they lack the many key safety features U.S. law requires to protect children. For example, counterfeit car seats may lack key parts like chest clips, proper harness systems, strong frames, and energy-absorbing padding.

Why Are Counterfeit Car Seats Dangerous?

Because fake car seats don’t meet federal safety standards, they can fail during a car accident. Even a low-speed crash could cause serious injury or death.

Some of the biggest risks of knock-off car seats include:

• Lack of proper testing.
• No recall information.
• No side-impact protection.
• A poor fit that could allow children to slip out.
• Straps that tear or come loose.
• Weak plastic shells that crack on impact.

How Can You Tell if a Car Seat Is Counterfeit?

One of the main and most obvious indicators of a counterfeit car seat is the absence of a chest clip. U.S. law requires car seats to have a front chest clip. Many international manufacturers of counterfeit car seats don’t include this clip.

Some counterfeit car seats will also have a three-point harness instead of a five-point harness with hip straps. Though this isn’t true for all fake car seats, it’s a common and quick tell that your car seat is counterfeit.

You can also check for labels. All car seats sold in the U.S. must have a label marked FMVSS 213 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213). Car seats should also have labels that show the date of manufacture, expiration date, brand, and model number as well as weight and height limits.

Less obvious indicators of a counterfeit car seat include:

• Extremely low pricing — Beware of extreme discounts. If the price seems too low, it probably is.
• Lightweight plastic — Plastic bends easily and feels flimsy.
• No instruction manual — Real car seats include clear instructions and warranty information.
• No registration card — All U.S.-approved seats come with the option to register your product.
• Strange brand names — If you’ve never heard of a car seat brand, proceed with caution.

When buying a car seat online, always research the seller and take a moment before buying a car seat from a third-party vendor with few reviews.

Where Are Counterfeit Car Seats Commonly Sold?

The rise in the number of counterfeit car seats aligns with the rise in cheap online retail. Most fake car seats appear in large online marketplaces as well as in social media ads, auction websites, and obscure online stores offering big discounts.

Online photos make discerning the details of any product a challenge. In addition, sellers often copy listing photos from real brands. These don’t reflect the product you’re actually buying.

Counterfeiters rarely sell their car seats in trusted retail stores or via the websites of known brands. To ensure you’re buying a legitimate car seat, only shop with trusted retailers, such as manufacturer websites or stores with return policies.

What Do I Do If I Bought a Counterfeit Car Seat?

A counterfeit car seat may not only endanger your child, but it also could result in fines and other penalties.

Simply owning a counterfeit car seat isn’t against the law, though. Don’t let concern about getting a penalty stop you from taking action on a potentially fake car seat.

If you think you’ve bought a counterfeit car seat, take these steps:

1. Stop using it immediately — It’s unsafe for your child.
2. Report it — You can do this through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or at STOPfakes.gov.
3. Tell the seller — Request a refund and report the product to the retailer. Some websites with third-party sellers will delist the product.
4. Warn others — Leave a review or share your experience on social media.
5. Buy a safe replacement — The NHTSA has guidelines and resources for finding the right car seat for your child.
6. Destroy the counterfeit car seat — Remove the straps, cut the harness, and then either recycle or throw it away.

What Are Car Seat Safety Tips?

Safe car seat use doesn’t end with buying the right one. Even a high-quality car seat can fail to protect your child if you install and use it incorrectly.

Register your car seat

After buying your seat, register your purchase with the manufacturer right away. This helps ensure you receive safety alerts, recall notices, and replacement information. You can often register online using the product’s serial number, or you can fill out the card that comes in the box.

Read the instruction manual

Make sure to read your car seat’s instruction manual carefully. Follow the steps to secure it tightly in your car. The car seat shouldn’t move more than an inch when you tug at the base. The straps should lie flat and snug against your child without slack.

Know state and federal laws regarding car seat use

Each state may have its own rules about car seat use, so it’s important to check local laws. You can find this information on your state’s Department of Transportation website or the NHTSA.

Have a car seat inspection

To ensure you correctly install your seat, visit a car seat inspection station and have a certified child passenger safety technician check it out.

Follow the guidelines as your child grows

Always follow age, height, and weight guidelines. Keep children rear-facing as long as your seat allows it. Transition them to forward-facing and booster seats only when it’s safe to do so.

How Do I Buy a Safe Car Seat?

The best way to keep your child safe is to ensure you buy a legitimate car seat.

Shop for car seats:

• At trusted retailers or buy directly from a manufacturer’s website.
• From authorized sellers if using a third-party site.

Make sure the car seat has:

• A brand name you recognize.
• The FMVSS 213 and the manufacturer’s labels.

After you buy a car seat:

• Check that you have all of the parts and that they match the manual.
• Keep the receipt and box.
• Register the car seat with the manufacturer.

Extra tips:

• Ask your local fire or police department to help install the car seat or find a certified inspection station.
• Avoid used seats unless you know their history.
• Replace a car seat after any car accident.