New Car Seat Regulations Are Coming—Here’s What To Know

Car seats in the U.S. will soon need to meet new federal safety standards. The aim is to better protect young children in the event of a side-impact crash. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the regulation and companies must now comply by December 5, 2026. This is a new extension to the previous date of June 30, 2025. The change is to give manufacturers more time to test and make the necessary changes to their car seats.

“In their petitions for reconsideration, manufacturers stated that there are not enough test labs and small volume manufacturers don’t have their own sled systems to design and verify their products to meet these new, more advanced safety requirements. Many large manufacturers have already complied,” NHTSA tells Parents. “To ensure an adequate supply of child restraint systems for consumers to purchase while manufacturers adapt to the new standard, NHTSA is extending the lead time for compliance.”

Here’s what families need to know about the new standards and what it means for their current car seats in the meantime.

What Are the New Car Seat Standards?

Known as Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213a, the new standard includes a test simulating a 30-mph side crash, known as a T-bone collision. It applies to car seats for kids 40 pounds and under.

“NHTSA’s side-impact car seat safety rule will enhance safety and make child car seats even safer,” NHTSA tells Parents. 

The new requirement is in addition to previous standards requiring a test simulating a 30-mph frontal impact. Frontal crashes are the most common and cause a significant number of deaths, a reason for the initial focus. But side-impact crashes also lead to serious injuries and fatalities.

“Side impacts are especially dangerous when the impact is on the passenger compartment because, unlike a frontal or rear-end crash, there are no substantial, energy absorbing structures between the occupant and the impacting vehicle or object,” NHTSA explains in its ruling.

NHTSA announced in 2022 that it would be changing its requirements and initially gave manufacturers three years to conduct tests and update their seats. Now every car seat sold after December 5, 2026, must meet the new requirements.

What Does This Mean for Your Current Car Seat?

If you already own a car seat, you don’t have to replace it. It’s safe to use as long as it hasn’t expired (car seats usually expire between 7 and 10 years), hasn’t been recalled, and is installed correctly. Also, make sure you are using the right type of seat for your child’s height and weight, which you can confirm on the NHTSA website.

Keep in mind, many brands have already implemented the new standard. You can call the manufacturer to confirm if their car seats are complying with FMVSS 213a. Some may also have a label confirming they are FMVSS 213a compliant.