How to Register Your Car Safety Seat
Though specific age requirements vary by state, every state requires parents to place children under a certain age in a child restraint system. Registering your car seat is important because this process allows manufacturers to notify car seat owners when defects or recalls occur.
- Check the paper work that came with the car seat and locate the registration card. Generally bundled with the manufacturer's instructions, these cards request information such as the car seat owner's name, mailing address, e-mail address and phone numbers. This personal information is necessary in order for manufacturers to contact the owner should a car seat recall occur.
- Fill out the registration card. In addition to personal information, cards may require owners to list the date of purchase, the place of purchase, the name of the model and the model number. If the card asks for a serial number, locate this number underneath the restraint system or on the side of the seat.
- Mail the car seat's registration card. These cards are postage-paid and pre-addressed, so simply place the card in your mailbox. Do not add extra postage to the registration card. If the card has a place to enter a return address, include this information before mailing.
- Visit the manufacturer's Internet site if you do not want to use the registration card. The vast majority of large-scale manufacturers offer an online registration service. The online form will require the same information requested on the registration card.
- Call the United States Department of Transportation, or your state's transportation department, if the manufacturer's car seat paper work is missing the registration card. This government organization can provide you with a replacement card or direct you to the car seat manufacturer's Internet site.