Britax Car Seat Expiration
Britax counts the expiration from the date of manufacture (DOM) on the serial label, not the purchase date. Newer Britax seats print the expiration date directly on the serial label. Otherwise look in the Safety Information section of the user guide for a sentence like "discontinue use of this child restraint if it is older than…".
Britax lifespans and label locations
| Type / models | Expires after | Serial label location |
|---|---|---|
| Infant seats with ClickTight: Willow, Willow S, Willow SC, Cypress | 6 years | Underside of the seat, next to the harness adjustment slots |
| Arbor infant seat | 6 years | Underside, between the harness adjustment slots |
| Infant bases with ClickTight: Aspen, Alpine | 6 years | Inside the lower connector storage compartment |
| StayTight infant base | 6 years | Underneath the StayTight handle |
| ClickTight convertible: Poplar, Poplar S | 10 years | Back of the seat under the tether hook |
| Rotating convertible: Galaxy360 | 10 years | Underside of the shell (open ClickTight) |
| All-in-one: One4Life, One4Life Slim | 10 years | Top of the ClickTight compartment, under the cover |
| Harness-2-booster: Grow With You, Grow With You ClickTight / ClickTight Plus | 9 years | Outside of the headrest |
| 2-stage booster: Highpoint, Skyline | 10 years | Top front corner of the seating area, under the cover |
| Backless booster: UpNGo, UpNGo Click | 10 years | Top front corner of the seating area, under the cover |
| Strollers | No expiration date | Inside the frame above the basket |
Source: Britax: Car Seat Expiration and Date of Manufacture (page updated Sept 25, 2026; read Oct 31, 2026). Older or discontinued Britax models are not all listed there. If yours is missing, use the number in your manual or contact Britax customer service.
Example
A Poplar made on 15 May 2022 has a 10-year life, so it expires on 15 May 2032. Enter the date in the expiration checker and choose Britax to calculate yours.
Retiring an expired Britax seat
Britax advises cutting the webbing and cover, removing or defacing the serial number and DOM, writing "EXPIRED – DO NOT USE!" on the shell, and checking with your local waste department about disposal.
Related tools and guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Britax count from the purchase date?
No. Britax says the expiration is based on the date of manufacture on the serial label, which is not the same as the purchase date.
How long is a Britax infant car seat good for?
Britax lists 6 years from the date of manufacture for its Willow, Cypress and Arbor infant seats and its infant bases.