“ASK A TROOPER” by Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol
Question: I want to make sure my child is safe in the car, but I’ve heard that some car seats sold online are fake or don’t meet U.S. safety standards. How can I tell if a car seat is unsafe?
Answer: Good question. I reached out to the expert who is the Community Programs and Occupant Protection Manager for the Minnesota Safety Council and here is what I found out.
Fake, counterfeit, or non-compliant car seats can look real, feel sturdy, and even have labels—but they may break in a crash or miss critical safety features that keep children safe. Some of these car seats are being sold online and may even look like a real car seat, but they aren’t made to save lives. If you look closely, some may say they were made for dolls or have labels in broken English like: “Never leave child unattended.”
What to look for in a legitimate U.S. car seat:
• Safety labels written in English
• Chest clip as part of the 5-point harness
• Manufacturer name, model number, and weight/height limits
• Registration card and owner’s manual
• Statement that it meets all U.S. federal safety standards (FMVSS)
Red flags for fake, counterfeit or non-compliant seats:
• No U.S. safety labels, or labels only in other languages
• Missing chest clip, registration card, or manual
• Unknown manufacturer
• Very low prices or sold by unknown online sellers (avoid buying car seats from third-party sellers)
Important note: Some car seats may be legitimate and crash-tested in other countries (like European models) but do not meet U.S. safety standards. For example, many European car seats do not have a chest clip, which is a required feature for U.S. seats. Even if these seats are safe elsewhere, they are not compliant for use in the U.S.
Need help? You can always contact your car seat manufacturer or a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) if you have questions, want to verify a seat, or need help with installation. A one-pager on compliant car seats and a list of all U.S. car seat manufacturers and their contact info is available here: https://buckleupmn.org/infants-children/finding-the-right-car-seat/
If you buy a car seat online and the deal seems “too good to be true,” it might be!
For more information and guidance, visit: https://buckleupmn.org/
A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on “X” @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).