What are car seat safety ratings?

Car seat safety ratings are federal safety standards issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and secured on each car seat manufactured for sale. Safety ratings ensure that the car seats meet strict crash performance standards.

Although every manufactured car seat must meet the minimum safety standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the ratings also evaluate usability and features of car seats. For example, the ratings identify the ease of use when securing a child, the clarity of the instructions enclosed, the vehicle installation features and the clarity of the labels on the exterior of each car seat.