Skip to main content An icon that symbolizes the United States Department of Transportation logo. United States Department of Transportation
        Report a Safety Problem

  Toggle navigation
      National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationHomepage

    Ratings
                                Recalls
                                Risky Driving
                                Road Safety
                                Vehicle Safety
      
            More Info

                      Briefing Room
          
                        
            Importing a Vehicle
          
                                      
            
            Data
          
                        
            Research
          
                        
            Laws & Regulations
          
                    
                      Vehicle Manufacturers
                      State Governments
                      Enforcement & Justice Car Seats and Booster Seats
              
							
								Car Seat Ease-of-Use Ratings


Language:
English
        Español
      Share:
  Facebook
  Twitter
  LinkedIn
  Mail




		Car Seat Ease-of-Use Ratings
  
       
  NHTSA’s Ease-of-Use Ratings let you compare how easy it is to use certain car seat features so you can make informed decisions about the right car seat.

Using the Car Seat Finder, just enter your child’s age, height and weight, then click on “View Detail” in the “Ease-of-Use Ratings” column next to the car seat brand, model and mode (position). Each mode has its own rating. You can also search by brands.

 
  Ease-of-Use Evaluation

All car seats that NHTSA rates for ease-of-use are self-certified by the car seat manufacturer to meet federal safety standards, including strict crash performance standards. There are four basic ease-of-use categories:

**Evaluation of Instructions**

	Examines the content and clarity of the instructions manual for the child restraint.
	**Vehicle Installation Features**
	Examines the ease of using features that pertain to installing the child restraint in a vehicle.
	**Evaluation of Labels**
	Examines the content and clarity of the labeling attached to the child restraint.
	**Securing the Child**
	Examines the ease of using features that pertain to securing a child correctly in the restraint.What Do NHTSA’s Ratings Mean?

We use the following rating system to help you evaluate the four basic categories above:

5 Stars = Excellent features on this child restraint for this category
	4 Stars = Above-average features on this child restraint for this category
	3 Stars = Average features on this child restraint for this category
	2 Stars = Below-average features on this child restraint for this category
	1 Star = Poor features on this child restraint for this category
	N/A = Does not contain any features that require a rating

 
    
  FAQs
            
        How are child restraints rated for their ease of use?
              A child restraint is assessed under each mode (rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster) of proper use and is awarded both an individual category rating and an overall rating.
For each mode, child restraints are individually assessed on the following four categories:
Evaluation of Labels: Examines the content and clarity of the labeling attached to the child restraint.
Evaluation of Instructions: Examines the content and clarity of the instruction manual for the restraint.
Securing the Child: Examines the ease of using features that pertain to securing a child correctly in the restraint.
Vehicle Installation Features: Examines the ease of using features that pertain to installing the child restraint in a vehicle.
                      
            Is a seat that receives the highest rating safer than a seat that receives the lowest rating?
              **No.** A child restraint is most effective if correctly installed in a vehicle and if the child is correctly secured in the restraint. The ratings represent each child restraint’s individual category rating as well as its overall rating for ease of use, not safety.
Consumers can generally assume the following about a restraint when examining its individual category ratings:
Ease-of-Use 5-stars
	= Excellent features on this child restraint for this category.
Ease-of-Use 4-stars
	= Above average features on this child restraint for this category.
Ease-of-Use 3-stars
	= Average features on this child restraint for this category.
Ease-of-Use 2-stars
	= Below average features on this child restraint for this category.
Ease-of-Use 1-star
	= Poor features on this child restraint for this category.
**N/A**= This child restraint does not contain any features that require a rating in this category.
Though each category rating should be examined individually, consumers can generally assume the following about a restraint’s ease of use when comparing overall star ratings:
Ease-of-Use 5-stars
	= Extremely clear, concise, graphic labeling and instruction manual. Very convenient and simple to use features for securing the child. Excellent features for securing this restraint to the vehicle.
Ease-of-Use 4-stars
	= Above average labeling and instruction manual. Simple features for securing the child to the restraint and the restraint to the vehicle.
Ease-of-Use 3-stars
	= Average labeling and instruction manual. Average features for securing the child in the restraint and the restraint to the vehicle.
Ease-of-Use 2-stars
	= Below average labeling and instruction manual. Below average features for securing the child in the restraint and the restraint to the vehicle.
Ease-of-Use 1-star
	= Confusing, unclear, text-heavy labeling and instruction manual. May find features for securing the child to the restraint and the restraint to the vehicle difficult to use.
                      
            How should consumers interpret NHTSA’s Child Restraint Ease-of-Use Ratings?
              Consumers can use this program to help them evaluate the categories that are most important to them and select a child restraint that meets their needs. For example, consumers who will be installing their child restraints in multiple vehicles on a regular basis may want a child restraint with the highest rating in the “Vehicle Installation Features” category. Conversely, consumers who are more familiar with child restraints or who rarely remove them from their vehicle may not find this category rating as important.
                      
            I want to know what child restraint fits into my car – can NHTSA’s program provide this information?
              Because of the various combinations of child restraints and their fit in all vehicles, the costs, and the timeliness associated with providing that kind of “fit” information to consumers, NHTSA has decided against such a program at this time. Because some vehicle manufacturers have done this for their respective vehicles, consumers can contact their vehicle manufacturer (not the dealer) to see if the manufacturer has this kind of information available. Many retailers that sell child restraints will also allow consumers to install the child restraint in their vehicle before buying.
Finally, along with NHTSA’s **Ease-of-Use** Ratings and other child passenger safety programs, consumers can seek installation assistance from one of the thousands of child seat inspection stations across the country.
                      
            Does NHTSA rate the safety of child restraints?
              Not presently, though all child restraints sold in this country are required to comply with the dynamic testing requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, Child Restraint Systems.
On May 23, 2005, NHTSA released a Notice of Final Decision on its pilot testing program (comprised of simulated crash situations as well as New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests) designed to determine how well child restraints and vehicles protect children. Based on an analysis of the data, the agency determined that a rating program based on simulated crashes would not provide practicable, readily understandable, or meaningful information to consumers. Similar results were obtained when the restraints were subject to NCAP testing.

 
  Ease-of-Use LogoDownload Ease-of-Use Ratings FAQs (PDF, 87 KB)

Download the Ease-of-Use logo (ZIP, 4 MB)

Ease-of-Use Ratings Program Conditions of Use (PDF, 230 KB)
 NHTSA Information
              
              About NHTSA
          Careers & Internships
          Contact Us
          Recall Information
          Report a Safety ProblemInformation For
              
              Vehicle Manufacturers
          State Governments
          Enforcement & JusticeNHTSA Sites
              
        SaferCar App
          TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
          EMS.gov
          911.gov
            Website Information
              
        Web Policies & Notices
          Accessibility
          FOIA
          Privacy Policy
          Information Quality
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
          No Fear Act Data
          Ethics
          Civil Rights
          Office of Inspector General
          OIG Hotline
          BusinessUSA
          USA.gov
          WhiteHouse.gov

            National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
              1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
                Washington, D.C. 20590
              888-327-4236888-275-9171 (TTY)
              Twitter
                LinkedIn
                Facebook
                Youtube
                Instagram
        Submit Feedback >