Selling car seats and car seat accessories online

A car seat is one of the few products where the listing has a fixed sentence to carry. On eBay, a new car seat may be listed only by eligible sellers, and only if the listing says the seat meets FMVSS No. 213, the federal standard for child restraints. Used car seats are not allowed at all. Behind that sentence sits a standard with labels and a registration card that every seat sold in the US must carry.

This page covers the standard, eBay's rule, accessories, and Canada.

What this page covers: child car seats, boosters, and add-on car seat accessories such as inserts, covers and strap pads.

The short version

• Child restraints sold in the US must meet FMVSS 213 and carry its labels and a registration card.
• eBay allows new car seats only from eligible sellers, with a statement that the seat meets FMVSS No. 213, and bars used seats.
• Accessories not tested with the seat should never be shown in use with a child, or described as safety-tested.
• A seat sold in Canada must carry the National Safety Mark; a US seat cannot be sold there.

Which federal standard do car seats have to meet?

Every child restraint sold in the US must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and carry its labels and a registration card. Your listing images should show the seat's labels as they are, and the registration card if it is part of the box contents.

Can you sell car seats on eBay?

Only new ones, from eligible sellers. eBay allows new car seats only from eligible sellers, and only when the listing says the seat meets FMVSS No. 213. Used car seats are not allowed. Put the statement in the description in plain words, for example: "This car seat meets FMVSS No. 213."

How should car seat accessories be shown?

Car seat accessories should be shown by themselves or on an empty seat. Inserts, covers, strap pads and mirrors are sold separately from the seat. An accessory that was not tested with the seat should never be shown in use with a child, or described as safety-tested.

List accessories this way:

• Show the accessory by itself, or on a seat with no child in it.
• Describe what it is made of and what it fits, never what it protects against.
• Leave out "crash tested" and "safety approved" unless the seat's maker has tested it with that seat.

Can you sell a US car seat in Canada?

No. Car seats sold in Canada must carry the National Safety Mark under Canada's restraint regulations. A seat certified only for the US cannot be sold there.

How Commicorn helps

• Your labels, as printed. On the Untouched product route your photo's pixels are never redrawn, so the seat's labels stay exactly as printed.
• Your words, from your details. The listing copy is written from the details you give us. Add the FMVSS No. 213 statement for eBay, and leave safety claims off accessories.
• You check the scenes. Look at any scene with a child before you export, and make another if an accessory appears in use with one.

Questions sellers ask

What does FMVSS 213 mean for a car seat listing?

Every child restraint sold in the US must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and carry its labels and a registration card, and on eBay the listing must also say the seat meets FMVSS No. 213.

Can I sell a used car seat on eBay?

No. eBay does not allow used car seats.

Can I call a car seat insert crash tested?

Only if the seat's maker has tested it with that seat. An accessory that was not tested with the seat should never be described as safety-tested.

Can I show a car seat cover with a child in it?

Not unless the cover was tested with the seat. Show the accessory by itself, or on a seat with no child in it.

Does a car seat sold in Canada need the National Safety Mark?

Yes. Car seats sold in Canada must carry the National Safety Mark, and a seat certified only for the US cannot be sold there.

Before you list

Have the seat's FMVSS 213 labels and registration card photographed, and the FMVSS No. 213 statement written for eBay, before the listing goes live; for Canada, the seat needs the National Safety Mark. On an accessory, one question settles it: has the seat's maker tested it with that seat? If not, show it without a child and make no safety claim.