American car seat in Europe?

[Icemomof3]

Hi everyone.

I was just wondering on your take on this matter. The thing is that I have an American manufactured car, made for the American market, that was imported here to Iceland. When it came time to shop for a bigger seat for my youngest son I talked to many many people about what to do, if I should buy a European made seat or import one from America. I read all I could find and I even talked to the best known car seat security expert in the country about this and she recomended I imported one from the US, sooooo I did that.

Do you think I made a mistake??? I´m so torn about this that I haven´t even started using my big, comfy, beautiful Recaro seat for my son :o

[USmominOz]

Do they have any laws about using a seat from a different country?

Usually you would follow the country you are in for car seat laws, not where the car comes from.

[Loves2sing]

Your best bet would be to look into what your local laws are. In Canada it is illegal to import a carseat. If something were to happen when using your American seat, and it was in fact illegal, you could be voiding your insurance.

[QuassEE]

Actually, it's illegal in Canada for an insurance company to refuse coverage on a minor passenger due to negligence of the parent. Your child still has a right to a claim, whether you buckled them or not, or whether they were in an illegal carseat or not. The child is considered an innocent party and the negligence of another individual cannot waive their right to an insurance claim for injury. The child does not have the capacity to make the decision to be improperly buckled with a full awareness of the consequences.

This happens all the time around here--kids get insurance settlements as a result of injuries that occurred due to being unrestrained. It's a big part of why the insurance rates in BC are so high (my insurance would be $6000/yr without my experienced driver discount, for my two cars.)

-Nicole.

[Loves2sing]

Actually, it's illegal in Canada for an insurance company to refuse coverage on a minor passenger due to negligence of the parent. Your child still has a right to a claim, whether you buckled them or not, or whether they were in an illegal carseat or not. The child is considered an innocent party and the negligence of another individual cannot waive their right to an insurance claim for injury. The child does not have the capacity to make the decision to be improperly buckled with a full awareness of the consequences.

This happens all the time around here--kids get insurance settlements as a result of injuries that occurred due to being unrestrained. It's a big part of why the insurance rates in BC are so high (my insurance would be $6000/yr without my experienced driver discount, for my two cars.)

-Nicole.

That is very interesting. I didn't know that.

Off topic, but did you know that it is illegal (here anyway) for a restaurant to refuse to sell someone a meal off the senior/kid's menu? It's considered age discrimination.

[QuassEE]

Love it--I'll remember that one next time they refuse me my Pirate Pak at White Spot!

[Loves2sing]

Love it--I'll remember that one next time they refuse me my Pirate Pak at White Spot!

:ROTFLMAO:

[hopster67]

Back to the original question - check the laws of the country you're in.

I've a US carseat and an EU carseat - I have been using the EU carseat here in Turkey (where carseats aren't even required :eek:) and planned on using the US seat (Britax Marathon) for airplanes and in the US only. However, DH wants to use the Britax here too, since it allows RF longer. We will probably switch to the US one given there's no law for or against... :whistle:

[Icemomof3]

Thank you all for your answers :)
I did some checking and it looks like legally it´s OK for me to use that car-seat :thumbsup: As long as it has the apropriate FMVSS or CMVSS standards it´s fine so I´m very happy about that.

[Unregistered]

I hope you picked one that is a convertible in case you need it for this one or future babies for rear facing. My cousin said that rear facing seats, outside of infant seats, are really hard to come by in Iceland. She has a Graco of some sort.

[Unregistered]

I live in Australia but am travelling to Turkey in two weeks time with my husband and 20 month old daughter. I have been trying to find out if many Turkish cars have anchor points for child car seats to be fitted (in australia the car seat is fitted via the seat belt and also by a strap at the back of the seat that attaches to an achor point either on the rear roof of the car or at the back of the back seats) we are thinking of taking our own car seat to be on the safe side but do not know if we will be able to fit it. We are hiring a car and we can get a car seat from them but I am having difficulty finding out what kind it will be and how it will be secured.
Would you be able to help out with some advice? thanks very much


Back to the original question - check the laws of the country you're in.

I've a US carseat and an EU carseat - I have been using the EU carseat here in Turkey (where carseats aren't even required :eek:) and planned on using the US seat (Britax Marathon) for airplanes and in the US only. However, DH wants to use the Britax here too, since it allows RF longer. We will probably switch to the US one given there's no law for or against... :whistle:

[lenats31]

Back to the original question - check the laws of the country you're in.

I've a US carseat and an EU carseat - I have been using the EU carseat here in Turkey (where carseats aren't even required :eek:) and planned on using the US seat (Britax Marathon) for airplanes and in the US only. However, DH wants to use the Britax here too, since it allows RF longer. We will probably switch to the US one given there's no law for or against... :whistle:

Well, if that is what he wants then skip the Marathon and get a Scandinavian car seat. They RF to 40 or 55 lbs depending on what seat you buy:twocents:

Lena