NHTSA Waiver

[Giovanna816]

I hear everyone talking about how you can apply for a NHTSA waiver (and how they are rarely granted) but has anyone actually applied for one?

What was the process and was it granted?

Thanks so much

 

[carseatcoach]

A waiver for what? Importing an illegal seat, deactivating an airbag, something else?

NHTSA will almost certainly not grant a waiver for an illegal seat for anything but the most extreme circumstances, such as a documented medical condition or MAYBE a child who reached 45# before age 1.

 

[Giovanna816]

Yes, a waiver to use an imported seat for medical reasons.

I just wanted to know the process. I've looked over NHTSA's several websites, several times, and cannot find anything. Thought I would ask here before I called them.

 

[LISmama810]

Supposedly in the state of California, you can get a medical waiver. I'm unclear whether this comes from a doctor or the DMV or both. Our law does have an exemption for medical reasons.

Since car seat USAGE laws are handled at a state level, not the federal level, I'd imagine that exemptions would be, too.

 

[ketchupqueen]

Supposedly in the state of California, you can get a medical waiver. I'm unclear whether this comes from a doctor or the DMV or both. Our law does have an exemption for medical reasons.

Since car seat USAGE laws are handled at a state level, not the federal level, I'd imagine that exemptions would be, too.

NHTSA very rarely grants waivers. Some states do have exemption processes in place.

safeinthecar did some research for me on the medical exemption for California. It used to be that you had to have a doctor fill out a special form. Now it's as simple as getting a note from a doctor, and simply carrying it with the car's registration in case you ever get asked about it. I guess DMV didn't want to process the forms any more, lol.