Buy car seats in USA?

Are car seats sold in the USA different that the ones in Canada?
The prices are much cheaper in the USA. Can I buy a car seat from the USA and use it in Canada?

No, you can not. Not all seats sold in the US are the same as the ones in Canada, even if they look the same.

They also do not have the Canadian stickers on them, which is a pretty hefty fine and spot checks are starting to happen more frequently now.

Unregistered said:

Can I buy a car seat from the USA and use it in Canada?

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Not legally.

As aidensmom02 said, the seats used in Canada MUST have a TC sticker on them.

aidensmom02 said:

No, you can not. Not all seats sold in the US are the same as the ones in Canada, even if they look the same.

They also do not have the Canadian stickers on them, which is a pretty hefty fine and spot checks are starting to happen more frequently now.

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:yeahthat:
It is illegal to buy and use a US seat in Canada for Canadian citizens. Transport Canada claims that the Canadian seats ungo different tests then the US seats. Canada also has some seats that have a higher weight limit then the US seats do so something must be different there.

I've heard that you can also void your vehicle's insurance in an accident if you have a US seat

Also at the seat check I am going to on the weekend, if we find a seat that does not have the CDN sticker on it the seat will be taken away and they will be given a new seat to use.

What seat are you wanting to get in the US?

Jewels said:

I've heard that you can also void your vehicle's insurance in an accident if you have a US seat

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This is one of those things that I'd love to know where it came from... In actuality, under the law, the negligence of the parent does not waive the child's right to a claim under their insurance policy. It would be like not salting your driveway and somebody slipping--that person isn't restricted from filing a claim simply because you neglected to salt the driveway. When you neglect to properly restrain an innocent party, THEY themselves do not waive their right to make a claim. Even though we here probably don't see extended harnessing (the reason most people used US seats up until this point) as being negligent, insurance might not see the difference as a result of the stickers.

Here in BC, however, I know ICBC replaces US seats with Canadian ones under your policy, and does not make any differentiation between a US seat or a Canadian seat having been used during a crash.. thus far.

-N.

QuassEE said:

This is one of those things that I'd love to know where it came from... In actuality, under the law, the negligence of the parent does not waive the child's right to a claim under their insurance policy. It would be like not salting your driveway and somebody slipping--that person isn't restricted from filing a claim simply because you neglected to salt the driveway. When you neglect to properly restrain an innocent party, THEY themselves do not waive their right to make a claim. Even though we here probably don't see extended harnessing (the reason most people used US seats up until this point) as being negligent, insurance might not see the difference as a result of the stickers.

Here in BC, however, I know ICBC replaces US seats with Canadian ones under your policy, and does not make any differentiation between a US seat or a Canadian seat having been used during a crash.. thus far.

-N.

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Let's just say the onus is on the parents to check with their insurance companies if they were to consider using a non-Canadian certified carseat

I think what could theoretically happen is that insurer pays for injury to child, but finds the insured to be failing to apply due diligence in keeping their child safe and could potentially look to the driver personally to be reimbursed. I forget what the technical term for due diligence is called now, but it's a fancy term for doing what is good practice and common sense to the average person.

I've never actually heard anything happen like that, and I don't know what insurance laws are like in other provinces, but this is the only situation that I can see an insurer not paying for injuries to the child - although they would be paying, just turning around and claiming the amount paid back from the parent. I don't think there's ever been a precedent set for that though, and it's purely theoretical and highly unlikely.

I think the more important thing might be that the manufacturer probably wouldn't warranty the seat - and if on some chance the car seat failed, it wouldn't be under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada either because it wasn't a CMVSS stickered seat. :twocents:

QuassEE said:

This is one of those things that I'd love to know where it came from... In actuality, under the law, the negligence of the parent does not waive the child's right to a claim under their insurance policy. It would be like not salting your driveway and somebody slipping--that person isn't restricted from filing a claim simply because you neglected to salt the driveway. When you neglect to properly restrain an innocent party, THEY themselves do not waive their right to make a claim. Even though we here probably don't see extended harnessing (the reason most people used US seats up until this point) as being negligent, insurance might not see the difference as a result of the stickers.

Here in BC, however, I know ICBC replaces US seats with Canadian ones under your policy, and does not make any differentiation between a US seat or a Canadian seat having been used during a crash.. thus far.

-N.

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When I inquired about it in MB this is what I was told:

it depends. If car is in a crash, and child is in a US seat... and...family is making bodily injury claim for that child...then MPI will need the seat. At that time they will find the family did not secure the child in an approved device, and can refuse to pay out for bodily injury. However...with no fault insurance... the car repairs etc would still be covered. And of course.... the family dare not claim for a new seat.

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