Lockoffs

Can someone please explain lockoffs to me? Why do you need them if your seatbelt locks? What am I missing?

MUTigers said:

Can someone please explain lockoffs to me? Why do you need them if your seatbelt locks? What am I missing?

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Sure! All seat belts, when used to install a car seat, need to be 'locked'.

They can be locked at the retractor for most vehicles, that's where you pull the shoulder portion out all the way slowly, then you can hear it clicking as it ratchets back in..and then you can no longer pull it out, it's 'locked'. If you lock a seatbelt in this manner when installing a car seat, especially a rear-facing one, you often get tilt as the shoulder belt pulls up on the seat in the belt path.

For seat belts that don't lock at the retractor, they can be locked with a locking clip when installing a seat. Locking with a clip rather than at the retractor helps combat the tilting, but locking clips are a pain! You have to get the lap portion of the belt good and tight, hold it together, unbuckle the belt, install the clip and then rebuckle the belt without it loosening. Not fun sometimes!

So seat manufacturers began to make seats with built-in lockoffs...so you didn't have to lock at the retractor nor did you have to use a locking clip. They are an alternate method of locking the belt when seat belt is used to install a car seat.

Does that help?

Very much! Thank you!


Just to make sure I understand, if my seatbelt locks at the shoulder or the latch plate I don't need a locking clip or a lockoff. In that case the locking clip could help with tilt and a lockoff would make install easier than using a lock clip.

I rarely use the seatbelt to install but the time is coming soon so I better get it figured out!

Also, my SIL just has a lap belt in the center of her backseat. That should lock at the latch plate, correct? She shouldn't need to use a locking clip or a lockoff unless there is a tilt issue?

Yes, to all that. However, I have a True Fit Premier that requires you always use its lockoffs to route the belt correctly. You have the right idea unless there is a carseat that says otherwise. They are optional with my Britax seats, but in certain vehicle seats they help me.

Great to know!


Thank you both so much for your help!

MUTigers said:

Also, my SIL just has a lap belt in the center of her backseat. That should lock at the latch plate, correct? She shouldn't need to use a locking clip or a lockoff unless there is a tilt issue?

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Never use a locking clip with a lapbelt only. If it is not locking at the latchplate for some reason, it is not safe to use. If the angle is a problem, making a tilt issue, you can twist the buckle stalk up to three times to try to remedy it.

ETA: locking clips and lockoffs are both pre-crash positioning devices and are not intended to hold in a crash. A locking latch plate on a lap only belt is made to withstand crash forces.

Suzibeck said:

Never use a locking clip with a lapbelt only. If it is not locking at the latchplate for some reason, it is not safe to use. If the angle is a problem, making a tilt issue, you can twist the buckle stalk up to three times to try to remedy it.

ETA: locking clips and lockoffs are both pre-crash positioning devices and are not intended to hold in a crash. A locking latch plate on a lap only belt is made to withstand crash forces.

Click to expand...

Thank you for this information! I'll pass it along. I know her latch plate locks so she shouldn't have an issue with a seat.