From running errands to taking road trips, car seats are one of the most important tools parents rely on every day. What many don’t realize is that every car seat sold in the U.S. must meet specific federal performance standards regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These child car seat safety standards aren’t static. They evolve over time as new research, crash data, and technology become available. A new update is coming soon—let’s explore what these updated regulations are and what they mean for your family. Key Takeaways Updated FMVSS 213a regulations go into effect on December 5, 2026. This regulation applies to manufacture dates and is not retroactive, meaning all car seats produced before the effective date can be used until their expiration date. FMVSS 213a introduces mandatory side-impact testing for car seats designed for children under 40 pounds or 43.3 inches tall. FMVSS 213b updates frontal crash testing protocols and test bench designs to better reflect modern vehicles. Caregivers do not have to buy a new car seat when these updated standards go into effect. Existing car seats are effective as long as they haven’t expired and are used correctly. All Chicco USA car seats currently being produced already meet FMVSS 213b and FMVSS 213a (in harness modes for children weighing under 40lbs or 43.3 inches tall). What is FMVSS Regulation 213 and How Does it Apply to Child Car Seats? FMVSS 213 is the Federal motor vehicle safety standard for child restraint systems and establishes baseline regulatory benchmarks for car seats and booster seats. Its goal is to define performance requirements, such as crash testing and restraint integrity, to help protect children in the event of a vehicle collision. This standard covers all major types of child restraint systems, including infant, convertible, combination, all-in-one, and booster car seats, to make sure they perform consistently across car seat models and manufacturers. All car seats sold within the United States must meet FMVSS standards. Current Status of FMVSS 213 The current FMVSS 213 standards outline the minimum performance requirements for every car seat and booster seat sold in the U.S. These regulations ensure that child restraint systems are thoroughly tested before reaching families. Current compliance includes: Frontal crash testing at 30 mph to simulate head-on collisions and evaluate how well the seat protects a child-sized dummy during sudden deceleration. Impact absorption and structural integrity assessments to confirm that the seat shell, padding, and other components respond effectively to crash forces. Harness strength testing to check that the internal restraint system can hold up under high-stress crash conditions without stretching or breaking. Car seat manufacturers, including Chicco, meet and often exceed these federal requirements. Compliance is maintained through rigorous testing, ongoing quality checks, and detailed recordkeeping. This means that FMVSS standards represent decades of progress in protecting child passengers. Because of this, car seats today are very effective at keeping children safe on the road. In fact, data from the National Safety Council shows that deaths and injuries in children under 5 in motor vehicle crashes have steadily decreased over the years as car seat use has become the norm. This progress is no accident—it’s a reflection of how well modern car seats are designed and how committed manufacturers like Chicco are to advancing safety with every update. The “updated” standard isn’t about fixing a flaw; it’s about continuing a natural evolution toward even safer journeys for every family. What are the New Child Car Seat Safety Standards? After much research and development, NHTSA has finalized two major updates to federal child car seat regulations: FMVSS 213a and FMVSS 213b. These new standards will go into effect on December 5, 2026. It’s important to note, however, that 213b car seat labeling standards have been in effect since June 30, 2025. Together, FMVSS 213a and 213b introduce new performance criteria, advanced testing procedures, and updated equipment designed to better reflect modern vehicles and crash conditions. These updates will apply to new car seats manufactured after the effective date next year, and don’t impact the compliance or effectiveness of existing car seats that meet the current standards. FMVSS 213a FMVSS 213a introduces new side-impact testing for car seats designed for children who weigh up to 40 pounds or are up to 43.3 inches tall. Until now, side-impact performance has not been a required part of federal car seat evaluations, but many manufacturers already incorporate it. The new FMVSS 213a regulations require: Side-impact crash simulation that mimics real-world T-bone collisions. Alongside existing crash-test dummies representing 12-month old children, new crash-test dummies representing 3-year-old children with sensors that measure head and chest movement more precisely. Evaluation against specific injury criteria, including: How well the restraint helps protect the child’s head from excessive crash forces How well the restraint helps protect the child’s chest from excessive compression Whether the restraint helps keep the child properly contained and prevents the child’s head from directly hitting the side-impact test structure when applicable These updates are intended to ensure consistent side-impact performance across all car seats covered by the regulation. They help align testing requirements more closely with real-life crash data. FMVSS 213b FMVSS 213b addresses how frontal crash tests are performed by updating the test bench (seating platform) and seatbelt configuration used in laboratory evaluations. These changes better reflect the dimensions and design of modern vehicle seats and restraint systems. Key updates in FMVSS 213b include: A redesigned test bench that mimics the geometry and seat angles found in today’s vehicles, replacing the decades-old configuration previously used. Modernized seatbelt anchorage points and belt routing, providing a more realistic test of how car seats interact with contemporary vehicle seatbelts. Updated evaluation metrics to ensure compatibility and performance are tested using more representative conditions. These improvements help ensure that new car seats will perform well not just in ideal lab conditions, but also in real-world situations. What Do the New Standards Mean for Your Current Car Seat? Because the updated standards are not retroactive, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not recommending that caregivers replace their current car seats when the new FMVSS standards take effect in December 2026. These regulatory updates apply only to newly manufactured car seats made on or after December 5, 2026. You can keep using your current car seat if: It meets FMVSS 213, the current federal child restraint standard. It has not expired. It has not been involved in a car accident. It is installed and used correctly, according to both the seat’s manual and your vehicle’s instructions. Check to make sure your car seat has not been involved in a recall. How Chicco is Committed to Car Seat Safety Standards Chicco car seats meet all federal car seat safety standards. This includes FMVSS 213 as well as the new 213a and 213b requirements. All of our car seats are fully aligned with these standards, and our engineering and testing teams are dedicated to ensuring that every car seat meets or exceeds the latest safety expectations. There is no need to replace a Chicco car seat unless it has expired, has been recalled, has been involved in a car accident, or is no longer functioning properly. Chicco is committed to: Extensive crash testing, including frontal and side-impact scenarios Material and component testing to evaluate long-term performance and durability Internal standards that often exceed federal minimums If you’re purchasing your first car seat or transitioning to a new one, browse our selection of car seats.