There are a few reasons why parents prefer to buy a new, inexpensive car seat rather than a used car seat. Even though buying used items is a good way to save money, it may not be the best safety choice.

Below are a few reasons why safety advocates do not recommend buying a used car seat:

1) Car seats expire - Did you know that car seats actually expire? No, this isn't just the companies' way to get you to spend more money. Car seats have a plastic shell, which degrades over time. After a few years, plastic becomes brittle and the seat loses its ability to keep your child safe.

You can find your car seat expiration information on the actual car seat itself or in the instruction manual. Sometimes there will be a date of manufacture. Most car seats expire between 5-7 years, so you will need to count forward from the manufacture date, not the date you bought the car seat. It is not recommended to continue using a car seat after it has expired. Each car seat is different so it is important that you check to see when your car seat expires. There is no one rule that applies to all car seats.

2) The car seat may have been in a car accident - You should not use a car seat that was previously in a moderate or severe car accident. Even if your child was not in the car, if there is any visible damage to the car seat, you should stop using it. However, sometimes damages cannot be seen with the naked eye. If your car was in a minor accident, you may not need to replace the seat.

3) There may be new technologies to improve car seats - Safety standards are always changing so it is important that your car seat is up to date.

Read more on why you should not use a used car seat.