Parents urged not to buy second-hand car seats

10 August 2012 18:26:36

Second-hand car seats could pose a safety risk.

A second-hand child car seat may seem like a sensible money-saving option, but parents have been advised to shell out for a brand new seat instead. Experts say that used car seats can pose a safety risk, as the purchaser has no idea of the product's history. If a seat has been involved in an accident in the past, there may be hidden cracks or weaknesses that could put your child at risk in the future.

Second-hand car seats a common choice
Over half a million drivers have purchased second-hand car seats in the last 12 months, according to new research from Sainsbury's Car Insurance. At the time when the insurer did its research, online auction site eBay was featuring 453 used child car seats, compared with just 131 in 2009.

The trend is hardly surprising, given the fact that households around the country are doing their best to save money. But experts are concerned that parents could unwittingly be putting their children at risk.

Used seats may have hidden faults
According to Sainsbury's, more than 100,000 drivers have continued to use a child car seat following an accident and the chances are that many of the used seats being flogged online will have been through crashes. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to tell whether these seats are still functioning properly or are harbouring hidden faults.

Ben Tyte, head of Sainsbury's Car Insurance, advised: "When many families' incomes are squeezed it is no surprise that parents will be trying to save money where they can - if you feel that you absolutely must use a second-hand car seat our advice would be to purchase or acquire a seat from somebody you know, a friend or family member who'll be able to reassure you as to the seat's history."

And if you've been in an accident yourself while your child's car seat has been in use, experts say you should always replace the equipment to be on the safe side.

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