Graco Car Seat Replacement Policy (What’s Covered + More)

Do you know what Graco’s car seat replacement policy is? Do I need to replace my car seat after an accident? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

Graco is a well-known and trusted baby product manufacturer. They produce one of the top-selling car seat lines available today.

So, when your car seat is no longer safe, it is crucial to understand the Graco car seat replacement policy.

What is Graco’s car seat replacement policy? According to Graco’s user manual, any of their car seats involved in an automobile accident, big or small, must be replaced. Graco will provide a written letter to your insurance company if requested.

If you are looking for more information regarding Graco’s car seat replacement policy, read on.

Table of Contents

What is Graco’s Car Seat Replacement Policy?

No matter what type of accident you are in, your child’s car seat may have been impacted during the crash, whether you see any damage or not.

This is why Graco requires any of its car seats to be replaced right after an accident occurs.

While Graco doesn’t replace the product themselves, they will go to bat for you with the insurance company if they try to deny the claim.

What is Covered by the Car Seat Replacement Policy?

The user manual that comes with all new Graco car seat purchases, states that it is Graco’s policy each car seat involved in any type of collision must be completely replaced.

This policy proves to your insurance company that the manufacturer believes the car seat could cause serious injury to your child if still used after being in an accident.

Because there could be damage to the product not noticeable to the naked eye, the entire seat is covered. Simply choosing to replace parts could mean some unnoticeable damage is still there and could be dangerous.

How Much Will You Get to Replace Your Car Seat?

The amount of money you paid for your car seat, or the price you plan on paying for a new one doesn’t matter when it comes to filing a claim with your car insurance company.

Many of these companies have a pretty basic allowance to cover a child seat which is typically somewhere in the ballpark of around $150.

Do I Still Have to Replace My Child’s Car Seat After a Simple Fender Bender?

A minor bump in the parking lot or an incident where the car seat wasn’t affected in any way may not require the replacement of your car seat.

However, if there is any indication that the child seat was affected or impacted in any way, a replacement is recommended.

Does My Child’s Graco Car Seat Need to be Replaced After an Accident Even if I Don’t See Any Damage?

Yes. Even if there is no damage visible, you should still replace your child’s car seat after an accident.

According to Graco’s user manual, problems can occur after an accident that may not be noticeable, but could result in serious damage including but not limited to:

Unseen hairline cracks in the plastic
Stretched harnesses that can not hold the child in securely
Internal fractures to the car seat that isn’t noticeable from the outside
Damage to the inside of the seat buckle

Do All Insurance Companies Have to Cover the Cost of a Replacement Car Seat After a Car Accident?

Almost all car insurance companies have policies in place to replace a car seat if it was in a car accident.

However, there is a lot of information and documentation that will be required in order for this to happen including the Graco Owners manual, possibly a letter from the Graco company, proof of the accident, etc.

Are Graco Car Seats Covered Under their Limited Lifetime Warranty?

No. Like most warranties, Graco only covers damage or defects directly related to errors on the part of the manufacturer.

They do not replace car seats for free if they were damaged due to an accident, product misuse, alterations, normal wear, and tear, or failure to follow instructions.

Where Do I Get Replacement Parts from Graco?

If you are simply looking for car seat replacement parts from Graco, you can easily find what you need by visiting their website and entering your product number and manufacturing date.

There you will be able to access information on the type of parts you need and how to order them.

Can I Return a Car Seat to Graco After it Was Involved in a Car Accident?

No. You can not return any products to Graco if they are damaged, dirty, or used.

The only time you can return a car seat for a refund is if the seat was purchased from the Graco website and it hasn’t been more than 30-days from the original purchase date.

Will Graco Replace a Car Seat that Has Been Recalled?

Yes. If the Graco car seat your child has is recalled for any reason, you simply have to contact the company and request they send you a recall kit.

If you are approved for a return on the car seat, the company will refund you the money for the product and you can then replace the seat.

If your recall is for a specific part of the car seat you will be sent a replacement part, free of charge, instead.

Should Greco Car Seats Be Replaced Even if the child Wasn’t in it During the Accident?

Yes. Greco recommends you replace any car seat whether the child was in it or not at the time of the accident.

This is because the product can still sustain damage even though no one was sitting in it at the time.

Why Are Other Car Seat Manufacturers’ Replacement Policies Different From Greco’s?

Many car seat manufacturers will base their recommendations on replacement after the NHTSA’s guidelines, however, Greco’s guidelines are more stringent because they no the dangers of unseen damage.

Summing Things Up

If you are even unlucky enough to be in an accident with your child’s car seat strapped into the back of the car, it is critical that the seat is replaced and Greco is willing to help make that happen to ensure the safety of your kids.

References

https://help.gracobaby.com/s/article/Do-I-need-to-replace-my-car-seat-after-an-accident

https://www.foxandfarmerlaw.com/solving-problems-in-accidents/graco-car-seat-accident-2.html