How to Find Cheap Car Seats You Can Trust

Do you feel a little guilty reading about cheap car seats? You shouldn't. When you consider how many car seats you'll need to buy just for one child, and then multiply that by the price of each seat, and then multiply that by the number of kids you have (since you may not be able to re-use seats), it adds up to quite a sum.

So it's understandable that you're trying to cut costs without cutting corners.

There are a few ways you can avoid spending more than you need to on car seats.

1. Remember the purpose of car seats. Why use car seats at all? Yes, they're required by law in all 50 states, but the more important reason is that they are designed to keep kids safe.
   
   So, when you're faced with lots of high-priced options, train yourself to filter out the extraneous features and focus on features that will actually help keep your precious cargo in one place.
   
   
2. Consider a used car seat. As we've said before, buying a used car seat is rarely a good idea. Why not? Well, how can you really trust that guy at the garage sale when he says the seat has never been in an accident?
   
   But there are situations where a used seat isn't a bad thing - for example, when it's being offered to you at a greatly reduced price (or even free) by someone you know and trust. Just make sure the seat isn't past its prime, which leads us to our next point.
   
   
3. Read expiration dates. Did you know that, much like milk and eggs, car seats have expiration dates? Well, they do. They're printed on the back of each seat on a label.
   
   So, if you're checking out a dingy-looking seat, or wondering whether the seat from your last child is still OK to use, check the expiration date to be sure. You may find that you can squeeze another year out of an old seat.

Now, what can you do if you've already narrowed your car seat selection process to a few specific models but just want to make sure you're getting the best deal? Check out one of the many websites that specializes in cheap car seats.

There's one cheap car seats website you may have overlooked, but we think it's worth checking out: Overstock.com.

Here's what you do: go there and see what they have in stock. You use the star ratings to narrow down your search. Then visit the car seat ratings and car seat safety ratings websites we've recommended.

When you feel comfortable you're getting a good deal, make your purchase and save a bundle! Just visit Overstock.com and search for car seats. Good luck!