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No. A car seat used in Canada has to meet Canadian safety standards and carry Transport Canada's National Safety Mark. Seats sold in the US are certified to US rules instead, so they don't have the mark, even when the brand and model name are the same. Transport Canada says it's illegal to import, sell or use a child car seat in Canada that doesn't have the National Safety Mark.
Why the same model isn't the same seat
Many brands sell a model in both countries, but they make a Canadian version and a US version. The two can differ in their labels, instructions and certification, and sometimes in their limits and parts. Evenflo, for example, marks its Canadian models with a "C" in the model number, and in 2026 Transport Canada issued a notice about US-certified Evenflo seats that were shipped to Canada by mistake.
That's why a US seat that looks identical to one on a Canadian store shelf still isn't legal to use here. If you have a specific brand in mind, the manufacturer's Canadian website or customer service can confirm which version you have. For Nuna seats, our guide to checking a Nuna seat for Canadian use walks through it.
Recalls are the other reason
Car seat recalls are run country by country. Transport Canada warns that if you buy a seat outside Canada and it's later recalled, you may not be told about it, and you may have no recourse with the manufacturer. A seat bought from a Canadian retailer can be registered with the Canadian manufacturer, so a recall notice reaches you.
How to check a seat
- Find the National Safety Mark label on the seat itself. It shows the seat is certified for use in Canada.
- Check where it was sold. ICBC says a seat bought outside Canada, in a store or online from a non-Canadian company, doesn't comply with Canadian safety regulations. That includes ordering from a US website and shipping it home.
- Check the expiry date while you're looking at the labels. Our guide to car seat expiry in Canada explains where to find it.
If there's no National Safety Mark, don't use the seat in Canada, whatever the price or the brand.
Common situations
You're moving to Canada from the US
Plan to buy a Canadian seat before your first drive here, including the drive home from the airport. Your US seat may still be in good condition, but it isn't legal to use in Canada. If you're also bringing other baby gear, our first-winter checklist for newcomer families covers the rest.
You found a better price on a US website or across the border
The savings don't carry over to car seats the way they sometimes do for other gear. A stroller is a different case, with its own trade-offs, which we cover in our guide to buying a stroller in the US. For a car seat, buy from a Canadian retailer.
Family is visiting from the US with their own seat
Some provincial and local guidance makes an exception for visitors from outside Canada using their own seat, but the rules aren't the same everywhere. If relatives are bringing a US seat, ask them to check the rules for the province where they'll be driving before they arrive.
Buying in Canada
Transport Canada recommends buying a car seat from a Canadian retailer near you, partly so you can check how it fits in your vehicle before you buy. You can browse our car seats online.
We also offer car seat installation and check-ups by appointment at our Richmond and Burnaby stores. They're free for seats bought from us and $50 for other seats. Call ahead to book, and to ask which seats we have on display.
Neo W. is a BCAA-certified Child Passenger Safety Educator at baby enRoute (BCAA CPS Educator II Course).
