NHTSA renews car seat defect registry paperwork – snooze
Published Date: 8/26/2026
Notice
Summary
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This document request for comments on a reinstatement and revision of a previously- approved information collection on Child Restraint System Registration for Defect Notifications and Labeling. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on December 5, 2023 (88 FR 84514). No comments were received.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
You must have a CRS registration card
If you buy a child restraint system (car seat), the manufacturer must attach an owner registration card and keep registration records so you can be directly notified of safety recalls. NHTSA estimates 2,835,200 consumer registrations annually (a 17.72% registration rate) and 2,369,660 of those are mailed-in cards with prepaid postage.
Manufacturers can use new registration designs
Child restraint manufacturers may now use their own wording, fonts, sizes, layouts, and electronic registration methods (for example QR codes or tiny URLs) on registration cards and labels, but they must still provide a paper mail-in card with prepaid postage. NHTSA estimates these changes increased the total annual industry burden hours by 9,500 and raised annual industry costs to $10,565,493.
Manufacturers must provide prepaid mailing and pay postage
Manufacturers are required to provide a mailed-in registration card with prepaid postage for each CRS purchaser. NHTSA estimates annual postage costs of $1,445,492.70 based on 2,369,660 mailed-in registration cards and a postage cost of $0.61 each.
Email and online registration allowed to supplement mail
Manufacturers may supplement required first-class mail recall notices with email, and registration forms may include online options (including web addresses, QR codes, or tiny URLs). This makes it more likely owners—including owners of previously owned seats—will learn about recalls.
Time burden to fill registration card is small
When you fill out a child restraint registration card, NHTSA estimates it takes about 60 seconds (one minute) per registration. The agency estimates consumer time for filling registrations totals about 47,253 hours per year across all registrations.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-11072, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 307; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles
Starting July 6, 2026, car makers must follow updated safety rules that clean up old, outdated side-impact protection standards and fix related rules for electric and hydrogen vehicles. These changes make the rules clearer without adding new costs or big changes for manufacturers. If anyone wants to challenge the updates, they have until July 20, 2026, to speak up.
2026-08144, Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-05023, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
NHTSA is updating rules for windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing to better fit self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or pedals. These cars won’t have to follow old rules meant for human drivers, cutting costs and unnecessary requirements without hurting safety. The changes kick in about six months after the final rule, and manufacturers can still add these features if they want.
2026-05024, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA wants to update a safety rule to help self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or gear shifts. They’re proposing to remove the need for a gear position display in these automated vehicles, cutting costs without hurting safety. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 15, 2026!
2025-22674, Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The government is holding a virtual public hearing on January 7, 2026, about new fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031. These rules aim to keep vehicles safer and more affordable while improving fuel efficiency. If you care about how much gas your car uses or how much you pay at the pump, this is your chance to speak up before the rules are finalized.
2026-17423, Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Title of Collection: Driver Monitoring System (DMS)-Applied Research To Develop Test Procedure for Drowsiness
NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on Driver Monitoring System (DMS)--Applied Research to Develop Test Procedure for Drowsiness.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-17383, Importer of Controlled Substances Application: Cambrex Charles City
Cambrex Charles City has applied to be registered as an importer of basic class(es) of controlled substance(s). Refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION listed below for further drug information.
Next: 2026-17385, Importer of Controlled Substances Application: Experic LLC
Experic LLC wants to become an official importer of some controlled substances, including certain drugs like tetrahydrocannabinols and nabilone. People and companies already registered can share their thoughts or ask for a hearing by September 25, 2026. This move could impact businesses dealing with these substances, so keep an eye on the deadline to have your say!