We have been here for a few months and I heard(from the driving class on base) it was illegal for us to use our US spec car seat in our UK spec car. I want to get my almost 4yr old a new seat but do not want to invest in a UK seat that I won't be able to use in the US in a few years. The UK seats are not up to the same standards as the US and ISOFIX is not the norm. Anyone have any idea what will happen to me if I use a US car seat? I really don't think anything but just checking. Anyone have any imput? 

I had heard that you can be fined up to 1000 pounds. Not sure how true that is but that's enough to make me buy one! good luck...:) 

That's what I was told as well. Argos has some pretty inexpensive car seats. I wouldn't risk it, who knows what would happen to you through the base, british law and base are different. 

i heard the base really do not mind..but it is when you go off base 

We have the same problem. Found out if you buy a universal one it is ok to use in a UK car as well as you can bring it back to the states. We found a nice one our daughter can use until she is 5 or 6 and it was $99 at the furniture store. They had about 3 different kinds. 

I am pretty sure the reasoning is because the UK has stricter rules when it comes to the safety of the car seats. I don't see why you can't use a UK car seat in a US car when you go back to the states. Specially if it has a better safety rating. 

From what I've read, it's the opposite, lol. The USA has better saftey ratings. There's actually not alot of information on the internet about it, I've tried to search. Kinda sucks this is a situation where you have to hear it from another person, so it's never 100% accurate. I guess if the universal one meets both US and UK standards it should be fine, esp. if the furniture store sold it like that:) 

Here's a good website: http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/standards/r4403.htm 

Well I have been looking for something on any of the US sites that says the carseat MUST be made in the US and have found nothing. The only place that specifies is the UK stating that it must be made in europe and the fine is 500gbp if you are found guilty of not restraining your child properly. 

Yea I've never been able to find anything that says that either, lol. The only place I've found it was on a forum, which isn't really accurate. 

Just thought I'd let you know, I emailed someone on the site I provided earlier and this was what we said: Hi, we are here with the military and have a US car. Can we use a UK car seat in it, and vice versa, can we use a US car seat in a UK car? I can’t find any information on this. Thank you. Response: Dear , Thank you for your enquiry. As you haven’t specified what sort of seat you mean I have touched on both car and child seats. Car seat: What type of car? US and European cars are built to different standards. There is nothing to stop you changing the seat but you must make sure it is securely fitted and will withstand the forces of an accident. If the seat has an integral seat belt it will need to comply with the European legislation. You should take advice from a professional garage or conversion specialist. Child seat: EC Directive 2003/20/EC requires that all child seats used in Europe must comply with UNECE Regulation 44.04. See Think! Website for further information: http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/focusareas/children/childincar?whoareyou_id=&page=Overview If you have any further questions please get back to me. The Department cannot give an authoritative interpretation of the law; that is a matter for the courts. Yours sincerely Martin Rogers DfT – Transport Technology and Standards 

I called the cops here on base and asked one time and they told me as far as they care it is up to the individual person what they want. As well as turning the child around at 1yr that is not set in stone it is when you feel you want to do it. That is what the military cop told me so don't bash anything I say. But as far as my other post the furniture store told me that is what they were told about carseats for uk cars. If they are universal they can be used anywhere. To me I don't see the difference except the uk style suck and are ugly. 

uk style suck and are ugly Not at all. 

I'll take the UK sucky style that is ugly if it its the best seat to keep my child ALIVE. 

Don't get me wrong I bought it cause I had no choice but they had lime green and blue and I had a girl. Neither was for her. I bought the blue one and everyone though she was a boy even though everything else was pink on her. I bought it to keep her safe and alive i have no problem with that it was the fact that there was no choice on base other than those two colors. Just like it bugs me that there are barely any clothes for her age group her. They seem to offer more boy clothes than anything. Tell me this base is not sexist? Although that is another topic. 

Thank you everyone for the imput. I have also been doing a lot of research and hope to figure things out soon. 

My husband recieved a ticket for speeding the other day and we drive a UK spec car and had US spec Britax carseats in the car with both children and they never asked about the carseats. From my understanding they can give you a ticket for 30GBP or have you go to court and the fine could be 500GBP. Also from my understanding US spec carseats if you buy a good one are better then what you can buy in the UK. From my understanding they don't do sideimpact crash testing. But please don't quote me on that. I like my Britax and use the same model with both my 2 1/2 year old and my 3 week old. I have also heard that alot of British moms will buy US carseats for thier children while on vacation in the states. 

KMSRAFL... I hear that they sell girl clothes and car seats off base, maybe you should try there? 

KMSRAFL - you can buy car seat covers, I bought a carseat with pretty pink cover on it just to take it off and put it on my own car seat and UK shops seem to have a wider range of girls clothes than boys. 

Just like it bugs me that there are barely any clothes for her age group her. They seem to offer more boy clothes than anything. Tell me this base is not sexist? I have the same problem not being able to find clothes that fit my son(at the BX), they're either too small or too big.. funnily enough I feel they have way more options on girls clothes and accessories than they do boys!