Can I use the lower anchors to install a car seat in the center position?

Why is this even a question? Remember that vehicles must have tether anchors in THREE backseat positions and lower anchors in TWO backseat positions. That usually leaves the center seat as the odd-man out--meaning it has a tether anchor but no lower anchors. A clever person might ask "Can't I just use the two inner lower anchors from the side seats to secure a child safety seat in the center?" This is one of the most common questions we get asked. While it is usually physically possible, it is usually NOT recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and may be unsafe.

Why is it unsafe? The distance between the inner-most lower anchors is usually not the standard 11.02 inches found between the lower anchors on the side seats. Many child safety seat manufactuers do NOT want their seats secured to lower anchors that are wider or narrower than the standard 11.02 inches. A wider spacing may allow the child safety seat to move too much side-to-side in a crash.

There are certain situations when a child safety seat CAN be safely secured in the center using the lower anchors.

• The vehicle has a designated LATCH position in the center of the back seat. This means it has lower anchors that are 11 inches apart and specifically intended for use in the center seat. Examples include the Acura MDX (2007 and newer), the Honda CRV (2007 and newer).
• The vehicle AND the child safety seat manufactuer BOTH allow you to use lower anchors that are spaced wider or narrower than 11 inches. Please check your vehicle and child safety seat owners manuals to see if yours allow this.

Which child safety seat manufacturers DO allow you to use lower anchors that are spaced wider or narrower than 11 inches apart?

• Britax: Spacing can be from 11 to 20 inches, as long as the vehicle manufacturer also permits this.
• Chicco: Spacing must be 11 inches
• Cosco/Dorel (includes Maxi Cosi): any spacing, as long as vehicle manufacturer clearly permits.
• Fisher Price: Sacing can be from 11 to 20 inches, as long as vehicle manufacturer clearly permits.
• Orbit Baby: Spacing from 11 to 20 inches, as long as vehicle manufacturer permits.
• Recaro: Any spacing, as long as vehicle manufacturer permits.
• Safeguard: Spacing from 11 to 20 inches, as long as vehicle manufacturer permits.
• Snug Seat Hippo: Spacing from 11 to 20 inches, as long as vehicle manufacturer permits
• Triple Play (Sit 'N' Stroll): Spacing can be over 11 inches, as long as vehicle manufacturer permits.

As you can see, the vehicle manufacturer MUST specifically allow you to use a narrower or wider spacing even if the child safety seat manufacturer allows the unusual spacing.

Which vehicles allow you to use lower anchors that are narrower or wider than 11 inches?

Unfortunately, most vehicles DO NOT allow you to use lower anchors that are spaced wider or narrower than 11 inches.

IF YOUR VEHICLE IS MADE BY ONE OF THE MANUFACTURERS LISTED BELOW, YOU CANNOT INSTALL YOUR CHILD SAFETY SEAT USING THE LOWER ANCHORS IN THE CENTER OF THE BACKSEAT. This is true even if your child safety seat is one that allows you to use lower anchors that are wider or narrower than 11 inches.

• Acura (except 07 RDX and MDX)
• BMW
• Daewoo
• Honda (except 3rd row center of 05-07 Odyssey, 06-08 Ridgeline, and 07 CRV)
• Infiniti
• Isuzu
• Jaguar
• Kia
• Land Rover
• Lexus
• Mercedes-Benz
• Mini
• Nissan
• Porsche
• Saab
• Scion
• Subaru
• Toyota (except Sequoia, Sienna, and LandCruiser which have designated LATCH systems in the center of SOM
• Volkswagen
• Volvo