Pacific Honda Tips: How to Use the LATCH System

Most modern car seats are compatible with the LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), an alternative to anchoring your car seat with a seat belt. At Pacific Honda, we like the LATCH system because it simplifies car seat installation, making them more effective and safer.

What Is the LATCH System?

Installing a car seat to a seat belt can be challenging, with some estimates indicating that up to three out of four car seats in America are improperly installed. The LATCH system is not necessarily safer overall—if properly installed, both systems offer equal protection—but is easier to install correctly, making it easier to get peace of mind. All vehicles manufactured after 2003 must have LATCH anchors, so your car almost certainly features them.

How Do I Use the LATCH System?

All five-point harness car seats offer connectors for lower anchor connectors, which are positioned where the car’s seat meets the backrest. Your owner’s manual will show more specific instructions, but generally, you only need to connect the hooks to the lower tethers and pull the straps tight.

Forward-facing seats require an extra step. You’ll need to attach the tether straps to the tether anchors behind the seat, which will prevent the car seat from tipping forward in an accident. Once correctly hooked up, try rocking the seat side to side and front to back to test its security; it should not move more than an inch in any direction.

Find Out More at Pacific Honda

Our lineup of new Honda cars features the latest preventative safety technology to keep your family safe. Come down to Pacific Honda, your San Diego Honda dealership, and learn more about how Honda protects you on the road today!