The Plus test is a special impact test, performed at the prestigious VTI institute in collaboration with other institutions such as NTF, Folksam, Volvo, representatives of car seat manufacturers in Sweden. This test has several components: a dynamic test, a test of the components, their durability and the combustion rate (flammability)..
It is a mandatory test for car seats for the Swedish market, but there are many international manufacturers who want to test their newly launched models and obtain Plus certification.
All car seats marked with the 
Plus test are approved for installation in all passenger seats in the vehicle.
The car seats that have passed the Plus test offer maximum protection for the child’s cervical area (neck area), which is subjected to extraordinarily strong forces in the event of a frontal impact.
The Plus marking applied to car seats has two versions: approved seats up to a maximum weight of 18 kg and approved seats up to a maximum weight of 25 kg.
The Plus test measures the forces to which the child’s neck area is exposed in the event of a frontal collision. This type of testing is not done in another European country and is not part of the process of approving a car seat.
The Plus test performed in Sweden is a voluntary test, at the discretion of the manufacturer, being the only one of its kind (unlike the tests performed by ADAC, OAMTC, NHTSA or WHICH which are independent and which the manufacturer cannot request).
Plus status is made for chairs from groups 1 and 2, groups for children aged between 1 and 6 years and weighing between 9 and 25 kg.
Here are some requirements that a car seat must meet in order to be tested Plus:
- To be approved for installation both on the front passenger seat and on the rear seats of the vehicle.
- A seat that can be used up to 18 kg for the rear seat will be marked 18 on the Plus test sticker.
- To obtain the Plus 25 kg mark, the seat must be able to be installed up to 25 kg in all places in the vehicle.
- An extended Rear-Facing seat with Isofix attachment can receive a Plus mark up to a maximum of 18 kg, as the car’s Isofix anchors are not sized up to 25 kg.
- A seat with a Plus mark up to 18 kg is not worse compared to a seat with a Plus mark up to 25 kg, but if you want the little one to travel as far back as possible in the direction of travel, then we recommend you to opt for those models with Plus mark up to 25 kg.
Seats that are mounted facing the direction of travel are unlikely to ever pass the Plus test, given the parameters measured in this regard, namely the forces exerted on the child’s cervical spine in the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 56.5 km / h with short braking distance.
We wanted to offer parents in Romania clear, non-commercial and uninterpreted information in favor or against a specific brand or model about this impact test, about how it is performed and about the models that were subjected to this test.
We look forward to seeing you at the Child Car Safety Center to find out more and test a wide range of child car seats, all selected in the most rigorous way by our specialists based on objective criteria.
Our mission is that every child who leaves in a car seat tested and installed by our specialists is properly protected during the trip by car.