Last Updated: April 3, 2026
The spring Target car seat trade in 2026 is coming up! Target hasn't officially announced the dates yet, but the spring event typically runs for two weeks starting in late April.
Pro tip: Sign up for Target Circle (it's free) before the event starts. You'll need a Target Circle account to claim your coupon, and you don't want to be fumbling with an app download while holding a dusty car seat at Guest Services.
Target Car Seat Trade-In Event: Quick Facts
- When: April 2026
- What: Trade in any car seat, expired, damaged, outgrown, unused, or even crashed, and get a 20% off coupon toward a new car seat, stroller, travel system, or select baby gear
- Where: Participating Target stores (drop-off boxes at Guest Services)
- How:
1️⃣Use our Car Seat Finder Quiz to prep your picks before you shop
2️⃣Drop your old car seat in the box
3️⃣Scan to get your 20% off coupon in the Target app
4️⃣Shop through my links to get the right seat at the best price - Why: Keep unsafe seats out of circulation, reduce landfill waste, and save money on safer gear for your family
We probably don’t have to tell you why Target is awesome for busy moms, but let me tell you anyway! Target is great for snagging almost any item, whether you’re grabbing a household staple or a thoughtful wedding gift. Not only do they carry tons of products, but they’re also committed to quality, safety, and sustainability. These famous traits of Target make it one of the best places to purchase anything baby or kid-related!
One way Target supports the environment and your family is by having a car seat trade-in program. They host an event where you can turn in an old car seat in exchange for a 20% off bonus coupon. This event seeks to reduce waste and save you money by accepting and recycling your unwanted seats and rewarding you for participating. If saving money and the environment interests you, this is an event you don’t want to miss!
So, today, we’re dedicating a post to the Target car seat trade-in event! Read now and bookmark this page for later! We’ve got all the details and information you need to make the most of the event. Let’s dive right in.
Target Car Seat Trade-in Event
Target will accept and recycle all types of car seats, including infant car seats, infant car seat bases, convertible car seats, combination seats, and booster seats, as well as car seats that are expired, damaged, or have been in a car crash.
After turning in your car seat or booster for recycling into the turn-in box at your local Target, Target Circle Members are eligible for a 20% off bonus coupon for various baby items. The designated drop-off box, usually found near the guest services desk, will have a QR barcode. Scan it and tap “Add to Target Circle Bonus.” Your 20% off bonus will be in your wallet in the Target Circle App.
What Can You Buy With the Target Car Seat Trade-In Coupon?
This is where it gets good. The 20% off Target Circle Bonus applies to more than just car seats!
Eligible items:
•Car seats (infant, convertible, all-in-one, booster)
•Car seat bases
•Travel systems
•Strollers
•Play yards
•High chairs
•Swings and rockers
•Bouncers
•Walkers
•Entertainers and jumpers
So if you've been eyeing a new stroller or your toddler's high chair is on its last legs, the trade-in coupon covers those too. The target stroller trade-in angle is one a lot of parents miss. You trade in a car seat but can use the coupon toward a stroller instead. If you know what you want, act quickly; inventory tends to get low fast. And, make sure you comparison shop. Some other retailers may discount prices further to compete. As always, all of the lowest car seat deals of the day can be found here.
When is the Target Car Seat Trade-in 2026 Program?
The next Target Trade-in Event will be in spring of 2026. Target has been hosting this event since April 2016; since then, they have accepted 3.5 million car seats. This means they have recycled 1.2 million pounds of material! Wow!
According to Target’s website, guests can recycle any car seat, booster car seats, or infant base, even if it is expired, damaged, or gross, it doesn’t matter! Target Circle Members can scan the QR code on the designated box and add it to the Target Circle bonus in the Target App. The bonus is 20% and can be used for new products, such as car seats, strollers, or select baby gear. Target’s partner, Waste Management, will recycle materials from the old car seats.
What Type of Car Seat Qualifies for a Trade-in?
Target will recycle all types of car seats, including infant car seats, infant bases, convertible car seats, harness, and booster seats - yes, even booster seats! You can even turn in infant car seats based on that terrifying old seat you used in the 90s, which your mom has kept in the attic for some unknown reason. And it doesn’t matter if these items are expired, damaged, or stained - they’re getting recycled anyway!
Where Do I Bring My Old Car Seat to Trade in?
To participate in this event, you’ll need to go to a Target store! Luckily, every store is participating except a few small specialty Targets. When you bring your car seat to trade-in, head to guest services. They’ll have large boxes for your car seat - you can’t miss them! Then, scan the QR code on the trade-in box, and your bonus coupon will be saved in your Target Circle Wallet!
Target safely recycles these crashed, damaged, expired, and unwanted car seats with Ecotech™ Car Seat Recycling to make pallets, plastic buckets, and construction materials. This keeps unusable car seats out of resale shops, donation bins, and landfills! Really, it’s the best of both worlds!
Does Target Accept Expired Car Seats?
Yes, and honestly, this is the whole point of the program.
Car seats expire. Every single one has an expiration date stamped on it, usually on a white sticker on the bottom or back of the seat. Most seats expire 6-10 years after manufacture, depending on the brand.
Here's the thing most parents don't realize: an expired car seat may not protect your child in a crash. The plastic degrades over time. The harness webbing weakens. The foam loses its ability to absorb impact. An expired seat looks fine sitting in your living room, but the materials have changed at a structural level.
Target accepts:
• Expired car seats
• Damaged car seats
• Car seats involved in a crash (even a minor one)
• Car seats you've simply outgrown
• Car seats with missing parts
From a safety perspective: If your car seat has been in any crash, even a low-speed parking lot bump, it should not be reused. The internal structure may be compromised in ways you can't see from the outside. The trade-in event is the perfect way to retire it.
How to Know if Your Car Seat is Expired?
Car seats expire. Just like any other product, the materials break down over time, and safety standards change with technological advancement in the industry. If you’ve already used your car seat for a couple of children or got it as a hand-me-down, always double-check the expiration date! You definitely do not want to be using an expired car seat. And this is the perfect occasion to exchange it for a new, safe car seat at a bargain price.
Every car seat manufacturer puts their expiration date in a different place. Usually, the manufacture date is on a white sticker stuck to the bottom or back of the seat or on the base. If you’re lucky, the expiration date will be right there on the same sticker, but if not, cross-reference your manual to find the car seat’s usable lifespan. Having trouble finding the expiration date? Don’t give up! You can always call the manufacturer for help finding this information. Knowing that important date is essential to keep your kiddos safe in their seat!
Ready to Shop?
Shop now by checking out our Target page.
Should You Reuse or Recycle Your Child’s Car Seat?
If you have a car seat you’ve been looking to get rid of, maybe a car seat trade-in event wasn’t exactly what you had in mind to get the gear off your hands.
Maybe you were hoping to sell it online, give it to a friend, or donate it to someone in need. Or perhaps you weren’t planning on ditching it at all, and you would reuse it for the next baby! These can all be great options – but not for every seat.
Many factors go into deciding whether you should recycle or reuse that pricey car seat. If your car seat is expired, damaged, or missing parts, it should NOT be reused for your next baby or given to a friend. Additionally, if the car seat has ever gotten into a crash, traveled under a plane unprotected, or is soiled beyond cleaning, you should choose to recycle in a car seat exchange like this one (after you consult your manual to confirm that your seat isn’t usable anymore!).
Remember, if your car seat is not safe for your child, it’s not safe for anyone else’s either!
If you don’t need that prized Target coupon for your own upcoming baby gear purchase, you can always use the coupon to purchase a brand-new item to donate locally. Because the coupon is in your personal Target Circle account, you cannot share it with anyone.
What can I use the 20% bonus on?
Target’s car seat trade-in event takes any car seat in exchange for a 20% off bonus coupon on select baby gear. You must have the Target Circle app to participate, so download it before heading to the store. Target will let you use this coupon on a new car seat, car seat base, travel system, stroller, or select baby home gear. Select baby home gear includes play yards, high chairs, swings, rockers, bouncers, walkers, entertainers, and jumpers. And, as most parents know, that is a great discount if you’re buying any of these pricey big-ticket items!
Take the time to research the best car seat before you buy. Check out some of our favorite infant, convertible, forward-facing and booster seats. You may also be interested in researching the best car seats to fit three-across or those that are the most compact.
Target’s Car Seat Trade-In program makes a positive impact on both children’s safety and the sustainability of our environment.
If you don’t live in a country or area with Target, you can check if there is anywhere locally where you can recycle your seat. If recycling isn’t an option and you must dispose of your car seat, follow the steps here. This will ensure no one pulls the car seat out of the trash to use it. (Seriously, people have told us horror stories about this on Instagram!)
Ok – one last time to make sure you’ve got it – Car seat buyback is good for you, your baby, and the world – so why not give it a try? Consider whether your car seat is expired, damaged, or just in need of replacement. If recycling is your choice, drop off the seat and collect your bonus coupon! Then, buy a new car seat with the help of Safe in the Seat or snag some other much-needed baby gear. It’s that simple!
FAQs
How many car seats can I trade in?
You can drop off as many car seats as you want, but you'll only receive one 20% off coupon per Target Circle account.
Can I use the coupon online?
Yes. The 20% Target Circle Bonus works for both in-store and online purchases at Target.com.
Do I need to bring the car seat in the original box?
No. Just bring the seat itself. No packaging, receipt, or proof of purchase needed. It doesn't even need to be a seat you bought at Target.
Can I trade in a stroller instead of a car seat?
No. Only car seats and car seat bases are accepted for trade-in. But you can use the resulting coupon to buy a stroller.
What if I don't need baby gear right now?
Trade-in anyway and save the coupon for a future purchase (check the expiration date on the bonus — typically a few weeks after the event ends). The coupon also works on gift purchases, so it's great for baby shower gifts.
Is the Target car seat trade-in event the same as a car seat buyback?
Essentially, yes. Some people search for "target car seat buy back" but it's the same program. You're exchanging an old seat for store credit in the form of a 20% discount.
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