Home › Articles › Buying advice
Target Car Seat Trade-in: How It Works and When It Returns
Twice in 2026, Target let families drop off an old car seat in exchange for a discount on new baby gear. Here's how the program works, using Target's own FAQ and announcements, plus when it makes sense to replace a seat.
How the Trade-in Works
- Bring a seat to a Target store. Trade-ins are store-only. Target puts drop-off boxes near Guest Services, and all stores take part except some small-format stores.
- Scan the sign. Signs by the boxes have a code to scan with the Target app, which adds the bonus to your Target Circle account. Target gives one bonus per account.
- Use the bonus twice. The 20% off bonus works on two separate purchases, in store or online, and Target says it can be combined with other item offers.
Can't find the bonus? Target's FAQ says to refresh the app, open your dashboard, find the offer and tap "Apply 20% Off" so it applies in your cart or at checkout.
Which Car Seats Target Accepts
Target says it takes every type of car seat: infant seats, convertible seats, car seat bases, harness seats and boosters. Expired and damaged seats are accepted too, and each one earns the same bonus.
What the 20% Bonus Covers
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
| New car seats, booster seats and car seat bases | UPPAbaby items |
| Strollers and travel systems | Clearance items |
| Play yards, high chairs, swings, rockers, bouncers, walkers, entertainers and jumpers | Items sold and shipped by Target Plus partners |
2026 Dates and the Next Event
Target ran the event twice in 2026:
- Spring: April 19 to May 2, 2026
- Fall: September 20 to October 3, 2026, with the bonus valid through October 17, 2026
Target hadn't announced the next event when we checked. It started the program in April 2016, and its September 2026 announcement called the program 10 years old, so if it follows the 2026 pattern, look for news around April.
What Happens to the Old Seats
Target says its partners recycle the materials into things like pallets, plastic buckets, construction materials such as steel beams, carpet padding and some Brightroom products. By September 2026, Target said the program had recycled more than 3.8 million car seats and kept more than 63.7 million pounds of material out of landfills.
When to Replace a Car Seat
A trade-in event is a good time to replace a seat your child is outgrowing, but timing shouldn't wait for a sale if safety is at stake. NHTSA says to replace a car seat after a moderate or severe crash. Its used seat checklist also rules out a seat with missing parts, no label, an open recall or a crash history.
- Your child has reached the seat's height or weight limit; our car seat stage finder shows the next stage.
- The seat was in a moderate or severe crash.
- It's past the expiration date the maker printed on it, or the label is missing.
- It has an open recall you can't fix; see how to check a car seat recall.
Shopping with the bonus? Our car seats guide and strollers guide compare current picks on limits, weight and price.
Shopping for One?
Car SeatsBest Car Seats: Infant, Convertible and All-in-One PicksCar seats from Graco, Chicco and Safety 1st compared on rear-facing limits, weight and price, with NHTSA's rules for rear-facing, installing and replacing a seat.
StrollersBest Strollers: Full-Size, Lightweight, Travel and Jogging PicksStrollers from Graco, Summer, Ingenuity, Baby Trend and Baby Jogger compared on weight, fold size, weight limits and price, with the hazards the CPSC's stroller rule targets.