Car seat recycling — how to get rid of an old car seat

Most curbside recycling won't take a car seat, so the best options are a retailer trade-in event or the trash, after you make sure no one can reuse it. Before you get rid of one, check whether it's still safe for someone else; if it's been in a moderate or severe crash, it isn't.

Short answer

Target's trade-in: during the event, bring any old car seat to a participating store for a 20% Target Circle bonus on baby gear.
Crashed or too old? Don't pass it on. NHTSA says never use a seat that's been in a moderate or severe crash.
Still good? Only pass it on if it meets NHTSA's used-seat checklist.
Throwing it out? Cut the harness straps first so no one pulls it from the trash and uses it.

Target's car seat trade-in

Target's Car Seat Trade-In, now in its 10th year, takes any old car seat at participating stores and gives you a 20% Target Circle bonus to use on new baby gear. The most recent event ran September 20 through October 3, 2026. Watch Target's announcements for the next one, and hold onto the seat until then if you can.

Is it still safe for someone else?

NHTSA recommends replacing a car seat after a moderate or severe crash and says never to use one that's been in such a crash. A seat doesn't automatically need replacing after a minor crash, which NHTSA defines as one where all of these are true:

The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.
The door nearest the car seat wasn't damaged.
No one in the vehicle was hurt.
The air bags, if any, didn't deploy.
There's no visible damage to the car seat.

Before giving a seat away, run through NHTSA's used car seat checklist: it's never been in a moderate or severe crash, it still has its date-of-manufacture and model-number labels (needed to check for recalls and whether it's too old), it has no recalls, it has all its parts, and it has its instruction book. If you can't check every box, don't pass it on.

If it has to go in the trash

Some swap shops won't take car seats for the reasons above; the swap shed in Waterboro, Maine, for one, turns them away. If there's no trade-in event coming, a car seat can go out as bulky trash or to your local dump. Before it does, cut the harness straps and write “expired” or “crashed” on the shell so no one takes it out of the trash and uses it. Our bulk trash pickup guide covers curbside collection of big items.

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Common questions

How do I recycle an old car seat?

Target's Car Seat Trade-In takes any old car seat at participating stores during its events and gives a 20% Target Circle bonus on baby gear. The most recent ran September 20 through October 3, 2026. Most curbside recycling programs won't take car seats.

Can I throw a car seat in the trash?

Yes, as bulky trash or at your local dump. Cut the harness straps and mark it expired first, so no one pulls it out and reuses it.

When should a car seat be replaced?

After any moderate or severe crash, NHTSA says. After a minor crash it doesn't automatically need replacing, as long as the vehicle could be driven away, the nearest door wasn't damaged, no one was hurt, the air bags didn't deploy and the seat has no visible damage. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Can I donate a used car seat?

Only if it passes NHTSA's used car seat checklist: no moderate or severe crash, labels with its date of manufacture and model number, no recalls, all its parts and its instruction book. Some donation sites and swap shops won't take car seats at all.

How do I know if a car seat is too old?

Check the label with its date of manufacture and model number, then follow the manufacturer's instructions. NHTSA notes you need that label to find out whether a seat has been recalled or is too old.

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