Target Car Seat Trade-In 2026: Dates, Discount and What You Can Buy

If you have an old car seat sitting in your garage, basement or closet, this is your sign to finally get rid of it.

The Target Car Seat Trade-In is back for fall 2026, and it’s one of those baby gear events that is actually worth knowing about. You can bring an old car seat to Target, have it recycled and get a 20% off Target Circle bonus toward qualifying baby gear.

And it doesn’t have to be a car seat you’re currently using. Target accepts old, expired and even damaged car seats, which makes this a great excuse to clear out the infant seat your toddler outgrew two years ago.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Target Car Seat Trade-In 2026, including the dates, how the 20% discount works and what you can buy with it.

When Is the Target Car Seat Trade-In 2026?

The fall Target Car Seat Trade-In runs from September 20 through October 3, 2026.

You’ll need to bring your old car seat to a participating Target store during that window to receive the offer.

The 20% off Target Circle bonus itself is valid through October 17, 2026, so you don’t necessarily have to make your new baby gear purchase the same day you trade in your seat.

What Do You Get for Trading In a Car Seat at Target?

When you trade in an eligible car seat, you’ll receive a 20% off Target Circle bonus that can be used toward qualifying baby gear.

Even better, Target says the bonus can be redeemed twice.

That means if you’re buying more than one big-ticket baby item, you may want to think about how you use each redemption rather than immediately applying it to something inexpensive.

According to Target, the bonus can also be combined with other eligible item offers, which could make the trade-in event an especially good time to buy something you were already planning to purchase.

What Car Seats Can You Trade In?

Target accepts essentially every type of car seat, including:

• Infant car seats

• Convertible car seats

• Booster seats

• Harness car seats

• Car seat bases

• Expired car seats

• Damaged car seats

So yes, you can trade in an expired car seat.

You also don’t need to wait until you have a perfectly usable seat to participate. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of this program is having somewhere to bring a car seat that you shouldn’t pass along to another family.

What Can You Buy With the Target Car Seat Trade-In Discount?

The 20% Target Circle bonus can be used on qualifying:

• Car seats

• Booster seats

• Car seat bases

• Travel systems

• Strollers

• Playards

• High chairs

• Swings

• Rockers

• Bouncers

• Walkers

• Entertainers

• Jumpers

You don’t have to replace your old car seat with another car seat.

That’s important because you might be trading in an infant car seat your baby has outgrown but actually need a stroller, high chair or playard more than another seat.

There are some exclusions. For the fall 2026 event, Target says the bonus does not apply to clearance merchandise, items sold and shipped by Target Plus partners or UPPAbaby items.

How Does the Target Car Seat Trade-In Work?

The process is pretty simple.

Bring your old car seat or car seat base to a participating Target store between September 20 and October 3.

Look for the designated car seat drop-off box near Guest Services. There should be a sign with a barcode that you can scan with your phone.

Scan the barcode and add the Car Seat Trade-In bonus to your Target Circle account. You should then see the 20% off bonus in your Target Wallet.

You can use the bonus on a qualifying purchase in a Target store or online at Target.com.

The bonus can be used twice and expires October 17, 2026.

Do You Need Target Circle?

Yes. The 20% discount is issued as a Target Circle bonus, so you’ll need a Target Circle account to receive and use it.

Target Circle is free to join.

Also worth knowing: Target limits the trade-in offer to one bonus per Target Circle account. Trading in multiple car seats doesn’t mean you’ll receive multiple 20% bonuses. However, the single bonus you receive can be redeemed twice.

Can You Trade In an Expired Car Seat at Target?

Yes. Target specifically accepts expired car seats during the Car Seat Trade-In event.

This is probably one of my favorite things about the program because car seats are notoriously difficult to get rid of responsibly. You generally don’t want to donate or hand down an expired seat, and putting a giant car seat in the trash feels incredibly wasteful.

Target works with recycling partners to reuse materials from the seats rather than simply sending them to a landfill.

Can You Trade In a Damaged Car Seat?

Yes. Damaged car seats are also accepted.

That includes a seat you may no longer feel comfortable using or passing along to someone else.

If a car seat has been involved in a crash, however, always follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions about whether it needs to be replaced rather than waiting for a trade-in event.

What Happens to the Old Car Seats?

Target sends the collected car seats to recycling partners, where materials can be repurposed into things like plastic buckets, pallets, construction materials, carpet padding and select Target home products.

Target says its Car Seat Trade-In program has recycled more than 3.8 million car seats since the program began.

Is the Target Car Seat Trade-In Worth It?

If you already have a car seat you need to get rid of and you’re planning to buy another piece of baby gear, I think it’s absolutely worth taking advantage of.

Baby gear gets expensive quickly. A 20% discount on a $300 convertible car seat is $60. On a $500 stroller, it’s $100.

The fact that the bonus can be used twice makes the 2026 event even more useful, especially if you’re transitioning between stages and suddenly need multiple things at once.

My biggest tip would be not to waste the discount on something inexpensive if you know you have a bigger baby gear purchase coming up. Check what qualifies, compare prices and use those two redemptions strategically.

Target Car Seat Trade-In 2026 FAQs

When is the Target Car Seat Trade-In 2026?

The fall 2026 Target Car Seat Trade-In runs from September 20 through October 3, 2026.

How much is the Target Car Seat Trade-In discount?

You’ll receive a 20% off Target Circle bonus after trading in an eligible car seat or car seat base.

Can you use the Target Car Seat Trade-In coupon twice?

Yes. For the fall 2026 event, Target says the 20% off bonus can be redeemed twice.

When does the Target Car Seat Trade-In coupon expire?

The fall 2026 bonus expires October 17, 2026.

Can I use the Target Car Seat Trade-In discount online?

Yes. Target says the bonus can be used for qualifying purchases both in stores and online.

Can I trade in an expired car seat?

Yes. Target accepts expired car seats as well as damaged car seats during the trade-in event.

Can I trade in a car seat base?

Yes. Car seat bases are accepted.

Can I use the discount on a stroller?

Yes. Qualifying strollers are included in the Target Car Seat Trade-In offer.

Can I use the discount on UPPAbaby?

No. Target specifically lists UPPAbaby products as an exclusion from the fall 2026 Car Seat Trade-In bonus.

The Bottom Line

The fall Target Car Seat Trade-In runs September 20 through October 3, 2026, and it’s an easy way to responsibly get rid of an old car seat while saving on something your baby or toddler needs next.

Bring your old seat to a participating Target, scan the barcode at the trade-in box and you’ll receive a 20% off Target Circle bonus that can be used twice on qualifying baby gear through October 17.

If you have an old infant seat or base taking up space and a stroller, convertible car seat, high chair or other big baby purchase on your list, this is definitely an event I’d take advantage of.

If you’re using the Target Car Seat Trade-In as an excuse to update some of your baby gear, I have plenty more resources to help you figure out what’s actually worth buying. Start with my Baby Registry Must-Haves and What to Put on a Baby Registry guides, or if you’re preparing for baby number two, check out everything I added to my Baby Registry for a Second Baby. My goal is always to help you buy what you’ll actually use and skip what you won’t.