Your old car seat has been sitting in the garage for months, right next to the bag of outgrown clothes you keep meaning to drop at Goodwill. Tossing it in the trunk with the rest of the donations feels like the responsible thing to do. It stays out of the landfill, and maybe it even helps another family who needs a seat.
As Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), we get this question constantly. The short answer is that no, Goodwill doesn't take car seats. But that isn’t your only option! There are several ways to get rid of a car seat, and we'll walk you through each one in this guide.
Car seats aren't treated like a regular donation. Because of safety standards, expiration dates, and recalls, most donation centers can't accept them. Below, we'll explain the Goodwill policy, why it exists, and better alternatives (trade-in events, recycling programs, and manufacturer take-back programs). We’ll also talk about whether you can donate a used seat anywhere and how to prep your seat before you hand it off.
Does Goodwill Take Car Seats?
No, Goodwill does not accept car seats. In fact, Goodwill places car seats among frequently recalled items it won't accept right alongside cribs, strollers, playpens, and other infant furniture. You can look up your specific Goodwill location for the guidelines. But as an example, one location states that they don't accept car seats because they're not able to verify if the seat meets all current safety requirements.
We know. You finally cleared out the garage, and now there's a car seat with nowhere to go. But looking at the bigger picture, this is a blanket safety policy that protects families from picking up damaged or expired seats.
Why Doesn't Goodwill Accept Car Seats?
There are a few different reasons Goodwill doesn’t accept car seats, but it ultimately comes down to safety and liability.
First, a car seat may have been recalled or may have expired, even if the parent doesn’t know. (Many don’t!) Goodwill encourages donors to review Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls before donating.
Second, Goodwill can’t verify whether the seat has been involved in a crash. Unfortunately, the damage isn’t always visible. Even if you can’t see it on the surface, a crash could cause damage to the plastic shell, energy-absorbing foam, or harness webbing. We’ve talked about this plenty of times, but you can learn more in our article, “What Is the Car Seat Replacement Law?”
So when there's no way to verify a seat's age, recall status, or crash history, the responsible approach is for Goodwill to decline it. It's the same advice we'd give any parent asking us whether a secondhand seat is safe to use.
Where Else Can You Take an Old Car Seat?
Now that you know you can’t donate car seats to Goodwill, where can you take it? There are plenty of real options for responsibly getting rid of a car seat. The good news is that you have several, and a couple of them even reward you for trading a car seat in!
We'll cover retail trade-in events, car seat recycling programs, and manufacturer take-back programs below. For a deeper look at your choices, read our full guide on what to do with expired car seats.
Retail Trade-In Events
Big retailers run periodic car seat trade-in events where you bring in your old seat, it gets recycled, and you walk away with a discount on new baby gear. Target’s Car Seat Trade-in Event is a great example of this!
In exchange for bringing in a car seat to recycle, Target gives you a 20% off Target Circle Bonus you can use on a new car seat, stroller, or select baby gear. And compared to other options, the company is pretty inclusive about what it accepts.
Target will accept and recycle all types of car seats, including infant car seats, convertible car seats, car seat bases, harness or booster seats, as well as car seats that are expired or damaged. This is because it’s being recycled rather than passed on.
These events are also extremely impactful. Since starting its program in 2016, Target has recycled more than 3.5 million car seats and kept 58 million pounds of material out of landfills, according to Consumer Reports (September 2026). If you have a car seat you’ve been hanging onto, read our full breakdown of the Target car seat trade-in event. And because dates shift every year, always check the retailer's current event page before you load up the car.
Car Seat Recycling Programs
If there isn’t a trade-in event happening near you, recycling is another option. You usually can’t toss a car seat into your curbside recycling bin, so you’ll need to find a program that accepts them. One of the most popular options is TerraCycle.
TerraCycle helps reduce global waste and keep plastic out of landfills by accepting items that are tricky to recycle through your regular local program. Not only do they partner with retailers on trade-in events, they also sell a Baby Gear Zero Waste Box you can mail in any time of year. Check the box's accepted-items list before you buy, since it doesn't take fabric.
You can buy a box from TerraCycle, stuff your used car seat and baby gear inside, and ship it off to be recycled. You do have to pay for the box, but this also gives you the opportunity to responsibly get rid of a seat that would otherwise sit in a landfill.
Before you plan on shipping anything off, always confirm the specific program's current requirements. For more places to try, see our list of car seat recycling programs every parent can use.
Manufacturer Take-Back Programs
Another place worth checking? The company that made your car seat! Some manufacturers have their own recycling or take-back programs, so check the brand’s website before you move on to another option.
These programs can come and go, which is why we don’t want to give you a list that could be outdated by the time you read this. If you don’t see anything on the website, you can always call customer service and ask. It only takes a few minutes, and you might find out they’ll take the seat off your hands!
If they do have a program, they’ll tell you exactly what to do next, whether that’s mailing the seat in or bringing it to a drop-off location.
Can You Donate a Used Car Seat Anywhere?
We completely understand why you’d want to donate a car seat you’re no longer using. If it still looks perfectly fine, it’s natural to hope that another family could get some use out of it!
The problem is that most charities and thrift stores won't accept car seats. They can’t confidently determine how old a seat is, whether it’s been recalled, or if it’s ever been involved in a crash. That’s why places like Goodwill generally avoid the risk altogether. If you're thinking about selling it, our guide on whether you can resell car seats walks through what to check first.
More importantly, an expired, recalled, or crashed car seat should never be donated, resold, or passed along. Even if it looks completely fine from the outside, there can be damage or safety issues you can’t see.
If the seat still has plenty of time before it expires, has never been in a crash, hasn’t been recalled, and still has all of its original parts, passing it along to someone you know and trust isn’t a bad option! Make sure you can check every one of these boxes first. Your local foster closet may also be happy to take seats that are in excellent condition.
If you can’t or are hesitant, recycling it or taking it to a trade-in event is the safer way to go.
How to Prepare a Car Seat for Recycling or Trade-In
Preparing ahead makes the entire process much easier. Here's your quick checklist before you head out:
- Confirm the program's current requirements before you go. Trade-in dates, accepted seat types, and prep instructions change. Always check the specific retailer's or recycler's own page first.
- Remove the fabric and padding if the program requires it. Many programs will accept the plastic shell once you've stripped the cover, pad, and sometimes the harness. Not every program asks for this, so make sure to check before you take anything apart.
Not sure whether your seat is even due for retirement? Our guide to why car seats expire helps you sort that out before you make the trip.
Your Next Step for a Car Seat You No Longer Need
So, does Goodwill take car seats? No, and now you know why! You also know exactly where to turn instead. Whether you choose a retail trade-in event, giving it to a friend, a recycling program, or a manufacturer take-back program, you've got a responsible way to give away a car seat you don’t use anymore.
Still have a question about your next seat, or the one you're passing along? Talk to a Tech, and a certified CPST will look at your setup and send you next steps.
You've got this, and we've got you.
This article is for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for your car seat's manual or professional guidance. Always follow your manufacturer's instructions and check each program's current requirements before acting.
