Get all the new deals and savings hacks straight to your inbox
Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
Missed the spring 2026 Target Car Seat Trade-In? Don't worry. Target runs this event twice a year, and the next one will likely start on Sunday, Sept. 20, and run through Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
When it returns, you'll be able to trade in an old car seat, base, or booster for a 20% off Circle coupon (redeemable twice) on baby gear. Stack it with other Target deals like the Circle Card discount, the September Target Baby Sale, and the 15% off baby registry coupon, and you'll save big.
There’s a faster way to save. It’s in our app. Download the KCL app for free now .
The Target Car Seat Trade-In is an annual event that gives you a 20% off Circle coupon if you turn in an old car seat.
You can't donate old car seats, and throwing them away is no bueno. Instead, Target will take them off your hands during the Target Car Seat Trade-In Event. And if you're a Target Circle member, you'll walk away with a 20% off baby gear coupon that you can redeem twice within the offer period.
KCL predicts the next Target Car Seat Trade-In will start Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.
Target's fall Car Seat Trade-In event will likely start on Sunday, Sept. 20, and run through Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. The spring 2026 event ran from April 19 through May 2, with coupons valid through May 16, 2026.
In 2025, the Car Seat Trade-In lasted for 14 days in total. But you could use your 20% off coupon for an additional two weeks after the event ended.
How do we make our prediction?
Target offered the Car Seat Trade-In event in September of 2021 and 2022. Unfortunately, they skipped it in the fall of 2023, but it returned in 2024 and has run twice a year reliably since.
Here's when Target has held the Car Seat Trade-In event over the last few years:
-
Sunday, April 19 - May 2, 2026
-
Sunday, Sept. 21 - Oct. 4, 2025
-
Sunday, April 27 - May 10, 2025
-
Sunday, Sept. 15 - 28, 2024
-
Sunday, April 14 - 27, 2024
-
Sunday, April 16 - 29, 2023
-
Sunday, Sept. 11 - 24, 2022
-
Sunday, April 17 - 30, 2022
-
Sunday, Sept. 12 - 25, 2021
Your first step is to join Target Circle (if you're not already a member).
Only Circle members get to take advantage of the Car Seat Trade-In event. When you go to trade in your car seat, you’ll use your Circle account to scan a barcode and claim your 20% off coupon.
Target Circle is basically Target’s rewards program, and it’s essential to getting the best deals at Target. So the Car Seat Trade-In is just one of the many reasons to sign up for Circle.
Just bring in your old car seat to Target and scan the QR code to claim your 20% off Circle coupon.
During the Target Car Seat Trade-In Event, stop by your local participating Target store with your old car seat, base, or booster seat in hand. You’ll see a large donation box near Guest Services in the store — that’s where you’ll drop off your old item.
KCL TIP: Download the Target app and sign in to your Circle account before you go. You’ll need to have it pulled up to claim your coupon in-store.
How to Get Your Target Car Seat Trade-In Coupon:
-
Drop off your old car seat in the designated trade-in box.
-
Scan the QR code on the box using your Target app.
-
Find your coupon in the “baby” category under Target Circle Deals.
-
Tap the “+” button to save the coupon to your Circle account.
-
You can use the coupon twice, online or in-store.
Use your Target car seat coupon on a new car seat, stroller, playard, high chair, or other baby gear.
You don’t have to use your 20% off coupon on a new car seat after trading in your old one. You can use it to save 20% on a variety of baby gear at Target.
To maximize your savings, use your Car Seat Trade-In coupon on items that are already on sale or on products that have other available Target Circle offers. And you can totally stack all of these savings to get the best price. If you’re in the market for a new car seat or any eligible baby gear, now’s the time to buy it.
Use your Car Seat Trade-In coupon on any of these items:
Keep the list of exclusions in mind — it includes diapers, clothing, clearance, and more.
The 20% off Circle coupon can’t be used on items like diapers (they don't consider that baby gear). Other exclusions include baby clothing and apparel, WonderFold items, Doona items, items shipped and sold by Target Plus Partners, and Target clearance items.
After the event, you have two weeks to use your 20% off car seat coupon, and it's redeemable twice.
After the event ends, you'll have two weeks to use your 20% off Circle coupon before it expires. But we recommend using the coupon while car seats are on sale.
The coupon is redeemable twice, online or in-store, but you can only receive one coupon per Target Circle account. So if you’ve got a second car seat that’s collecting dust, consider giving it to a friend or having another household member create a Target Circle account to redeem the trade-in.
Don't need new baby gear? Trade in your old car seat and use the coupon for a baby shower gift.
When you can save 20% on top of a huge selection of sale prices, it’s a good enough reason to shop, even if you don’t need a new car seat or baby gear for your little ones.
You’ll find sale prices on car seats, strollers, and high chairs from top brands like Graco. It’s the perfect opportunity to shop for an upcoming baby shower or for family and friends who just became parents.
Last year, we stacked our 15% off Target Baby Registry completion coupon with the 20% off car seat trade-in coupon on a stroller that was already on sale. Between the two coupons and the sale price, we saved over $100 on a single purchase. That's the move.
And don’t forget you can always save 5% with your Target Circle Card .
You May Also Be Interested In:
Download the KCL app to add and redeem coupons in store
For iOS and Android users.
Get all the new deals and savings hacks straight to your inbox
Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
