If your child has grown up, or at least grown large enough, to take a ride with you without a car seat then it's time to get rid of that thing taking up space in the garage.

But what should you do with it?  Can you sell it?  Are there other options than just chucking it in the trash?  Unless you live in California where the answer is just no, the answers have sellers and buyers having to do some research.

The importance of car seats.

Mother driving a car, having her little baby girl in a child seat
Halfpoint
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According to the CDC, in 2020 there were 607 child-related deaths due to auto accidents.  38% of those were not buckled up.

Studies from the CDC show that a properly installed and used car seat reduces the risk of injury in a crash by 71–82% for children.  And a booster seat reduces the risk of serious injury by 45% for children ages 4–8.

And speaking of properly installed, the above picture is not recommended by the state of Iowa.  That little one should be in the back seat in the middle of the car.

Can you sell that old car seat?

bigtunaonline
bigtunaonline
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The easy answer is YES, it is legal to resell that old car seat.  However, you need to do some research on it first.  While it's legal to resell the car seat, you cannot resell it if there is a recall on the car seat.  You can check to see if the seat you are selling has a recall on it here.

While that one is going to take a bit of research on your part there is another stipulation into reselling a car seat that you already know.  If a car seat was being used in a vehicle that was in an accident it is deemed unsafe and should not be resold.  And should also not be used in your own car as the structural integrity has been compromised.

For new parents out there looking to get a deal on a car seat, you can also check to be sure the one you are buying does not have a recall.  Regarding the accident part, you are going to have to trust the seller on that one.

Is there another way to get rid of your old car seat in Iowa?

Teddy bear fastened in the back seat of a car, red and blue police lights
gargantiopa
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So your old car seat does have a recall.  Or maybe you just don't want to go through the hassle of FB Marketplace or having a garage sale.  Do you just toss that old car seat into the trash?  No, recycle it!

There are many places where you can recycle your old car seat saving it from the dump.  Some places, like Target, will even let you trade it in towards the purchase of some new baby gear.

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