What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £150 (~$200) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £128 (~$170) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £98 (~$130) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £68 (~$90) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £38 (~$50) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a car seat is worth what is being asked:
- Any accident history, which makes a seat unsafe to reuse
- An expiry date passed or close, since the plastics degrade
- Missing harness pads or the original manual
- Superseded safety standards
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- A clear history with no accident involvement
- An expiry date still comfortably in the future
- Original instructions and all harness padding
- Current safety standard labels intact
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit car seats and carriers exist and fail catastrophically in exactly the situation they were bought for. Buy safety-critical items new.
Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a car seat, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Answer honestly and without hedging. A seat involved in any collision should be disposed of, not sold, because the shell can be compromised in ways you cannot see.
Read the stamp on the shell and give the date. An expired seat is not something to sell for use, whatever condition it appears to be in.
Say so if you are, because it means you can vouch for the full history. If you are not, tell the buyer that too and let them decide.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Find the manufacture and expiry dates moulded into the shell
- Confirm the standard label is present and legible
- State plainly whether the seat has ever been in a collision
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The seat from the side, fully assembled
- The manufacture and expiry date stamp on the shell
- The harness, buckle and adjuster, close up
- The label showing the standard it meets and the height or weight range
Details to confirm before you commit
- Brand, model, and the standard it meets, such as i-Size or ECE R44
- Height or weight range it covers
- Manufacture date and expiry date from the shell
- Confirmation that it has never been in a collision, and whether you are the original owner
Live car seat listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse baby & kids for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady demand all year. Seats with a long remaining life and a documented single owner sell quickly; anything close to expiry sells slowly and should be priced as such.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a car seat sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell car seat for what to photograph and how to price, or what car seat is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used car seat?
Around £20 to £98 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a car seat before buying?
Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.
Is buying a car seat second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.
See also: all buying guides · car seat value guide · selling car seat · Baby & Kids · condition grades.