The short version
- Typical range: £30 – £150
- Biggest single factor: condition — see the table below
- Category: Baby & Kids Items
- Cost to sell on WishThrift: nothing, at any price
What a used car seat is worth by condition
Condition does more to the price than anything else. These figures are worked from the top of the range for car seats, so treat them as a starting point and adjust for the specifics of yours.
| Condition | Typical price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £150 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £127 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £97 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £67 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £37 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
These are the five grades WishThrift listings use, and sellers set the grade themselves — see what each condition grade means. Figures are shown in pounds as a reference point. On WishThrift prices display in your own currency, and sellers set their own asking price.
What raises the value of a car seat
- 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
What lowers it
- 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- Superseded safety standards
How to work out what yours is worth
- 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
Once you have those three answers you can place your own car seat on the table above with reasonable confidence. If it sits between two rows, price it toward the lower one — items priced honestly sell faster than items priced hopefully.
Ready to sell it? Listing on WishThrift is free, there is no commission, and you keep the full amount you agree with the buyer — see how selling works or create a free account.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy a second-hand car seat?
Only if you know its full history. A seat involved in a collision should never be reused, and the plastics degrade over time, which is why they carry expiry dates.
Do car seats expire?
Yes. Manufacturers set an expiry date, usually moulded into the shell, because the plastics weaken with age and temperature cycling.
Should I sell a car seat that has been in an accident?
No. It should be disposed of rather than resold, however minor the collision seemed.
More value guides: baby & kids items guides · all value guides · browse live baby & kids items listings.