HopSkipDrive Car Seat Program

Welcome, CareDrivers, to the HopSkipDrive Car Seat Program! Your role in safely transporting riders is incredibly important, and this program helps us extend that safety to our youngest riders who require a car seat.

Correct installation and use of a child restraint system reduces the risk of injury for children in a crash. Car seats work by slowing down movement and spreading out crash forces. We want to ensure you have all the knowledge and tools to provide the safest ride possible.

What is the Car Seat Program?

We’re launching a car seat program in select cities, offering interested CareDrivers an opportunity to provide safe transportation for younger children (ages 4–6) who require car seats.

To get started, you’ll see a new specialized advanced qualification invitation in your CareDriver app when it’s available in your area. Complete that, and you’ll be eligible for these new ride opportunities. Eligible CareDrivers will receive a safety-compliant, HopSkipDrive-approved car seat at no cost to you (as needed).

Why You'll Love It

New Earning Opportunities

Unlock exclusive access to car seat rides in your area, increasing your pay while doing meaningful work.

Make a Bigger Difference

Provide essential, safe transportation for young children (ages 4–6), fulfilling a critical community need and doing truly meaningful work.

Clear Guidance

All these rides follow the Must Be Met “Wait in Car” protocol, where on-site staff or caregivers will assist the rider on and off the seat. This ensures you can consistently uphold our no-touch policy, with clear instructions and guidance in-app provided throughout the process.

How to opt in to the Car Seat program

CareDrivers who express interest and complete specific education modules will be prompted to submit their shipping address. The procurement team will then ship the HopSkipDrive-approved car seat directly to the CareDriver's home at no cost to the CareDriver. Upon receiving the car seat, CareDrivers must send pictures of it and complete their Advanced Qualification.

How to install the car seat

Installing a car seat correctly is critically important for your rider’s safety. Check out the video below for detailed instructions on installing the car seat.

Car Seat Harness

Correctly harnessing a rider in a car seat is just as important as installing the seat properly. Check out the video below for detailed instructions on how to safely buckle your rider in the car seat.

How to use the car seat during rides

Daily Installation Checklist

  • Car seat is clean, has no broken parts, and cup holders are attached

  • Seat belt is through belt path with no twists in the webbing, seat belt is locked

  • Car seat tether has been connected to vehicle’s tether anchor and tightened

  • Car seat moves less than 1” side-to-side and front-to-back with moderate force

  • Car seat headrest can move freely up and down, removing vehicle headrest if necessary

  • Lower anchors are NOT in use, and are clipped in their storage location, plastic bars on the sides of the car seat

Buckling Checklist

  • Headrest is raised until harness is coming from at or just above child’s shoulder

  • Harness is snug, can not pinch any webbing at child’s shoulder

  • Chest clip is at child’s armpit level

  • No twists in harness webbing

  • Both buckle tongues and chest clip are buckled

  • No bulky coats underneath the child’s harness

Car Seat Care and Cleaning

Correct care and cleaning of the car seat is your responsibility as a CareDriver. Check out the video below to see care and cleaning instructions for the car seat.

Car Seat FAQs

A car seat is unusable until remediated if it has:

  • Visible mold or rust on the seat

  • Been involved in a crash

  • Expired

  • Safety-related recalls where the manufacturer requires discontinuing use

  • Missing cup holders

  • Buckles not working after attempting cleaning as guided per manual (page 69)

  • A hole or tear in the harness webbing

  • Cracked foam behind the child’s head

  • A missing cover that prevents full security/snaps

  • A wet/damp cover or harness that cannot be immediately dried

  • A soiled cover or harness after a bio accident (requires thorough cleaning as per manual, and must be bagged in plastic for 1 week if lice are present, followed by machine wash and air dry).

  • Between each rider (light cleaning):
    To mitigate the risk of infection, please wipe down only the soft goods (e.g., fabric cover) with a mild disinfectant wipe, or mild soap and water. NEVER wipe the harness webbing with anything other than mild soap and water. Ensure the harness is dry before use.

  • When soiled (deeper cleaning):

    Follow the detailed cleaning instructions on pages 64-70 of the user manual. NEVER clean with bleach or hose down the car seat, and NEVER submerge the shell or webbing in water.

Yes, the seat is usable while awaiting support or minor remediation if:

  • Foam fell off but is intact (secure it with the cover while ordering and awaiting a replacement foam kit from Graco).

  • Harness webbing is lightly frayed (monitor closely).

  • It's affected by recalls that are not safety-related (as guided by the manufacturer).

  • The buckle is not working, but can be fixed by cleaning as guided per manual (page 69).

Car seat recalls happen occasionally for safety or compliance reasons. Not all recalls are a safety concern. If any of the Nautilus car seats are recalled, HopSkipDrive will follow Graco's guidance for use while waiting on repairs.

Check your vehicle manual to see if the headrest can be adjusted or removed for car seat installation. If your vehicle headrest is not removable, try adjusting the recline on the car seat using the lever at the front. A different recline setting may work better in your vehicle.

A car seat rider will sit in the rear passenger-side seat. If a car seat is installed, the center seat next to the car seat should remain empty. A rider can sit in the rear driver-side seat (with or without a booster). If you have a front-seat eligible rider, a third rider can sit in the front seat when a car seat is installed in the back.

No. This program uses one specific model, the Graco Nautilus 2.0 3-in-1 car seat. It was selected for its ability to fit a wide range of vehicles and children, and to provide streamlined guidance with a single installation method. This seat's harness can be adjusted after installation without reinstalling the seat.

Yes. If you already own the approved model (Graco Nautilus 2.0 3-in-1 car seat or Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX car seat), you can upload a picture of the Date of Manufacture label (found on the bottom of the seat) for approval to use your own seat.