If you’re looking for a fun and engaging way to keep your kids entertained, then RC cars might be just what you need. These cars offer a wide range of benefits, including improved fine motor skills and a sense of excitement and adventure. But with so many different models on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for your child.
When selecting the best RC cars for kids, it’s important to consider factors such as age-appropriateness, control features, and battery life. You want to choose a model that your child can easily control and enjoy, and that will run for a sufficient amount of time.
Here are our selections for the best RC cars for kids.
Our Top Picks
- Best RC Car for Toddlers: Brio 30388 R/C Race Car
- Best Beginner RC Car: JEYPOD Remote Control Car
- Best RC Car For Stunts: Fisca RC Car Remote Control Stunt Car
- Best LEGO RC Car: LEGO Technic Remote Controlled Stunt Racer
- Best Licensed RC Car: Best Choice Products 1:24 Licensed RC Lamborghini Veneno
- Best Character RC Car: Super Mario 02497 Nintendo Super Mario Kart
- Best RC Monster Truck: DOUBLE E RC Monster Truck
- Best Water-Resistant RC Car: MaxTronic Remote Control Car
- Best Sports RC Car: QUN FENG RC Car 1:18 Lamborghini Aventador
- Best High-Speed RC Car: Holyton 1:10 Large High Speed Remote Control Car
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best RC Cars for Kids Picks
Brio 30388 R/C Race Car – Best RC Car for Toddlers
- Little ones can get the hang of it very easily
- Well designed
- Strong and durable
- Provides a really fun learning experience
- Does not come with batteries
Your toddlers will be thrilled by the classic racing theme and vibrant red body of this interactive toy. Once they have practiced driving a few laps around the room, they can use the joystick’s easy-to-use features to skillfully navigate the car.
Not only does this RC car make driving fun, but it also promotes dexterity and control in a fun and memorable way. Plus, there’s no need to worry about your toddler accidentally breaking the antenna since it’s cleverly concealed.
- Batteries: 4 AA for the car; 3 AA for the controller
JEYPOD Remote Control Car – Best Beginner RC Car
- Comes with everything you need in the box – including a second, different color, shell
- Surprisingly quiet for this kind of toy
- Fully charged indicator on the USB charging cable
- Each of the included 2 batteries lasts long
- No great turning radius indoors
The Jeypod high-speed vehicle strikes the perfect balance between kid-friendly and adult-oriented. With a powerful motor, the car can accelerate quickly and spin its wheels like a pro. Plus, it’s incredibly maneuverable, making it easy to navigate tight turns and go both forward and backward.
But here’s the real kicker: with a range of 50 to 80 meters, the Jeypod provides the perfect outdoor entertainment for your teen. It’s even able to handle light rain, using only a small amount of water for fuel. Just be sure to keep it away from deep water surfaces that could cause damage to the chassis, batteries, and engine.
- Batteries: Rechargeable for the car; 2 AA for the controller
Fisca RC Car Remote Control Stunt Car – Best RC Car For Stunts
- Takes less than an hour to recharge
- It does stunts (ie. uses its revolving wheel axles, one flips or they both flip or the car flips) when running into a wall
- It does quick but not amazing doughnuts or spins
- It does a good job of scrambling over small obstacles and moves just fast enough to be fun in the house
- You need to take out a screw to remove the battery
Unlike traditional RC cars, the Fisca has two sets of wheels positioned on a pivoting bar, allowing it to do a 360-degree flip and spin like a pro.
With two powerful motors and 4-wheel drive, this car can reach incredible speeds. Its super-flexible wheels also make sharp turns a breeze. And with a long control distance and strong anti-jamming capability, multiple cars can play together without interference.
- Batteries: Rechargeable for the car; 2 AA for the controller
LEGO Technic Remote Controlled Stunt Racer – Best LEGO RC Car
- It’s a very playable LEGO set
- You build everything from the belts of the car to its remote
- This set can be a challenge for kids
- Pretty well built and works well
- Pricey
With a tough and durable design, this versatile 2-in-1 model allows your child to perform high-speed stunts and maneuvers on any terrain.
Featuring large, ground-grabbing tracks and big rear sprockets for maximum acceleration, as well as a sleek yellow and blue color scheme with eye-catching stickers, this motorized toy is sure to impress. And with its easy-to-use remote control, your child can spin, wheelie, and navigate tricky obstacles with ease.
But that’s not all – this remote-controlled tracked vehicle can also be rebuilt into a Remote-Controlled Racer, giving your child even more options for play and creativity.
- Batteries: 6 AA for the car; 3 AA for the controller
Best Choice Products 1:24 Licensed RC Lamborghini Veneno – Best Licensed RC Car
- The remote is very easy to control and the car is very responsive
- The car works well outside and inside
- This is an awesome gift for those that love control cars
- Simple to setup
- The doors do not open
If you want to give your child a taste of the high life, the RC Lamborghini is a great option! With its sleek carbon-patterned chassis, functioning red and white taillights, and spoiler, it looks just like the real thing. The easy-to-use 27-MHz controller offers simple driving features like forward/reverse and left/right turns, perfect for little ones to master.
Plus, the car has a fine-tune adjustment switch on the bottom, and its four rubber tires are built to absorb shocks for a smoother ride. And don’t worry about durability – this car is made from safe and sturdy plastic, so it can withstand plenty of playtime.
- Batteries: 3 AA for the car; 2 AA for the controller
Super Mario 02497 Nintendo Super Mario Kart – Best Character RC Car
- Great toy for an average price
- Hours of fun for a Mario Karts Fan
- Pretty sturdy
- The response when controlled is very accurate to a 12 ft radius
- The batteries drain quite fast
Are you worried about what might happen if a thunderbolt strikes your beloved Mario Kart RC? Don’t worry, because Nintendo has just released a new Mini RC Racer that will put your mind at ease. With just the press of a button, Mario can drift and perform cool stunts while driving in both normal and anti-gravity modes.
The performance of the Mini RC racer allows you to pull off impressive tricks such as popping wheelies and performing 360 spins. With a 100-inch range, you can race this little guy for a long time. However, I must warn you not to play with it during a thunderstorm as real lightning won’t shrink the car down to a miniature size, no matter how much we wish it would.
- Batteries: 4 AA for the car; 2 AA for the controller
DOUBLE E RC Monster Truck – Best RC Monster Truck
- Very durable
- Comes with dual batteries with plenty of power
- Easy recharging with the battery outside the car with the supplied USB cable
- Very fast with all-wheel drive
- The battery compartment requires a screwdriver to open
With two powerful engines and four-wheel drive, this truck can traverse sand, snow, grass, and desert with ease. Plus, its four-wheel independent suspension system and shock absorbers provide added stability and protection for its electrical components.
This truck also comes with an infrared remote control that makes it easy to control the speed and direction. It’s the perfect toy for introducing your little ones to the exciting world of automotive technology. And while it may not be the fastest RC car out there, it more than makes up for it with its functionality and versatility.
- Batteries: Ni-MH battery pack for the car; 2 AA for the controller
MaxTronic Remote Control Car – Best Water-Resistant RC Car
- Seems fairly durable
- Batteries are easy to remove and charge fairly quickly
- The maneuvering controls are easy to operate and make sense
- Runs indoors and outdoors
- The remote control will only allow you to do one of the following at once: go forward, back, spin around the center of the car clockwise or counterclockwise
With an IP68 classification, this RC car is completely impervious to dirt, sand, and dust. But that’s not all, it can even be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep for up to an hour! The thick tires on this car are made of a combination of plastic and rubber, and they can be easily re-inflated whenever needed.
With the twin joystick remote controller, your kid can make this stunt car flip, turn, and twist to their heart’s content. Two rechargeable batteries are included, each providing approximately 30 minutes of driving time. And don’t worry about the charging process, as the USB cable is also included and it only takes about two hours to fully charge the batteries.
- Batteries: 1 rechargeable for the car; 2 AA for the controller
QUN FENG RC Car 1:18 Lamborghini Aventador – Best Sports RC Car
- Great look and feel
- Details are sharp and the car has nice rubber low-pro tires
- Headlights light up when going forward and taillights when in reverse
- The car is quick enough that you can spin it out and do slides
- It’s not the biggest, maybe around the size of a water bottle if u laid it on its side
This mini Lamborghini is one fine-looking RC car! It’s incredibly detailed for its size and even has a legit license. Plus, it comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a top-of-the-line RC car, like working headlights that turn on when you drive forward and taillights that light up when you go in reverse.
There’s even an on/off switch and a dial that helps keep the car moving in a straight line when it’s placed in the center. Just be sure to use it on a smooth surface like concrete, wood, or asphalt to get the most out of this little speed demon!
- Batteries: 4 AA for the car; 2 AA for the controller
Holyton 1:10 Large High Speed Remote Control Car – Best High-Speed RC Car
- Easy to operate
- Speed can be adjusted to slower and faster speeds for different skill levels
- The car comes with a bag of misc. parts and tools (like spare wheel nuts, pins, and clips)
- All-terrain access
- You’re going to want extra batteries and a good charger
The Holyton RC vehicle can reach an impressive top speed of 29 MPH! Built to withstand tough outdoor conditions, this durable metal car boasts a reinforced frame and shock absorbers to help navigate any terrain. And with a pistol grip controller, you’ll have full control of the vehicle at all times – though it’s worth noting that this RC car is best suited for more experienced drivers.
But that’s not all – this hobby-grade truck offers a working range of up to 100 meters (that’s 330 feet!), thanks to its 2.4G frequency, which provides lightning-fast response times and minimal interference from other vehicles.
- Batteries: 4 AA for the car; 2 AA for the controller
How To Choose An RC Car For Kids
- Age-Appropriate: Some RC cars are very simple and easy to operate, while others are more complex and challenging. It is important to find an RC car that is within the child’s skill level so that they can enjoy the experience and not get frustrated.
- Battery: Choose between single-use and rechargeable batteries to power your remote control automobiles. Single-use batteries provide users with rapid satisfaction, but on the downside, they may be costly over time. Consider buying rechargeable batteries if this is a deal-breaker for you. Search instead for a remote-control car that genuinely has rechargeable batteries.
- Speed: RC vehicles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of which are designed to race while others are not. The RC wheelchair in this narrative is also quite quick, despite the fact that vehicles designed for teenagers and adults often travel at the quickest speeds.
- Durability: Even if you don’t expect the car to endure, you could feel okay paying less for a car for a younger child. But you should reasonably anticipate it to last if you spend money on an investment toy for an older child.
- Frequency: Choose remote control vehicles with a 2.4 GHz frequency if you have numerous kids who will want to play with them at once. Signal interference problems prevent 27 MHz cars from being used adjacent to one another in many situations.
What Is The Best Age For An RC Car?
While children as young as two to three years old may enjoy fantastic remote-control cars and tanks, the optimal age range is eight to ten years old. This is because they can operate the automobile with the remote because they have good hand-eye coordination. Additionally, some of these RC cars may have tiny parts or sharp edges that are harmful to toddlers’ grasp.
Are RC Cars Safe For Kids?
Most RC cars are safe for kids, but there are a few things to keep in mind before letting your child play with one. First, make sure the RC car is age-appropriate. Some RC cars are designed for older kids and adults and may be too powerful or complicated for younger children. Second, check the RC car for any sharp edges or small parts that could become a choking hazard. Though this could be avoided most of the time as most RC cars are made for age 3 and above with a few exceptions of course. Lastly, make sure they are following outdoor safety rules when playing outside (1).
How Fast Can RC Cars Go?
You can be sure that your child’s toy won’t be hitting speeds of 70 mph because RC vehicles designed for kids don’t travel as quickly as those designed for adults. The age group for which the top RC vehicles were designed will determine their speed.
For toddler toys, the recommended maximum speed is 5 mph. For older children, the recommended maximum speed is 30 mph. Most of these kid’s cars have a top speed of between 5 and 15 mph. Generally speaking, the older the appropriate age range is, the quicker the car will be able to go.
How Much Do RC Cars Cost?
RC cars can come in a wide range of prices, depending on the make, model, and features of the car. Generally, you can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $200 depending on the materials used and age recommendations. An RC car made for toddlers will significantly cost less than those built for teens.
Are RC Cars Better Than Video Games?
While it largely depends on the context, playing with remote-control toys in a three-dimensional environment can be more engaging for children’s development than spending time in front of a screen (2). Physical play with remote-control vehicles can offer opportunities for fine motor skill development, problem-solving, and imaginative play, among other benefits (3).
