Toy cars are a popular type of toy among toddlers, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. Most toy cars for toddlers are made of sturdy plastic or wood to withstand rough play and prevent breakage or injury.
They often come with wheels that can roll, making them great for imaginative play and helping children develop their fine motor skills. Some toy cars also come with additional features like lights, sounds, and moving parts that can provide extra stimulation and entertainment for toddlers.
Whether your child is a 3-year-old car enthusiast, a 2-year-old who loves remote control cars, or a 1-year-old who enjoys easy-to-grasp big-wheeled cars, we have the perfect car for them. We have compiled a list of the best toys for toddlers based on age, developmental stage, and educational value, to help you find the perfect toy for your little one.
Our Top Picks
- Best 2-Pack Remote Control Car: Prextex Remote Control Car
- Best Wooden Toy Car Set: Melissa & Doug Wooden Cars Vehicle Set
- Best Push Car Toy: Bright Starts Oball Rattle & Roll Race Car Toy
- Best Soft & Squishy: Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Pull-Back Vehicle Set
- Best Press & Go Toy Cars: Amy & Benton Toy Cars
- Best Eco-Friendly Toy Car: Green Toys Flat Bed Truck & Race Car
- Best Disney-Themed Toy Car: Disney Baby Go Grippers
- Best Unique Toy Car: Noetoy Transparent Car
- Best Smart Toy Car: VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels
- Best Ride-On Toy Car: Little Tikes Cozy Coupe
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Toy Cars For Toddlers Picks
1. Prextex Remote Control Car – Best 2-Pack Remote Control Car
This Prextex Remote Control Car for toddlers includes two cartoon remote-control cars with music and sound elements, each with two distinct detachable action figures. The two remote controllers have left and right turn buttons and have accurate sirens, horns, and headlights.
Furthermore, the cartoon police vehicle and race car come with a steering wheel-shaped controller that has only two buttons for simple control. Plus, the remote controls require two AA batteries, while the cars need three AA batteries.
2. Melissa & Doug Wooden Cars Vehicle Set – Best Wooden Toy Car Set
This wooden car set is perfect for racing to the rescue, speeding around the track, or exploring the city. It’s designed for small hands, featuring all the vehicles that toddlers find fascinating such as race cars, minivans, police cars, and taxis.
Your child will love storing their vehicles in the included wooden storage tray, and you will appreciate that they are easy to hold, move, and identify with their vivid colors and distinctive designs.
3. Bright Starts Oball Rattle & Roll Race Car Toy – Best Push Car Toy
Fuelled by a child’s imagination, this rattle and race car toy lets your child rev up and zoom around without needing petrol.
Its innovative design promotes fine motor skill development, featuring soft and flexible holes that make it easy for your baby to push and move the car (1). As your young speed racer zooms around, they will enjoy the clicking sound of the bead-filled tires.
4. Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Pull-Back Vehicle Set – Best Soft & Squishy
The Melissa & Doug Pull-Back Vehicles set for infants and toddlers offers four secure and soft cars, including a school bus, a family car, a fire truck, and a police car. Each of these vehicles comes equipped with a simple rev-up mechanism that allows young children to experience strong acceleration with no effort. All they need to do is draw the vehicles back and release them to see them fly across the floor.
To make these vehicles even more exciting, each one has a cute small figure occupying the front seat, adding a vibrant and colorful touch to the set. The figures are completely safe for children to handle because they have no sharp edges and are soft and squishy.
5. Amy & Benton Toy Cars – Best Press & Go Toy Cars
Amy & Benton’s cartoon animal cars are not only appealing but also designed to encourage color awareness and spark children’s imaginations. These eco-friendly cars are made of high-quality ABS and are the perfect size for little hands to hold and play with.
By pressing and releasing the vehicles, your child can improve their motor skills. Additionally, the assortment of animal designs allows your child to develop their language and storytelling skills as they play with the cars.
6. Green Toys Flat Bed Truck & Race Car – Best Eco-Friendly Toy Car
Green Toys’ Flatbed Truck and Race Car set is perfect for children aged one and above who can have fun with two cars that can be used separately for racing or stacked together for transportation.
The environmentally-friendly cars are made entirely in the USA from recycled plastic milk bottles, which helps conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This toy is free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and other exterior coatings, making it a safe option for your toddler.
7. Disney Baby Go Grippers – Best Disney-Themed Toy Car
The Mickey Minnie Duo has a unique Oball shape that makes it easy and fun to pick up, and it’s perfect for little hands that are just learning how to grasp. These adorable cars may look delicate, but they are surprisingly tough and practically indestructible.
Plus, the Pooh-themed vehicles are easy to maneuver and work with most Oball Go Grippers toys, making them ideal for imaginative play and on-the-go fun.
8. Noetoy Transparent Car – Best Unique Toy Car
Featuring a unique translucent exterior, this battery-powered car allows your child to see the technical workings inside. The car is constructed from brightly colored gears with numbers and letters written on them, helping your little ones to learn as they play.
Furthermore, when the switch for the lights and music is activated, the car will produce colorful lights and play cheerful music to engage your child’s senses. Plus, the car’s universal wheels can self-avoid obstacles and bump and go.
9. VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels – Best Smart Toy Car
These smart car toys are designed to fit perfectly in little hands and feature a luminous button that produces music, sounds, and words to keep children engaged. Through imaginative play, kids can learn about the alphabet, cars, and more.
These cars are equipped with advanced Smart Point technology that automatically responds to over 50 Smart Point locations on the go, providing a more immersive experience. The push toys require 4 AAA batteries in total, 2 for each vehicle.
10. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe – Best Ride-On Toy Car
For four decades, this ride-on toy that kids power themselves has been a household favorite. The Cozy Coupe comes with a friendly face on the front and a removable floorboard. It has a handle on the back for push rides that parents can control, and sturdy, long-lasting tires.
The front wheels turn 360 degrees for smooth steering. Plus, there’s a storage compartment in the back for your child’s toys, drinks, and snacks. Your 2-year-old or 3-year-old will love going for a ride in this classic toy.
11. Green Toys Tractor Vehicle – Best Farm Toy Car
The Green Toys Tractor brings a whole new level to the concept of farm-to-table. The tractor’s big all-terrain wheels and removable rear trailer allow little farmers to collect and transport the freshest organic produce they can imagine. This tractor is not only safe and versatile, but it is also environmentally friendly. It has no metal axles that could rust, and its exterior coating will not crack or peel.
This bright orange tractor is made entirely in the USA from recycled plastic, making it one of the “greenest” tractors available. It is also free of harmful substances like phthalates, BPA, and PVC, ensuring a safe and healthy playtime for your toddler.
12. PREXTEX Building Toys Set – Best Build Your Own Car
This car-building toy set includes 60 vehicle-building bricks that can be used to build up to 6 cars at once. These blocks come in a variety of colors and can be used to create over 20 different types of vehicles, including police cars and construction trucks. Plus, the blocks are made of child-safe, non-toxic materials with smooth edges and are highly durable.
13. Kidzlane Pull Back Cars – Best Easy To Grasp Toy Cars
The Kidzlane set offers four pull-back vehicles that toddlers will enjoy racing and chasing around the house. As an added feature, these cute town cars play a silly musical jingle when shaken. Constructed from soft plastic with smooth tires, these vehicles won’t scratch your floors, walls, or furniture.
With a gentle pull, they launch into the air, providing little hands with plenty of entertainment. Just watch out for any unexpected curves or twists on the road!
14. FORTY4 Cars Carrier Truck Toys – Best Multiple Car Set
This collection of toy cars features a variety of unique designs to keep playtime interesting and prevent boredom. While the suggested age range is 18 months and up, it’s always a good idea for you to supervise your children during playtime.
The set includes eight miniature pull-back vehicles and one large carrier vehicle, totaling nine pieces. Plus, the bright colors of each vehicle add a touch of joy and happiness to your child’s day.
15. Take Apart Toys Set – Most Educational Toy Set
This construction toy set includes a take-apart race car, a take-apart train, and an airplane. The toys can be disassembled, providing your children with a wonderfully imaginative and educational activity.
With this building game, your child’s inner genius will shine through as they construct and engineer to their heart’s content! The little rollers on the underside of the disassembled car’s feet will keep your toddler pushing them around for hours of fun.
16. UNIH Car Toys – Best Pull Back Soft Car Toy
This friction-powered car toy is perfect for young toddlers who love to race. Simply pull it back and watch it go! The rubber-embedded wheel makes for a smoother and quieter racing experience. And the soft fabric and sponge filling used in the toy’s design make it safe for children to play with as there are no small pieces, unlike plastic or metal cars.
The toy can be easily disassembled for cleaning and is made of environmentally friendly, BPA-free, and non-toxic materials. Additionally, the set comes with an organizer bag that doubles as a racing play mat.
17. MOONTOY 3-Pack Toy Cars – Best Monster Truck Toys
The MOONTOY monster trucks collection includes three unique models of toy cars featuring wild animals: a bull, a leopard, and a crocodile. These eco-friendly toys don’t require batteries and can be easily operated by kids. Pressing the button on the toy truck opens its mouth and reveals its teeth, adding an element of surprise and fun to playtime. These trucks promote creativity, imagination, and hand-eye coordination in toddlers, making them fantastic educational toys.
18. Fisher-Price Little People Sit ‘n Stand Skyway – Best Race Track For Cars
The set comes with Wheelies vehicles that can zoom around the town’s first horizontal highway and refuel at the gas station below. Additionally, to make the play even more exciting, stack the ramps (with adult assistance) to create a nearly 34-inch-tall vertical Skyway.
With the car ramp and racing track, your toddlers can launch cars and watch them speed around. What’s great about this skyway toy is that it can transform from a sit-at highway to a stand-up Skyway and back again.
19. Kid O Go Car Early Learning Push & Pull Toy – Best First Car Toy
This is the ideal first car for young drivers, designed to be held, pushed, and pulled with ease. With its circular shape and adorable headlights, it’s sure to bring joy to any child. Available in four different colors, this fleet boasts a sleek and modern design with bright, super-saturated, and glittery child-safe colors that won’t chip.
Made from the highest quality ABS, this roadster can withstand even the most enthusiastic driver, thanks to its rubber wheels that won’t damage floors or furniture.
20. DINOBROS Dinosaur Toy – Best Dinosaur Car Toy
The collection of six monster trucks features popular dinosaur models, including T-Rex, Triceratops, Dilophosaurus, Carnotaurus, Pterosaur, and Spinosaurus. Each truck is hand-painted to resemble a real dinosaur and made of non-toxic plastic.
When pulled back, the vehicles move forward with ease and are built to withstand rough play. Playing with these trucks encourages the development of hand-eye coordination and promotes creative thinking skills.
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How To Choose The Best Toy Car For Toddlers?
- Age-Appropriate: Choose a toy car that is appropriate for your child’s age and development level. Make sure it does not have small parts that can be a choking hazard for younger children.
- Safety: Look for a toy car that has been certified by a safety organization, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Make sure it is made of non-toxic materials and has no sharp edges (2).
- Durability: Toddlers can be rough on toys, so it’s important to choose a car that can withstand some wear and tear. Make sure you look for a car that is made of sturdy materials and has no small, easily breakable parts.
- Size: A car that is too heavy can be difficult for a toddler to maneuver, while a car that is too small may pose a choking hazard.
- Bright Colors: Toddlers are naturally attracted to bright colors, which is why toys that come in vibrant shades are often a big hit with them. The bright colors stimulate their developing vision and help them differentiate between different objects.
What Are The Benefits Of Toy Cars For Toddlers?
- Toddlers can practice their hand-eye coordination, grasp and release skills, and finger dexterity as they push and pull the toy cars, which helps to develop their fine motor skills (3).
- Toy cars can spark imaginative play and allow toddlers to create their own stories and scenarios.
- Toddlers can use their whole body to move the toy cars around, such as crawling or walking, which helps to develop their gross motor skills.
- Playing with toy cars can help toddlers learn about cause and effect, spatial relationships, and object permanence.
How To Clean Toy Cars?
Different types of toy cars require different methods of cleaning. You can clean plastic toy cars by using a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Dip a clean cloth or sponge in the solution and wipe the toy cars thoroughly. Rinse with clean water and dry with a towel. Wooden toy cars can be cleaned with a mixture of equal parts of water and white vinegar. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and wipe the toy cars and then dry them with a towel.
