Image: YouTube
Ladies and gentlemen (or, perhaps more accurately, boys and girls), start your engines. It's time to introduce your little one to the wonderful world of r/c vehicles.
We have taken the liberty of poring over dozens of toys so that we could bring you an outstanding list of the best remote control cars for toddlers. We're confident that you will find the perfect gift from our top picks.
These include:
- Cartoon Remote Control Race Car
- Holy Stone Remote Control Dump Truck
- Fisher-Price Remote Control Thomas the Train
- Cartoon Remote Control Construction Car
- Cartoon Remote Control Police Car
- Cartoon Remote Control Dinosaur Safari Car
- VTech Remote Control 2-Pack Racer Cars
- Kid Galaxy Remote Control Buggy
- Fisher-Price My Easy Remote Control Vehicle
- Kid Galaxy Remote Control Firetruck
- Kid Galaxy Remote Control School Bus
- Cartoon Remote Control Train Car
Whatever tickles your toddler's fancy, we have it here. From race cars and police cars to dump trucks and buggies, let us help you put your little one in the driver's seat. If your little one wants a more advanced model, check out our other article on the best remote control cars for kids.
Whatever your preference, these are all excellent toys for introducing your child to the wonderful world of remote control vehicles.
They're made with little people in mind: they are simple to operate and specially crafted for tiny hands. They have flashing lights, honking horns, and even driver figurines!
What's more, remote control cars provide more than just fun—they provide a whole new learning experience. They help kids develop dexterity, a sense of responsibility, better coordination and reflexes, and self confidence as they learn to master their vehicle.
Read on for the low down on remote control fun!
The best remote control cars for toddlers
Remote Control Race Car
Get your littlest car enthusiasts a car that they can control themselves!. With bright lights and fun music, this cartoon remote control race car is designed to entertain your toddler for hours on end. Over carpets or hardwood floors, this easy-to-control car will keep going on any surface. The bright, multicolored lights and easy-to-use controller designed especially for toddler hands makes this a super fun—and perfect—gift.
What we love:
- It’s easy to set up and use
- It provides hours of entertainment
- It gives toddlers the opportunity to control the remote control car on their own, building fine motor skills
What we don't love:
- Parents might find the music just a tad annoying
- The remote doesn't have a long range, so you need to be close to the car for it to operate
- Some parts might become damaged with really rough toddlers, so parental supervision is required
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Remote Control Dump Truck
This cute, vibrant car has a lot of great features that little kids will enjoy. With an awesome action figure that can be removed from the truck at any time, this is a toy that has many uses. It’s very simple for small children to learn to use at any time, and they’ll build skills that take them further into the world of remote control toys. The Holy Stone Dump Truck is quite sturdy and is sure to last for a very long time.
What we love:
- With bright colors and a fun character, this appeals to toddlers and preschoolers
- It has a 2 channel remote, with forward and reverse
- Even though it’s meant for smaller children, it’s really fast and can keep older kids entertained as well
- It doesn’t play loud music or make too many sounds, so kids won’t disturb parents too much when playing (and parents rejoice)
What we don't love:
- It requires 5 batteries and can burn through them quite quickly
- The dump truck part does not lower and function like proper dump truck
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Fisher-Price Remote Control Vehicle
Does your child love trains? If the answer is “yes”, then we have the perfect toy for you. This Fisher-Price vehicle is a remote controlled Thomas the Train that moves both forwards and backwards. This is the ideal toy for a child's first remote control experience.
What we love:
- It’s super simple to set up
- It’s very easy to use, especially for small fingers and hands
- It provides hours of role-playing fun for your little ones with a Thomas the Train engine
- It's a very bright and colorful toy that will delight little train fans
- It's sure to provide hours of continuous play
What we don't love:
- It only has two control functions
- It works well on carpet and floors, but may get stuck in floor grooves or sidewalk groves sometimes. It's not meant for really rough terrain.
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Cartoon Remote Control Construction Car
This car is perfect for small children whose two favorite things in life are fast cars and fun. It comes with a forward and backward functioning remote control, as well as flashing lights and sounds. Good times are guaranteed! It also includes an awesome driver sits right behind the wheel!
What we love:
- It's a bright, colorful car with honking sounds and flashing lights, which give your little one an authentic "car" experience
- It's easy to set up; there's no need to put parts together
- It's built to outlast even the messiest, roughest little tikes, as it's made of durable plastic that is easy to clean, and tough enough to last
- This is a great first remote control toy that little ones love to control on their own
What we don't love:
- It has limited control settings so older kids might get bored or frustrated trying to make it go right or left
- Sounds and flashing lights might annoy parents
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Cartoon Remote Control Police Car
Does your child want to join the police force when (s)he grows up? Then this is the car for him or her. This fast-paced toy will let your little one your little one cruise around in style and, most importantly, keep order in the neighborhood! With forward and backward controls, you can go just about anywhere!
What we love:
- It looks just like a real police car
- The realistic police siren sounds make this car feel even more like the real thing
- It includes a removable police figure, adding to the number of play possibilities
What we don't love:
- The noises and flashing lights are said to be annoying after a while
- It's designed for smaller kids, so it might not be as fun for older siblings to play with
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Cartoon Remote Control Dinosaur Safari Car
If you’ve got a little explorer on your hands, then this safari car is the perfect gift. It comes with a cool caveman and an awesome dinosaur that can be removed for even more fun. With forward and backward functions, escaping from the dinosaur will be easy!
What we love:
- It features realistic honking and car sounds
- It lights up, which will no doubt appeal to the littlest ones in your household
- It has simple forward and backward functions for little ones to easily use
- It's easy to set up, right out of the box
What we don't love:
- Parents may grow tired of the noises
- It only moves forwards and backwards, which may bore and frustrate older kids
Click here for more info and current pricing.
VTech Smart Wheels Remote Control Race Car (2 Pack)
Want to race to see who’s the fastest? This set includes two multicolored cars that are made for zooming through the racetrack (which is not included)! Both have forward/backward controls and are easy to use. Lights and sound effects are a bonus! On your mark... Get set... Go!
What we love:
- The light-up driver button activates 3 sing-along songs, and 6 melodies and realistic car sounds that will keep your little one happy all day long!
- It comes with 2 cars in each pack
- It teaches the letter R and the name of the vehicle, which aids in early literacy learning
- It works with Go! Go! Smart Wheels and Go! Go! Smart Animals playsets (sold separately)
What we don't love:
- Does not come with the Speedway Racetrack, but can be purchased separately
- It has limited control functions so some kids might get frustrated if not using on a track
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Kid Galaxy Remote Control Go-Go Baja Buggy
This pretty in pink car is perfect for any miniature fashionista. The bright colors on the car and the remote control make it stand out and appeal to toddlers and preschoolers alike. The car has a soft body frame, which makes playtime safe and fun. With a steering wheel controller, your little one will be cruising in the fast lanes in no time!
What we love:
- Use the controller to make it go forward or backwards (and watch it spin around)
- With a soft body, even toddlers can play safely with this bright pink car
- The steering wheel controller is easy to use
- It's simple to set up and get going straight out of the box
What we don't love:
- You can’t use two at the same time because they run under the same frequency, so the remote will control both of them
- The remote doesn't have a very long reach, so you’ll have to stay close to play with it
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Fisher-Price My Easy Remote Control Vehicle
This fiery car is perfect for any daredevil. The easy-to-use remote control makes for a fun time, for even the smallest driver. Ride in style with 4-way driving and 2-speed controls. What makes this car a top pick is that there’s an auto shutoff to conserve energy.
What we love:
- It has 2 different speeds – beginner and expert
- It looks and feels just like a real race car, only smaller
- With one button you turn the car on and control it, and it automatically shuts off when your little one is done playing
- It has 4-way driving—forward, backward, left and right—so it's a good car for the young preschooler who already understands the remote control car world
What we don't love:
- It's not as indestructible as soft, plastic remote control cars, so if you have a really rough toddler, it can malfunction easily
- Some users have had problems with the steering functions
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Kid Galaxy Remote Control Fire Truck
For little firemen wannabes out there, this remote control truck is the very best choice. This little car will help him or her become a pint-sized hero. It has a unique design in that it's a soft car, which will keep your kiddo safe, and the cool design looks just like an actual fire truck! One button makes it spin and one button makes it go forward, for hours of remote control entertainment.
What we love:
- It comes with a real-feel steering wheel remote control that is easy to use, even for the littlest of hands
- It's safe to use on all floors as it's made of soft, durable plastic
- The realistic firefighter sounds give it that real-world play experience
- It's easy to set up right out of the box and requires no special tools
What we don't love:
- Some previous buyers say that the batteries seem to drain fast
- It only has two remote control functions, which may bore or frustrate older children
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Kid Galaxy Remote Control School Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round… your house. Off to school we go in this sunny yellow bus! This cute little remote control vehicle has a soft and squishy texture, which makes it safe for children. The boxy shape makes it easier for kids to pick it up, and it includes a button that allows the vehicle to spin and one that makes it go forward. This bus will delight kids, from toddler to preschool ages.
What we love:
- It looks and sounds just like a real school bus
- It's a great introduction to the world of remote control cars, with an easy-to-use steering wheel remote designed for little hands
- The bright, cheerful yellow color appeals to kids
- It's a great companion car for other Kid Galaxy remote control cars, like the dump truck and fire truck
What we don't love:
- Batteries tend to be used up fast
- You can't use more than one of the same toy at the same time as they're on the same frequency and will not work
Click here for more info and current pricing.
Cartoon Remote Control Train
Does your toddler dream about being a train conductor? Now he or she can! You’ll definitely want to check out this remote control train, which comes with a cool conductor figure that’s at the center of all the action. Ride in style with your nicely patterned train. With whistle sounds and lights, your youngin’ will feel more like the conductor every time he or she plays.
What we love:
- It makes realistic train whistling sounds and has flashing headlights (for those dark tunnels under the couch...)
- The removable conductor figure allows for more ways to play
- It moves fast on all surfaces, so watch out!
What we don't love:
- Noises and flashing lights might annoy parents and frighten pets
- It only has 2 movable functions, so it might annoy older kids
Click here for more info and current pricing.
We hope you found our list of the best remote control cars for toddlers to be helpful! Let us know how we did. Comment below or shoot us a message on the contact page. If your toddler has a favorite remote control car you think we should include, let us know!
