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Best remote control cars for kids, test-driven by Mumsnetters
Remote control cars are great fun and can provide hours of entertainment for kids big and small. Here’s our pick of the best.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Jun 27, 2024
Remote control cars are an excellent way of helping children develop crucial skills. The best remote control cars for kids will help improve hand-eye coordination, increase spatial awareness and improve dexterity - not bad for a toy they'll be eager to play with.
While remote control cars are great for indoor fun, they really come into their own as an outdoor toy. Test them out on the lawn, deck or at the park - you could even race them against siblings on scooters or balance bikes. While they're not in the same league as the best trampolines or paddling pools, RC cars are a clever way to get kids outdoors.
There are loads of top-notch remote control cars out there, which makes choosing the best RC car for your child a tough challenge. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you and trawled the Mumsnet forums to find out which RC cars our users rate and recommend.
Whether it’s a budget friendly remote control car, a speedy rete control car or even a remote control car you can build yourself, we’ve researched the best remote control cars for kids you can buy this year.
Best Remote Control Cars for Kids - editor's pick
Two-sided driving design
Performs well at high speed on all terrains
Waterproof wheels
Some children may prefer a more traditional car than a 4x4 off-roader
Price: £40 | Type: Crawler | Scale: 1:14 Scale | Top speed: 15-20 km/h (9.3 - 12.4 mph | Dimensions: 27.94 x 17.27 x 11.68 cm
A great all rounder, the BEZGAR TD141 remote control car has everything you might look for in a remote control car for kids. With a rugged 4x4 crawler design, it can tackle any terrain, allowing your kids can really put it through its paces on grass, sand, mud and snow without slowing down. With IPX5 waterproof rubber wheels, it can even drive through shallow puddles with ease.
The BEZGAR has a 45 degree climbing ability, allowing the freedom to tackle hills and ramps. Thankfully, the two sided driving design means that the fun deosn’t have to stop even if the vehicle flips. Best of all, it comes with a spare USB rechargeable battery so your kids can keep racing whilst the other is on charge.
Read next: The best scooters for kids, according to Mumsnet users
Realistic look and feel
Over 60 minutes run time
Relatively slow speeds
Small size
Price: £12 | Type: BMW i8 | Scale: 1:24 scale | Top speed: 8km/h (5 mph) | Dimensions: H19.3, W8.9, L5.3cm
If your child is keen for a remote control car but you’re a little more limited in terms of budget, this BMW i8 remote control car is a really affordable option. With a realistic look and feel, it’s a great choice for sports car enthusiasts and can be moved forwards, backwards, left and right with simple to learn and easy to use controls.
This remote control car has relatively low speeds compared to pricier models and is best used on a smooth flat surface such as wooden floors, tiles or carpets. That said, it offers a great introduction to remote control cars with a fairly decent battery life. We just wish it was a little bigger.
Multidirectional stunts
Fun STEM toy
Costly
More suited to tricks and stunts than speed
Price: £112 | Type: Build your own | Scale: Unspecified | Top speed: Stunt focused | Dimensions: 38.2 x 7.05 x 26.2 cm
If you’re buying for a LEGO fan, these LEGO Technic remote control cars are sure to be a big hit. With the perfect balance of building fun and remote control capabilities, they allow kids to quite literally, bring their builds to life.
The LEGO 42095 Technic Remote-Controlled Tracked Stunt Racer Toy comes with huge sprocket wheels and attached gripping tracks and can be decorated using the stickers included. Turn on the switch to power it up, before mastering high speed spins, wheelies and turns.
For more of Mumsnetters' top picks for LEGO-mad kids, check out our guide to the best LEGO sets.
All-terrain
Easy-to-use controls
A little plastic looking / more toy-like than some
Price: £40 | Type: Monster Truck | Scale: 1:15 Scale | Top speed: 12.4 km/h (7.688 mph) | Dimensions: 38.1 x 25.4 x 27.94 cm
Monster Trucks are another popular choice for remote control cars and the Megalodon has to be up there with the best. With the familiar Megalodon STORM’s authentic shark design, this all terrain monster truck is water resistant and has large lightweight that can zoom across water, snow, mud, rocks and grass with ease.
The toggle based remote control is easy to master, even for younger children. As well as simple navigation, kids will love learning how to perform amazing stunts such as flips, jumps and nose wheelies.
Read next: Best climbing frames for kids: as recommended by real parents
Monster Jam Grave Digger 1:24 Radio-Controlled Truck
Very basic controls
Official Monster Jam truck
Slow speeds
Batteries not included (required 5 x AAA)
Price: £16 | Type: Monster truck | Scale: 1:24 scale | Top speed: 3.2 km/h (2 mph) | Dimensions: H14.3, W28.57, L15.24cm
A remote control car well suited to younger children, the Grave Digger RC monster truck comes with a striking vivid green chassis and authentic BKT tyres. With simple-to-use controls, it’s suitable for use both indoors and outside, including varied terrains such as sand and carpet.
Whilst it won’t win any awards for its speed, it’s surprisingly robust for a plastic toy and great for beginners who may struggle with faster-paced navigation. It offers up to 40 minutes of drive time and has 2.4 GHz frequency allowing up to six Monster Jam trucks to race at once.
Read next: The best kids' bikes for all ages and stages
Surprisingly speedy
Race with friends
Fun sound effects
Older children may prefer a more realistic car
Most fun when raced with multiple karts in true Mario Kart style.
Price: £35 | Type: Go Kart | Scale: 1:16 | Top speed: 20 km/h (12.4 mph) | Dimensions: H19 x W23 x D32.7cm
Remote control cars with familiar characters are always well received, making this Super Mario RC Kart a popular choice amongst children (and grown-ups) alike.
Surprisingly nippy, with speeds of up to 20km/h, this remote control kart offers up to 40 minutes of driving from each USB charge. Kids will love reenacting the Mario Kart experience with friends thanks to the interference-free 2.4 GHz technology, which allows up to 16 vehicles to compete at the same time. It even comes with fun Mario sound effects to bring the racing to life.
Related: Don't miss our guide to the best Nintendo Switch games for kids
360° Rotating for fun stunts
Lights
Rechargeable battery
Short running time before recharge
Less suited to traditional racing
Price: £25 | Type: Off roader | Scale: 1/28 scale | Top speed: 6-7kmh | Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 7.11 cm
For older children, you’re going to want to look for a remote control car that can do more than just simple back and forward motion. The ORRENTE Remote Control Car may look somewhat otherworldly with its blue space-age design, but this car takes stunts to a whole new level.
Thanks to the 360 rotating chassis, this RC car enables double-sided flips and tricks, and with four-wheel drive and anti crash rubber, it can crawl through grass and sand without resistance.
Playset and remote control car in one
Disk launcher
Transforming design less suitable for stunts and drifts
Price: £50 | Type: Transforming car | Scale: Not specified | Top speed: Not specified | Dimensions: 42.7 x 27.69 x 15.44 cm
A fun playset and remote control car in one, this Imaginext Transforming toy becomes a remote-controlled Batmobile that can move forward, backward, left and right as well as spin a full 360 degrees.
Team up with other Batman toys and switch into battle mode to launch the discs and attack your enemy. Kids will love the fun sound effects and the impressive transformation, as the toy tucks back into drive mode when you start to accelerate.
Related: Looking for more must-haves your little ones will love? Our guides to the best toy cars and best dinosaur toys have got you covered.
How to choose the best remote control car for kids
There are a number of things that you should consider when buying a remote control car for your child.
Budget: The cars on our list range from just over a tenner to more than £150. You should set yourself a firm budget before shopping.
Age suitability and speed: Check that the car you’re thinking about buying is age appropriate. Younger children may struggle with complicated controls or keeping some of the speedier cars under control. Older children may find a slower car that doesn’t perform any tricks a bit of a bore.
Terrain: Check whether the car is suitable for your intended terrain. Some cars can be used indoors and outdoors, while others are indoor only. Some don’t work particularly well on carpet while others take rocks and long grass in their stride.
Size and scale: Check the size and scale of the car before purchasing. You want to make sure the car you buy is the right size for the child. And you don’t want to end up ordering a chunky ride-on car by mistake.
Extras: Check whether you need anything else for your new purchase. The LEGO Technic vehicles, for example, require an app downloaded on a compatible phone in order for them to work. And not all of the RC cars on our list come with batteries. If a car doesn’t come with batteries included, make sure you get some in to avoid disappointment, particularly if the car is a birthday or Christmas gift.
How fast are remote control cars?
Toy remote control cars have weaker motors than hobby RC cars, typically reaching top speeds of between five and 15mph.
Top-of-the-range adult remote control cars can reach speeds of up to 70mph.
What is the best remote control car for kids?
There are some great remote control cars on our list, but Mumsnet users love the BEZGAR TD141. A great all-rounder, it can be used indoors and outdoor and performs well on all terrains. It offers good speed, is USB rechargeable and perhaps most importantly, won’t break the bank.
How we chose our recommendations
We scoured Mumsnet forums to find out which remote control cars our users rate highly - and which ones they weren’t impressed by.
We also consulted consumer watchdogs and took note of what they looked for in remote control cars and which brands they were recommending to their readers.
Finally, we collated all that information and then looked at other online reviews to see which remote control cars had received the best recommendations.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.