Image: MomJunction Design Team
Beep beep! We are here to share our list of the best toy cars for toddlers to encourage your child’s growth and development. These toys come in various styles, colors, and designs and resemble real-life cars. Your child will enjoy playing with them and even pretend to drive it like the elders.
Toy cars are foundational to developing motor skills and hand-eye coordination. So, explore our list to choose the right toy cars for your child.
Top Picks
What Are The Educational Benefits Of Playing With Toy Cars?
Playing with toy cars at an early age helps children develop in multiple ways.
1. Enhances gross motor skills by allowing them to grab a toy. In the process, they try to crawl, bend, walk and run.
2. Improves fine motor skills as they push, pull, throw, and play with these cars. They can develop their hand-grip and hand-eye coordination that benefits them in holding a pencil later.
3. Improves cognitive ability. For example, they understand cause and effect by exerting pressure on these toys to move. They also understand the importance of different vehicles in their daily lives and their role in driving a car.
4. Cars with sound and light effects can develop a child’s sensory skills. The toy cars with numbers, animals, and alphabet prints help teach these things through proper interaction with your child.
21 Best Toy Cars For Toddlers
1. Best Non-Toxic: Liberty Imports My First Cartoon RC Race Car
Safe for babies, toddlers, and young children, this remote-controlled toy car is easy to operate with two control buttons. This toy for toddlers comes with three removable driving figures, and the remote control is designed like a steering wheel that is easy to work with little hands.
Pros
- Non-toxic ABS plastic
- Soft antenna
- No sharp corners
- Attractive and colorful design
- Can work as manually operated car
- Press buttons for sound and light effects
- Impact-resistant
Cons
- Doesn’t work well on carpets
2. Best Travel-Friendly: Sinyum 30 Pieces Friction-Powered Pull Back Vehicles
The 30-piece set of friction-powered toy cars can go a long way with an effortless pull by your little one. These mini cars are suitable for collectibles, racing play, arranging them in order, or group play.
Pros
- Fast-moving
- Lightweight
- Ideal travel toy
- Attractive colors
Cons
- Age inappropriate prints on some cars
- Plastic bodies
Quick tip3. Best Durable: Nicmore Toddler Vehicle Carrier Set
The vehicle carrier set by Nicmore includes seven automotive toys made of durable ABS material. It consists of an adorable large-sized toy truck that can be used to hold the accompanying mini airplane, taxi, public bus, cargo, mixer, and dump truck.
Pros
- Light and siren sound button
- Foldable loading pad
- Has realistic features
- Has smooth and round edges
- Enhances color recognition and motor skills
- Improves hand-eye coordination
Cons
- Toys might be smaller than expected
Trivia4. Best With Removable Wheels: Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Pull-Back Vehicles Set
The vehicle set from the trusted brand Melissa & Doug is made of soft fabric. It includes a school bus, a family car, a fire truck, and a police car toy model. These safe-to-play cars are suitable for nine-month-old babies to toddlers. Check out this video review for a detailed understanding of the product.
Pros
- Removable wheels
- Easy to lift and roll-back
- Helps develop sensory, gross, and fine motor skills
- Bright and attractive colors
- Easy to clean and wash
- No sharp tips and corners
Cons
- Difficult to move on carpets
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 8,919 reviews on Amazon indicate that this product has a loyal following.
5. Best With Music And Light: Noetoy Concept Racing Educational Transparent Car
If you are looking for a car that can help with your child’s early learning, you may give this toy car a try. This concept racing car is made of a unique transparent body to help view the mechanical concept behind its operation. This battery-operated car toy for toddlers is made from colorful gears printed with numbers and alphabets, facilitating your child to learn.
Pros
- Non-toxic and BPA-free
- No phthalates
- Soft light and music effect
- Ideal toy for road trips
- Helps in cognitive development
- Helps develop sensory and motor skills
Cons
- Music may be loud
6. Best Fast-Moving: Funcorn Toys 12-Pack Pull-Back Cars
The Funcorn Toys vehicle set contains 12 pull-back toy cars that are small and cute with vibrant colors and prints. The set comprises a police car, a food truck, a school bus, a fire truck toy model, and more.
Pros
- Non-toxic plastic
- Doubles as a travel toy
- Can be used as cake toppers
- Fast-moving
Cons
- Doesn’t withstand hard play
"Although smaller than expected, my kids are fascinated with this set due to the assortment of cars included and their pull-back feature. Their durability is also commendable, and their compact size has allowed me to use them as cake toppers."
7. Best With Metal Body: Hlxy Pull Back Toy Cars
The six-pack set includes attractive cars with different designs and vibrant colors. They are small and suitable for little hands and are made of safe and high-quality material.
Pros
- Durable metal body
- Bottom made of ABS plastic
- Can be used as cake toppers
- Fast-moving cars
- Friction-powered
Cons
- No choice of colors and designs
8. Best Colorful: Invech Baby Toy Cars
With a rattling sound, these off-road toy cars from Invech come with a soft rubber mesh casing on the top for easy holding by little hands. The tires are loaded with colorful beads, and the ball in the body adds charm to these car toys for toddlers
Pros
- Easy pull-back cars
- Batteries not required
- Helps in cognitive development
- Develops hand-eye coordination and motor skills
- Made of ABS plastic
- No sharp corners and edges
Cons
- Not recommended for young babies without adult supervision
9. Best With Animal Prints: Amy And Benton 4 Piece Press And Go Toy Cars
With an easy press-and-go concept, these adorable little car toys for toddlers are designed with soft curves and edges for the little one’s safety. The set includes four different-colored cars with cute animal prints.
Pros
- Non-toxic ABS plastic material
- Durable
- Easy to operate by little hands
- Require no batteries
- Can be used as travel toys
Cons
- Tiny parts might result in a choking hazard
- Not suitable for babies
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is a hit with users, evidenced by the 8,669 fine reviews on Amazon.
10. Best Battery-Operated: Forty4 Racing Toy Car Set
The two-pack sports car toy model set contains a red and a blue car that are battery-operated and have different modes and music. Press the buttons on the top to switch on dancing mode, forward mode, and whistle mode.
Pros
- Bright flashlights that glow in the dark
- Realistic engine roaring sound
- Made of non-toxic, ABS plastic
- Glossy exterior finish
- Easy operation
Cons
- Batteries not included
"The best part about these cars is their peppy music and the unique dancing mode. My kids love pushing it backward and forward with its three-button controls. While a volume control would have been nice for quieter playtimes, I still consider them a good find."
11. Best With Multiple Designs:Big Mo’s Toys Baby Cars
Unlike plastic cars, Big Mo’s Toys are made of safety-tested rubber material that is soft and squeezable, making them the ideal toys for road trips. This set includes 12 different cars with multiple designs and colors.
Pros
- Non-toxic material
- Suitable for bath time
- Easy to carry
- Teether-friendly
Cons
- Not recommended for babies due to small parts
"They were a crowd-pleaser during my little one’s birthday party. Each of his friends found it easy to grip the car, and the size was perfect for their little hands. They are a bit hard, but that has allowed them to withstand rough use."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 2,602 positive customer reviews on Amazon are a testament to its quality and reliability.
12. Best For Easy Grabbing:Unih Baby Soft Vehicle Toy Set
The Unih set comprises four different vehicles – a school bus, ambulance, police car, and a taxi. These easy-to-grab pull-back cars are recommended for children from eighteen months to three years.
Pros
- Made of BPA-free, non-toxic material
- Removable wheels
- Includes a multipurpose carry bag
- No batteries required
- Lightweight
- Helps develop sensory skills and hand-eye coordination
- Easy to clean
- Adorable prints and vibrant colors
Cons
- Requires adult supervision for children under three years
"My kids were instantly taken by these soft, colorful cars. They can spend hours racing them on the included mat. Their battery-free mechanism is a bonus, and the improvement in my kid's motor skills is much appreciated."
13. Best High-Quality Plastic : Forty4 9 Pieces Pull-Back Toy Cars
The toy car set from Forty4 has nine different toy cars, including a carrier truck, airplane, taxi, school bus, etc. The transport truck can carry up to four other vehicles.
Pros
- Sturdy plastic
- Helps develop cognitive skills
- Transport truck with flashlights and sounds
- Friction-powered
- No sharp edges
Cons
- Flimsy push button
- Non-BPA free plastic
14. Best Interactive Toycar:Xinhome Remote Control Cartoon Car
The remote control car has multiple modes that are interactive and fun to play with. Its 2.4GHz remote control can control the car up to 65 feet. The little one can drive the car on toy car tracks or build their own maps in the track mode.
Pros
- Suitable for ages eight and above
- Sensor avoidance mode
- Can follow a target
- Music and light effects
- 4G remote control
Cons
- Noisy music
"I frequently find my kids, along with my pet, running across the house chasing these cars. Controlling the speed limit is easy using the remote. Plus, they're extremely durable-- have fallen down the stairs a few times and stayed strong."
Point to consider15. Best Dinosaur Themed:Nicmore Dinosaur Cars
Improve your children’s hand-eye coordination and encourage imaginative play by bringing home the Nicmore dinosaur car. This car is built to suit tiny hands, and therefore, has no sharp edges or surfaces. The set includes one big dinosaur transporter and four pull-back cars in different dinosaur shapes. The transporter can easily carry these mini trucks, and the tailgate allows for quick unloading of the mini trucks.
Pros
- Made of high-quality soft plastic
- Child-friendly design
- Produces lights and sounds
- Makes a great gift
Cons
- May be smaller than you expect
16. Best Durable :Geyiie 8-Pack Pull-Back Vehicle Set
If you are looking for a set containing different cute vehicles, this can be your choice. The Geyiie pull-back vehicle set includes an ambulance, police car, taxi, school bus, city bus, jeep, beetles, and mini cooper in different colors and prints.
Pros
- No batteries required
- Metal bodies
- Non-toxic material
- Die-cast cars
Cons
- Doesn’t move fast on carpets
17. Best Attractive :Kidzlane Pull Back Town Vehicles
Kidzlane’s cute little town vehicles are suitable for children of 18 months and above. The safety-tested toddler toy set includes a police car, an ambulance, a fire truck, and a school bus. Their vibrant colors and prints can make your little one fall in love with them.
Pros
- Made for tiny hands
- Jingling rattle sound
- Soft-to-touch plastic material
- Fast-moving
- Lightweight
- BPA-free plastic
Cons
- Unsafe for babies as the wheels may come off
18. Best For Logical Thinking :Moontoy Monster Trucks
The monster truck toy models can help your toddler develop logical thinking and motor skills. This toddler toy set includes three cars designed as a bull truck, leopard truck, and crocodile truck. It has rounded corners and less sharp edges to ace the test of safety. With unique features, these monster trucks are designed for children aged 12 months and above.
Pros
- Movable mouths with a press button
- No batteries required
- Non-toxic and BPA-free material
- Big wheels and body for easy grip
Cons
- Two of the cars may not move fast
19. Best Light And Sound Effects:Trop Prod Vision Dinosaur Cars
If your child is a dinosaur lover, this set of cars can fascinate your little one. These monster toy cars with dinosaur heads are powered by batteries and have sound and light effects. All four car toys for toddlers have gone through rigorous testing and are designed in different colors.
Pros
- Non-toxic material
- Realistic design
- Automatic turn back wheels
- Durable material
- Includes LEDs
Cons
- Doesn’t work on thick carpets
- Noisy music
"My children quickly took a liking to their light-up features, smooth movements, and dino-tops. The included batteries and screwdrivers also made it a breeze to operate them. Some of their parts could have been more durable, but my dino enthusiasts still love them."
20. Best Eco Friendly:Shinepick Pull-Back Toy Cars For Toddlers
Shinepick toy cars help teach your child the use of different vehicles. This six-piece travel toy set includes a dumper, a concrete mixer, an ambulance, a ladder truck, and a crane vehicle. These cute self-propelled cars are recommended for children of 18 months and above.
Pros
- No batteries required
- Rotatable and movable tools
- Made for little hands
- Helps develop cognitive and motor skills
- Helps improve hand-eye coordination
Cons
- Requires adult supervision
"These pull-back cars have been a delight for my younger and older ones. They're appropriately sized for their hands, and the lack of small and detachable parts is a bonus. Their little storage baskets may collect dust over time but are easy to clean."
21. Best Adorable :Likee Animals Pull Back Cars
The cute cars from Likee are friction-powered, and when you pull back or push, they go a long way. They are designed with round corners and colorful animal prints to make them look adorable.
Pros
- Safety-tested
- No batteries required
- Made for little hands
- Non-toxic material
- Can go forward and backward
Cons
- Doesn’t move on carpets
- Not durable
"Their vivid colors and pull-back mechanism are the perfect distractors when giving my daughter some medicine. They may take extra effort to race on carpeted floors, but their functionality on hardwood floors is remarkable."
How To Choose The Right Toy Car For Toddlers?
Here are a few things to consider before you buy a toy car for your toddler.
1. Age-appropriate: Check the recommended age group of a particular toy to prevent any accidents. It is best to choose an expert-approved yet simple toy that is easy to grab and operate for young toddlers.
2. Safe design features: Choose a toy that has round corners and no sharp edges for your child’s safety. Avoid choosing a toy car with tiny parts, or detachable wheels to prevent choking hazards.
3. Non-toxic material: The toy should be made of non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free child-safe materials.
4. Learning and development: Choose a car with bright colors, numbers, or alphabets printed, with different shapes, textures, and designs to help your child learn something new while they play. You can also choose a vintage toy car or one with lights and sound effects to help your little one develop their sensory skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do toy cars fade out their colors?
Because most children are not very careful with their toys, the colors of some toy cars may fade over time. Prolonged exposure to sunlight is also one of the reasons for the fading. However, you can prevent that by properly cleaning and storing the toys in an appropriate place after every use.
2. How should I clean a toy car?
Toy cars are very easy to clean. Just dip a cloth in a solution of soap and warm water and use it to clean all the debris from the toys. After that, wipe it with a cloth dipped in regular water and let it air-dry. Be careful of the electric parts while cleaning them.
3. How long do toy cars last?
It depends on the quality of the product and how you take care of it. For instance, toys made of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic tend to last longer than others.
4. What are toy cars called?
If a toy car is designed as a replica of the original, it can also be called a “model car.” Those kinds of toy cars have the exact design and features of the original car.
5. What is a toy car made of?
Toy cars are generally made of plastic, glass, rubber, metals like alloys, and other materials. Some toy cars are also made of fabrics.
6. Does a toy car move without electricity?
Yes, some toddler toy cars can move without electricity. You just need to drag the electric toy car backward and release it, and it will move forward on its own. You can also push a toy car down a slope to move it.
Toddlers notice everything around them, and cars are one of the fascinating things they come across. Getting your child toy cars from trusted brands is a great way to introduce them to pretend play. Toy cars are designed for every age group, so it will help to consider the age-appropriateness of the toy before investing in it. Ensure that the toy car is made of safe, non-toxic material and meets all the safety standards so that your kid has a safe playtime.
Infographic: What Are The Educational Benefits Of Playing With Toy Cars?
When a child plays with toy cars, it includes a lot of movement and some amount of cognitive involvement, which bestows the little one with particular physical and mental benefits. Check out the following infographic to understand how playing with toy cars can contribute to your child’s development. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose uses her research abilities to create detailed content. She primarily reviews children’s products, toys, and gifts. This list of the best toy cars for toddlers compiled by her can help you pick the right toy car to keep your child entertained. She has specifically chosen toy cars that can help improve your child’s motor and sensory skills. Moreover, her tips on choosing the right toy car can come in handy for you.
