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The Best Toy Cars for Kids to Really Drive Imagination

From remote-controlled racers to classic wooden push toys, these toy cars for toddlers are sure to fuel some fun.
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Published October 2, 2023
Toy Cars for Kids Hero
Image: Twin Design | Shutterstock
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Toy cars have been popular with little ones for decades, and for good reason: They’re really fun! The best toy cars for kids allow little ones to zoom them around with ease while adding cool elements to capture their attention and imagination.

When it comes to finding toy cars for toddlers, it’s important to consider safety: make sure a toy won’t pinch your child’s fingers and doesn’t have small parts that will easily detach. Durability is also crucial to ensure the car can hold up to everything younger children dish out on a regular basis. There are a lot of toy cars on the market, making it tough to know which is right for your kiddo. These are the best toy cars for kids out there right now that’ll leave them going vroom vroom.

In this article:

Overall Best Toy Cars

Ready to ramp up the fun? Start your engines and check out these sweet and silly toy cars.

Magnetic car set

KiwiCo Magnetic Car Set
Image: Amazon
What We Love
  • Several interactive elements
  • Made with non-toxic ingredients
  • Easy to link
Things To Consider
  • Not suitable for kids under the age of one

While KiwiCo is known (and loved) for its subscription boxes, they offer high-quality individual toys as well. This magnetic car set features three cars with magnets that can be linked together. The cars are crafted from sturdy beech wood and decorated with non-toxic, water-based paint. Interior pieces spin, rattle and fold for even more interactive fun.

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Interactive toy car

VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Car
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$8.99
What We Love
  • Plays songs and lights up
  • Oversized button is easy to press
  • Wide range of vehicle options
Things To Consider
  • Requires batteries

VTech’s smart wheels car offers plenty of interaction in the form of sing-along songs and a button kids can press to make sounds. A mechanical hood opens and closes for little hands to explore, while the windshield lights up for an added hit of fun. And if a traditional car isn’t for you, check out the one of the other vehicles in the series, like the airplane or the tractor!

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Neighborhood toy car pac

 Fisher-Price Little People Toddler Playset Around the Neighborhood Vehicle Pack
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$23.99
What We Love
  • Great value
  • Wide range of vehicles
  • Compatible with other toys
Things To Consider
  • Some vehicles in the set are more interactive than others

Little People toys are a consistent winner with young children, and this vehicle playset—designed for ages one and up—is no exception. The Amazon-exclusive set features five service vehicles, including a tractor, pizza delivery car and fire truck, each with its own driver. The figurines can be used with other Little People toys too—talk about versatile!

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Best Toy Cars for 1-Year-Olds

Kids in this age group love exploring with new toys (and mouthing them!). These cars are designed for the 1+ crowd.

Soft baby toy car set

Melissa & Doug K's Kids Pull-Back Vehicle Set
Image: Walmart
What We Love
  • Soft, baby-friendly bodies
  • Good variety of vehicles
  • Removable base
Things To Consider
  • May be too large for smaller babies to grip

These soft, squishy cars are suitable for kids starting at 9 months and are easy for little ones to grasp. The set features a school bus, family car, fire truck and police car, all with a special mechanism that makes them go when they’re pulled back and released.

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Animal-themed car toys

iPlay iLearn Press and Go Car Toys
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$14.44
What We Love
  • Easy to use
  • Good assortment
  • Affordable price tag
Things To Consider
  • Don’t work well on carpet
  • Doesn’t roll far when pushed

The iPlay Press and Go cars feature sweet animal-themed designs that are easy to zip around. Kids can just press the animals’ heads and watch them zoom off. The set comes with four cars, featuring a giraffe, bull, goat and cow.

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Toy police car

Kidoozie Press ‘n Zoom Police Car
Image: Amazon
What We Love
  • Durable construction
  • No batteries needed
  • Fun to operate
Things To Consider
  • May be too large to grip one handed

Kidoozie’s Press ‘n Zoom Police Car is perfect for one-year-olds that love to press (or smash!) buttons. To make the car go, kids simply press down on the police officer; he pops back up as the vehicle races across the floor. The car is built sturdy enough to tolerate even the most heavy-handed toddlers!

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Speedy toy cars

B. Toys Four Pull-Back Toy Vehicles
Image: Target
Buying Options
Target|$17.99
What We Love
  • Easy to grip
  • Fun, colorful designs
  • Affordable
Things To Consider
  • May not run well on a rug

These cars from B. Toys have a slightly squishy exterior that’s easy for little fingers to grasp. You’ll get four brightly colored cars in the pack, each with a smiling face and cute theme. To make them move, kids just need to pull back and let go. Simple as that!

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Grasp and play car

Bright Starts Oball Easy Grasp Rattle & Roll Sports Car
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$6.99
What We Love
  • Easy grip for little fingers
  • Built-in rattle
Things To Consider
  • Some parents say the stickers peel

Is it a rattle? Is it a grasping toy? Is it a cool toy car? Yes, yes and yes! This toy car is ready for play as early as 3 months, and with BPA-free plastic, it's safe for even the littlest cruisers. Shake it, roll it—heck, even if they throw it, this durable toy will take the knock and come back for hours of fun.

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Toy school bus

Fisher-Price Little People Musical Toddler Toy Sit With Me School Bus
Image: Target
What We Love
  • Easy to grip
  • Lots of interactive options
  • Affordable price
Things To Consider
  • No off switch for the sound

This Fisher-Price bus allows kids to use their own figurines (along with two included people) to roll around your place. The bus has a door that opens and closes, along with a pull-out stop sign and open top that makes it easy to put toys inside. Push the oversized button on top for fun lights and sounds.

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Best Toy Cars for 2-Year-Olds

Two-year-olds have more hand-eye coordination than their younger counterparts, and can handle slightly more advanced cars. Checked out these fun options.

Remote-controlled car

MindSprout Dino Chasers
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$29.99
What We Love
  • Fun design
  • Good introduction to remote control cars
  • Lights up and makes noise
Things To Consider
  • Car and remote require batteries

Finding remote-controlled cars for the younger crowd can be tricky, but MindSprout’s Dino Chasers are designed for ages 18 months and up. The set of two cars features rolling dinosaur “eggs,” with their own removable drivers. Each has its own remote, allowing your little one to race you or a sibling. Large control buttons make these easy to operate.

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Monster toy truck

Wow Toys Mack Monster Truck
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$34.99
What We Love
  • Large size
  • Easy for small hands to hold
  • Removable figurine
Things To Consider
  • Driver can get lost

This dino-themed monster truck from Wow Toys gives kids plenty to play with thanks to its removable figurine and flip-up top. The truck, which is free of BPA and PVC, has oversized wheels that can roll over all kinds of terrain. Best of all, this toy doesn't need batteries!

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Wooden toy truck with shapes

Melissa & Doug Animal Rescue Shape-Sorting Truck
Image: Target
What We Love
  • Several toys in one
  • Truck is easy to roll
  • Affordable price tag
Things To Consider
  • Some parts can get lost

Melissa & Doug’s Animal Rescue truck combines puzzles and cars in one fun package. This wooden truck features two people, along with seven animals that fit inside. Kids can use their spatial skills to determine which animal goes where. A nice bonus: The figures can be used separately too.

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Construction vehicle toys

Kidoozie Little Tuffies
Image: Target
What We Love
  • Affordable price tag
  • Sturdy construction
Things To Consider
  • Doesn’t roll as easily on carpet

Got a construction fan? Kidoozie’s Little Tuffies set features three vehicles—a cement mixer, dump truck and bulldozer—that can be rolled around with ease. The toys have working parts, making them a great option to take to the sandbox or beach.

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Eco-friendly race car toy

Green Toys Race Car
Image: Amazon
What We Love
  • Fun design
  • Good size for little hands to grip
  • Eco-friendly
Things To Consider
  • May not roll as well as some toys

Green Toys is known for its products made from recycled materials. This cute car is crafted from 100 percent recycled plastic milk containers and comes in your choice of blue or red. The design has no metal axles and the wheels are set close to the body to prevent pinched fingers. You’ll feel good knowing the toy is free from BPA, PVC and phthalates!

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Best Toy Cars for 3-Year-Olds

Once kids hit 3 years, they’re ready for the really cool stuff! These toy cars help are an extra boost of fun for older toddlers.

Race car toys

Play 22 Take Apart Racing Car Toys
Image: Target
What We Love
  • Kids can customize their own car
  • Makes noise and lights up
  • Multiple ways to use it
Things To Consider
  • Parts may easily get lost

What’s more fun than playing with a toy car? Taking it apart, of course! Play 22’s Take Apart car features 30 pieces that kids can use to build and remove from their car. The included drill and oversized screws are especially cool to play with.

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Remote control car set

Prextex Toddler Remote Control Car Set
Image: Amazon
What We Love
  • Remote is easy for small hands to hold
  • Cars are durable enough to withstand crashes
  • Removable figurines
Things To Consider
  • Batteries not included

Prextex’s remote control car set repeatedly gets thumbs up from parents for its durability—a definite pro with rough-and-tumble preschoolers. Each car has music and sound, along with removable action figures kids can play with separately. The wheel-shaped remote is also easy to grip, with two buttons to make controlling simple.

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Four pack of mini toy cars

Green Toys Mini Vehicle, 4-Pack
Image: Walmart
What We Love
  • Eco-friendly
  • BPA-free
  • Can be used in the tub too
Things To Consider
  • Vehicles won’t roll very far

This four-pack of cars from Green Toys gives kids plenty of options to zoom around with. Each car is made from 100 percent recycled plastic and is free of BPA, phthalates and PVC. In addition to a race car, your little one can play with an ambulance, police car and taxi. So many options for fun!

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Hot wheels toy car set

Hot Wheels Set of 20 Toy Cars & Trucks
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$29.99
What We Love
  • Large variety of cars
  • Can be used for racing
  • Interesting designs
Things To Consider
  • Cars don’t make noise

Introduce your little one to iconic Hot Wheels with this pack of 20 cars and trucks. Each features a unique design that they can use to roll around and race siblings. Every car in the pack is designed in 1:64 scale for a lifelike look.

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Wooden toy cars and signs

Melissa & Doug Wooden Vehicles and Traffic Signs
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon| $24.99
What We Love
  • Curved edges are comfortable to grip
  • Cars roll well
  • Included traffic signs let kids create scenes
Things To Consider
  • No storage box for pieces

This traffic set from Melissa & Doug is so popular, it flies off the shelves! Kids will enjoy zooming around with six different service vehicles, along with nine traffic signs they can use to create “roads” wherever they want. Sturdy wooden construction means these cars can be passed down to siblings. Talk about a good investment!

Buy Now

Dinosaur-themed patrol car

Paw Patrol Dino Rescue Dino Patroller
Image: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon|$93.12
What We Love
  • Rolls over nearly everything
  • Fun theme
  • Included figurines
Things To Consider
  • Expensive price point

Paw Patrol is massively popular with the younger crowd, and this cool truck offers plenty of themed fun. The truck rolls on its own with the push of a button, with grippy wheels that can handle more rugged terrain. The rear also opens up to reveal enough room to tote a dinosaur! The kit includes a dinosaur toy, two launchers and a Chase figurine.

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How We Chose the Best Toy Cars

Toy cars are a fun way for kids to engage in interactive play. To find the best toy cars, we looked at the most popular options on the market and narrowed the field based on elements like age appropriateness, safety features and sturdiness of materials. Reviews from parents were also analyzed to make sure we had the best sense of how these cars work for a range of families. Only cars with an average review of four stars or higher were included.

Interested in learning more about our editorial process? Read about how our team develops and reviews all articles here.

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