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If your kid loves playing with cars, there’s no question they’ll love riding one of their own. Heck, even if they prefer dinosaur toys or arts and crafts, I’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love a ride-on car. Because zooming around — be it with a push of their legs, a push of a pedal, or a push of a button — is just plain fun. Bonus: They’re a great way to get kids off the couch, burning energy, and getting imaginative.
Alli Cavasino is the co-founder and CEO of the baby and kids’ gear rental company, JoyLet, and a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technician. She tells SheKnows that ride-on toys are also great for a child’s development.
“[They help with] coordination, motor skills, and peer-interaction skills while kids play together,” she says.
Best Ride-On Cars for Kids At A Glance
Best Motorized Ride-On: Best Choice Products 12V Kids Ride On Truck Car; $180
Best Rollercoaster Ride-On: ; $136
Most Versatile Ride-On: Mercedes G-Wagon 3-in-1 Push Car; $120
Most Educational Ride-On: Radio Flyer Busy Buggy; $33
Best Ride-On For Imaginative Play: Kid Trax Kids USPS Mail Carrier 6 Volt Electric Ride On Toy; $320
Best Non-Motorized Ride-On: Little Tikes Push and Ride Racer; $30
Best Ride-On For Siblings: Wiggle Car Ride On Toy; $38
Ride-On With Most Storage: TOBBI 12v Battery-Powered Toy Tractor with Trailer; $174
Recommended Age for Ride-On Cars
Cavasino recommends considering what is age-appropriate first and foremost. Just like with things like baby pool floats, you’ll want to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for age and weight.
“Choosing a toy that is too advanced or too large for a child can lead to accidents,” Cavasino says.
So the “ideal” age for when a kid can start using a ride-on car is going to be based on manufacturer’s recommendations and your comfort level.
Safety Features Experts Recommend in Ride-On Cars
Along with being age-appropriate, you’ll want to choose something sturdy (kids can play rough!) and that was designed with safety in mind. Cavasino says ride-on toys with a low center of gravity and wide wheelbase provide better stability and can be less likely to tip over while a little one is riding.
You’ll also want to make sure that motorized toys have some sort of safety restraints, easy-to-use brakes, and speed controls.
“These features will help protect your child while they have a blast cruising around,” Cavasino says. “In addition to safety features on the toy itself, wearing a helmet and other protective gear will help protect little ones.”
You might also want to choose a ride-on toy with bright colors and reflective materials so that if it’s being used outdoors, your kid is more visible to nearby drivers and pedestrians.
Finally, Cavasino recommends ride-on toys with smooth surfaces and rounded edges to minimize the risk of injury. No one wants a cut or bruise from a sharp, protruding bumper!
“Regardless of the safety features of the ride-on toy, I would suggest parents always supervise children during playtime,” Cavasino says. “And it is important to provide them with clear instructions on how to use the toy safely before they start off.”
Best Choice Products 12V Kids Ride On Truck Car
$180$20010% off
Buy Now FROM AMAZON
Recommended Age: 3+
Weight Limit: 61 lbs
Power Source: Motorized
Speed Limit: 2.8 mph
Remote Control: Yes
Seatbelt: Yes
Pros:
-Seatbelt
-Remote control
-Working headlights
-Multi-terrain wheels
-Bluetooth speakers
Cons:
-One seat
-Loud
-Pricey
-Short battery life
I mean…does it get much cooler than this motorized ride-on from Best Choice Products? It checks so many boxes. It has a seatbelt, doors, a remote control for parents, working headlights for increased visibility (and extra coolness), wheels that can easily transition from the driveway to the yard, and nearly 20 thousand glowing reviews on Amazon.
Step2 Unicorn Up & Down Roller Coaster
$136$18024% off
Buy Now from amazon
Recommended Age: 2-5 years
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Power Source: Not motorized
Speed Limit: Varies
Remote Control: No
Seatbelt: No
Pros:
-Good for indoor/outdoor play
-Included roller coaster track
-Mahomes-Approved
Cons:
-No seatbelt
-No brakes
-Pricey
This is no ordinary ride-on car. It’s a ride-on rollercoaster and it’s loved by Sterling Mahomes! Last year, Brittany Mahomes posted a video of her toddler riding down the track and having an absolute blast. When Sterling got to the end of the 9-foot track and kept rolling across the floor, she excitedly said, “Again!”
Mercedes G-Wagon 3-in-1 Push Car
$120$17029% off
Buy Now FROM AMAZON
Recommended Age: 1-3 years
Weight Limit: 40 lbs
Power Source: Not motorized
Speed Limit: Varies
Remote Control: N/A
Seatbelt: Side rails
Pros:
-Parents can use the detachable handle to push and steer
-Built-in storage
-Removable side rails
-Mahomes-Approved
Cons:
-No seat belt
-Not a bright color
-Pricey
Another Mahomes family fave! Sterling and her 1-year-old brother Bronze have been seen having fun on this mini G-Wagon that has storage beneath the seat, a moving steering wheel, and a working horn that also plays music. We love that it can fit multiple kids, can be controlled by the kids or the parents, and has detachable side rails.
Radio Flyer Busy Buggy
$33$356% off
Buy Now FROM AMAZON
Recommended Age: 1-3 years
Weight Limit: 42 lbs
Power Source: Not motorized
Speed Limit: Varies
Remote Control: N/A
Seatbelt: No
Pros:
-17 interactive activities
-Can sit or push
-Built-in storage
Cons:
-No seatbelt
Cavasino also points out that, depending on the child’s age, parents may want to opt for a ride-on toy that has shapes, colors, buttons, and other features that keep little learners entertained and engaged before and after their ride. This one from Radio Flyer has 17 interactive activities that are great for helping kids learn, practice motor skills, and engage in sensory experiences.
$320
Buy Now FROM AMAZON
Recommended Age: 3-5 years
Weight Limit: 60 lbs
Power Source: Motorized
Speed Limit: 2.5 mph
Remote Control: No
Seatbelt: No
Pros:
-Great for imaginative play
-Higher weight capacity
-Bluetooth connectivity
Cons:
-Pricey
-No seatbelt
-No remote control
How cute is this ride-on that’s designed to look like a USPS mail truck?! It even comes with a mailbox and envelopes so kids can spend hours pretending to deliver the mail. Plus, it can connect to Bluetooth so little mail carriers can jam out while they drop off letters.
Little Tikes Push and Ride Racer
$30
Buy Now fROM AMAZON
Recommended Age: 9 months-3 years
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Power Source: Not motorized
Speed Limit: Varies
Remote Control: N/A
Seatbelt: No
Pros:
-Can push or ride
-Indoor/outdoor play
-Durable
Cons:
-No seatbelt
-Some Amazon shoppers struggled with assembly
I know you might be thinking, “But where are all the bells and whistles?” There aren’t any on this ride-on, but that’s partly why Little Tikes has stood the test of time.
Their simple yet durable and effective designs have made them a trusted household name, and one Amazon shopper even shared a photo of their Push and Ride Racer from 20 years ago. Spoiler: It looks exactly the same! Just thirty bucks for two decades and two purposes (kids can ride or push!)? I’d say that’s a great investment.
Wiggle Car Ride On Toy
$38$6037% off
Buy Now from amazon
Recommended Age: 3-8 years
Weight Limit: 150 lbs
Power Source: Not motorized
Speed Limit: Varies
Remote Control: N/A
Seatbelt: None
Pros:
-Large age range
-High weight capacity
-On sale
Cons:
-No seatbelt
This time you’re probably thinking, “Great for siblings? But there’s only one seat!” And you’d be right. But with the Wiggle Car, the age range is so large and the weight limit is so high, toddlers and their older siblings can all enjoy this ride-on. One shopper, who must be adhering to the weight capacity and not the age range, said their 4-year-old, 6-year-old, 9-year-old, and 11-year-old all love it. “It is such a fun toy!” they said. Bonus: Lots of the color options are on sale right now.
TOBBI 12v Battery-Powered Toy Tractor with Trailer
$174
Buy Now FROM AMAZON
Recommended Age: 3-6 years
Weight Limit: 66 lbs
Power Source: Motorized
Speed Limit: 1.9-5 mph. Fast and slow mode.
Remote Control: None
Seatbelt: Yes
Pros:
-Cool design
-Lots of storage
-Seatbelt
-Bluetooth connectivity
Cons:
-No remote control
-Big to store
This ride-on tractor gets so many cool points. We know your little one has lots of things they need to bring from Point A to Point B, and there’s plenty of room for toys, books, snacks, and more in the detachable trailer of this “tractor.” Just be sure not to go over the 66-lb weight capacity. Plus, they can spend their afternoons pretending to be a young farmer tending to their crops. Like other motorized ride-ons, it has working headlights and can play music.
“I cant describe the joy [my toddler] gets from driving her pink tractor,” one Amazon shopper said. “…It makes me happy to see her having fun and putting her toys (and my tools LOL) in the trailer and driving them around…Some days, she drives it off and on nearly all day minus nap time, lunch and dinner of course.”
EXPERTS IN THIS ARTICLE
ALLI CAVASINO: Co-founder and CEO of JoyLet, a baby and kids’ gear rental membership, and a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technician
Before you go, check out these exciting outdoor toys for your littles!
