The best remote control cars
Fast trucks, flipping stunt cars and one that swims: the RC cars that make a birthday.
A remote control car is a birthday favourite from about three to thirteen, and plenty of grown-ups enjoy them too. Stunt cars that flip and spin suit younger children; hobby-style trucks with proper throttles suit older ones.
Look at run time as well as speed: two batteries (or swappable packs) double the fun, and a waterproof car copes with wet grass and puddles. Charge everything before the big day.
What matters
- Speed to suit the age: 10–15km/h for under-eights.
- Two batteries for longer runs.
- Waterproof if it's going on grass or the beach.
- 4WD for rough ground.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Womaqu 1:14 4WD Off-Road RC Truck (40km/h, 2 batteries)
£75–£100 Price range
A proper hobby-style truck rather than a toy: 40km/h, all-terrain tyres, a throttle that goes from a crawl to flat out, and two batteries for about 40 minutes of driving. Fun for dads as much as children.
What owners say: Owners find it superb value, easy to control and quick, and tough enough to handle bumps, crashes and enthusiastic children.
Heads up: At 40km/h it's too fast for small children or the living room: it's for the park, and for ages eight and up.
A closer look: Start them on half throttle until they've got the feel of it. Let the battery cool for a few minutes before recharging, and dry the car off after wet grass.
- Up to 40km/h, 4WD
- Proportional throttle and steering
- 2 × 7.4V 1300mAh batteries, about 40 minutes
- Up to 70m control range
- Ages 8+
Best for: Older children (and dads)
- Top speed
- 40km/h
- Run time
- About 40 min (2 batteries)
- Control range
- 70m
- Waterproof
- Yes
- Ages
- 8+
#2 of 5
Best stunt car
QUNREDA 4WD Stunt Car with Swappable Batteries
£20–£30 Price range
Flips over and carries on driving the other way up, spins on the spot, and has two clip-in battery packs that swap in seconds, so the fun lasts about 50 minutes.
What owners say: Owners' children enjoy it, though build quality and battery life get mixed reports over time.
Heads up: Some owners find the batteries hold less charge after a few months, so it's a fun, cheap stunt car rather than a long-term buy.
A closer look: Charge both packs the night before a birthday: nothing disappoints like a flat car. It's happiest on flat ground, like a patio or playground.
- 360° spins and flips, drives both ways up
- 2 swappable 500mAh battery packs
- About 25 minutes per pack
- USB-C charging
- LED lights, ages 6–12
Best for: Flips and tricks
- Top speed
- 10km/h
- Run time
- About 50 min (2 packs)
- Control range
- –
- Waterproof
- –
- Ages
- 6–12
#3 of 5
Best for puddles
MaxTronic Amphibious 4WD Stunt Car (waterproof)
£20–£30 Price range
Fully waterproof, so it drives through puddles, over grass, along the beach and straight into the paddling pool. Flips, spins and charges without taking the battery out.
What owners say: Owners find it robust and lots of fun, easy to handle and good value, though the remote gets mixed comments.
A closer look: Rinse it with fresh water after a trip to the beach, as sand and salt wear the wheels. Keep the remote on dry land with the driver.
- Amphibious: land, water and sand
- 360° spins, drives both ways up
- Built-in battery, USB-C charging
- LED lights switch on and off
- Ages 3–12, 2-year warranty
Best for: Beach and garden
- Top speed
- 15km/h
- Run time
- –
- Control range
- –
- Waterproof
- Yes
- Ages
- 3–12
#4 of 5
MOJINO 1:18 RC Truck with Lights and Water Mist (22km/h)
£30–£50 Price range
A chunky truck with 15 light modes and two little sprayers that puff out a mist from the front, plus two batteries for over half an hour of driving at up to 22km/h.
What owners say: Owners find it great indoors and out, quick, with batteries that last over 30 minutes, though some report it stopping working.
A closer look: Fill the mist tank with plain water and empty it before the truck goes back in the cupboard. The lights make it a good one for winter evenings in the garden.
- Up to 22km/h
- 15 light modes, water-mist sprayers
- 2 × 1200mAh batteries
- Up to 50m control range
- Splash-proof, ages 6–12
Best for: Lights and effects
- Top speed
- 22km/h
- Run time
- Over 30 min (2 batteries)
- Control range
- 50m
- Waterproof
- Yes
- Ages
- 6–12
#5 of 5
Best for little ones
Dreamlandia 4WD Flip Car (ages 3–8)
£20–£30 Price range
Bright, simple controls for small hands, and it flips and drives upside down, so crashes are half the fun. One charge gives up to 40 minutes.
What owners say: Owners find it a delightful birthday present that's robust on most surfaces, though reliability and battery life get mixed reports.
A closer look: The short range suits a garden or playground, where little drivers keep it close. Forty minutes a charge is plenty for small attention spans; plug it in to a USB charger between sessions.
- 360° spins and 180° flips
- Up to 15km/h, 4WD
- 900mAh battery, up to 40 minutes
- About 18m control range
- Ages 3–8
Best for: Three- to six-year-olds
- Top speed
- 15km/h
- Run time
- Up to 40 min
- Control range
- About 18m
- Waterproof
- –
- Ages
- 3–8
How they compare
| Feature | #1Womaqu 1:14 | #2QUNREDA stunt | #3MaxTronic amphibious | #4MOJINO 1:18 | #5Dreamlandia flip car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best stunt car | Best for puddles | Best for little ones | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Price | £75–£100 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | £20–£30 Price range |
| Top speed | 40km/h | 10km/h | 15km/h | 22km/h | 15km/h |
| Run time | About 40 min (2 batteries) | About 50 min (2 packs) | – | Over 30 min (2 batteries) | Up to 40 min |
| Control range | 70m | – | – | 50m | About 18m |
| Waterproof | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | – |
| Ages | 8+ | 6–12 | 3–12 | 6–12 | 3–8 |
| Best for | Older children (and dads) | Flips and tricks | Beach and garden | Lights and effects | Three- to six-year-olds |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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