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7 Best Cars for Babies to Have Endless Fun (2025 Reviews)

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seen in: national geographic, cnn, travel + leisure, new york times
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Babies and toddlers love to imitate their parents. Driving a car is one thing that they see adults doing all the time and are very curious about. That’s why ride-on cars are such a popular toy with young children. Not only are these toys great for inspiring curiosity, they can also be educational and they usually help strengthen gross motor skills.

Picking out the right ride-on car for your child is easy if you know what you’re looking for in the toy. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of my 7 favorite cars for you to compare.

Best Cars for Babies

  • 1. Baby Einstein Roadtripper Ride-On Car

    (Best value — $)

    Why it’s great: Your child can ride on this car when they’re little and push it around as they start to learn to walk. The seat flips up to become a handle and it has a safety lock, so it won’t drop down when your child is pushing it. You can spin the wheel, honk the horn, shift gears, and it makes real car sounds, giving your child an immersive experience. It also has activity toys on the dashboard that your child can play with when they don’t want to be moving around anymore.

    Keep in mind:There is no off button for the music, so you’ll likely need to purchase a lot of batteries.

    Good for: Babies who want to be able to play with their car in multiple ways.

    Roadtripper Babies car

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 2. Kiddieland My First Minnie Ride On

    (Most adorable — $)

    Why it’s great: This car features Minnie Mouse and is pink and purple, making it a little girl’s dream. Your child will be able to ride on this car and stand and push it as they are learning to walk. It plays music and the horn honks, keeping your child entertained for longer periods. It also has a clock on the front with hands that your child can spin, so as they get older they can start to learn what a clock is and how to tell time.

    Keep in mind: This car is decorated in colors and characters for a girl, so it might not be the best choice for a boy.

    Good for: Little girls who want a car with flair.

    Kiddieland Babies car

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 3. Little Tikes Deluxe 2-in-1 Cozy Roadster

    (Best outdoors — $$)

    Why it’s great: This car is perfect for playing outside and taking walks to the park or around the neighborhood. It has a seatbelt to make sure your child is safe during the trip. It also has cup holders for bottles or sippy cups and a zippered pouch for snacks or toys. There’s a canopy to keep your baby shaded from the sun that you can adjust higher or lower, depending on what you need. The handle can be moved from the front to the back of the car, so you can pull or push your child.

    Keep in mind: This one doesn’t have any extra activities or music.

    Good for: Babies that play a lot outside.

    Roadster Babies car

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 4. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Crawl Around Car

    (Most educational — $$$)

    Why it’s great: This car is great because it keeps your child entertained while they learn. It has a shape sorter, which is great for learning shapes and for fine motor skills. It also has the alphabet, numbers, and different colored buttons for your child to recognize and learn. Plus, the music and songs that it plays teach your child these concepts too! The doors open, the wheel turns, and there’s a key and a shifter that your baby can use.

    Keep in mind: This one does not move, but being stable means your child can use the sides for balance when they’re learning to stand and walk.

    Good for: Parents who want their kids to be learning while playing.

    Amazon Exclusive Babies car

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 5. Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike

    (Most unique — $$$)

    Why it’s great: This one is a little different from the other cars, in that it’s actually a tricycle. What’s great about it is that it can be used as a stroller when your baby is young and then it can convert into a full-fledged tricycle for your older child, with a few stops in between. It has a seatbelt and a canopy to keep your child safe while on the move. There’s a footrest that can be removed once you feel like your toddler is ready to start pedaling. There’s a nice push handle for the parent that can also be removed when your child is ready to move on their own.

    Keep in mind: This one isn’t a traditional car and doesn’t have any extra activities or sounds.

    Good for: Parents who want a different option to the normal cars.

    Radio Flyer Babies car

    View on Amazon.com ➜

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  • 6. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe

    (Most realistic — $$)

    Why it’s great: This one’s a classic and has been around for 30 years. It is just like a mini car for your child. The doors open, the wheel steers the direction of the car, and there’s even an ignition and a gas cap. The Cozy Coupe gives your baby the full car experience. It also strengthens their gross motor skills, as they have to use their feet and legs to move the car. Parents can also push their child around in the car and it has a handle on the back just for this purpose.

    Keep in mind: You’ll want to put in the removable floor piece when you’re pushing your child around, so their feet don’t get caught.

    Good for: Babies who like to pretend they’re driving a real car.

    Anniversary Babies car

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 7. Skip Hop Kids Ride On Scooter

    (Best to grow — $$$)

    Why it’s great: The Skip Hop scooter is great because it converts from a ride-on car, to a walker toy that your toddler can push around, and then to a scooter your child can ride when they get a little older. The height of the handle is adjustable, so you can make sure it’s set for your child, no matter their size. The chair turns into a bucket that your child can use to store their toys and push them around wherever they go. It also plays music and has sound effects.

    Keep in mind: When you turn this into the walker, you will want to have something heavy in the bucket to balance the weight your child will put on the handlebar.

    Good for: Parents who want a toy that will grow with their child.

    Activity Walker Scooter

    View on Amazon.com ➜

Best Overall

Baby Einstein Roadtripper Ride-On Car

The Baby Einstein Roadtripper Ride-On Car is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..

Roadtripper Babies car

View on Amazon.com ➜

FAQs about cars for babies

  • 1. At what age can a baby start playing with a ride-on car?

    Usually, these types of toys are recommended for children 12 months and up. Some even start at 18 months. They should tell you somewhere on the box or tag. However, as soon as your child can sit up on their own (around 6 months), they might like to play with some of the buttons and activities on the front or sides, depending on the toy. They just won’t get the full use of riding or pushing it until they’re a little older.

  • 2. What are the benefits of getting my child a ride-on car?

    All of these toys will help increase your child’s motor functions. From using their legs to scoot it to pushing it around when they’re learning to walk, these toys spur your child to use their gross motor skills. It also helps their fine motor skills with buttons to push, knobs to slide or turn, and sometimes sorting shapes to push through holes. They also usually have some sort of educational value as well. Some have the alphabet on them, some have clocks, and some have those sorting shapes I mentioned.

  • 3. What features should I look for in a car?

    This will vary by what you’d like to get out of your car. Do you want something that they can use outdoors? Do you want something more educational or more physical? Do you want music and noise or just something your child can use to maneuver around the house? There are so many options available and the features depend on personal preference.

  • 4. What type of car should I get?

    Again this will depend on personal preference. Some cars are more realistic and let your child get more of real-life experience. Some are made to ride or push. And some are more for entertainment and educational purposes. The type you should get is the one that has the features that you desire.

  • 5. What are the safety concerns with a car?

    As with anything that has to do with your child, supervision is necessary to keep your child safe. There is a risk of getting fingers caught in doors or seats that convert to handles. There is also a fall risk for anything that your child can climb on. As long as you’re watching your child, these toys don’t pose any danger.

Conclusion

Toy cars can give your child the mobility that they so desperately want as a toddler. Having something that lets them move around, while also offering other ways to entertain them, gives your child a feeling of independence. Being able to drive a car, just like their parents, makes children feel excited.

When you’re trying to pick out the right car, think about what features you’d like to have. Do you want your child to be able to play with it when they’re not riding it? Do you want it to have some educational value? Or do you just want them to have some mobility and strengthen their gross motor skills?

Keep in mind the answer to these questions and you’ll easily be able to pick out the perfect ride-on car for your child.