10 Things to Consider When Buying Ride on Car

25 Mar.,2024

 

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Choosing the right ride-on car for your child isn't just about fun and games.

It's about finding a balance between safety, engagement, and development.

As a parent, guardian, or educator, you're tasked with picking a toy that not only brings joy but also contributes positively to their growth.

So, what exactly should you look out for to ensure you're making the best choice for your little one?

"Remember, the safety of your child should always be the foremost consideration when choosing a ride-on car. Opt for models with robust safety features like seat belts and speed limiters to ensure a secure and enjoyable play experience." - RiiRoo

Safety Features

Safety First Ensuring your child's safety is paramount. Look for ride-on cars equipped with seat belts, speed limiters, and, importantly, parental remote control.

These features offer peace of mind, knowing that you can oversee your child’s playtime and intervene when necessary.

After all, isn't it better to be safe than sorry?

Related: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying A Kids Electric Ride On Car

Size and Weight Considerations

Getting the Size Right Just like clothing, ride-on cars need to fit your child perfectly.

It's crucial to select a car that aligns with your child's age, height, and weight.

This isn't just about comfort; it's about safety. An oversized or undersized ride-on car can pose risks, so always check the manufacturer's guidelines.

Related: Kids Ride on Toy Buyers Guide

Battery Life and Power

The Power Behind the Fun Battery life is a key factor in uninterrupted play.

Opt for a car with a long-lasting battery, preferably one that offers at least an hour of continuous use.

Battery Type Average Charging Time Weight Lifespan Lead-Acid 8-12 hours Heavier Shorter Lithium-Ion 3-6 hours Lighter Longer

 

This aspect can significantly impact how often your child enjoys their ride-on car and for how long.

"Always monitor the charging of your ride-on car's battery and avoid overcharging. Proper battery care not only ensures longer playtime but also extends the overall life of the car." - Important Battery Care Tip

Motor Specifications

Single vs Dual Motor: What's Best for Your Child? Your choice here depends on your child's weight and the desired performance.

Dual motor ride-on cars offer steadier rides for heavier children, while single motor cars are suitable for lighter weights.

However, both can provide similar speeds, so weigh your options based on your child's specifics.

Design and Build Quality

Quality that Lasts A ride-on car isn't just a toy; it's an investment.

You want something that can withstand the test of time and play.

Pay attention to the design - does it emulate a real car? Is it built to last? These considerations ensure you get the best value for your money.

Comfort Features

Comfort is Key No child wants to ride in discomfort.

Choose a car with soft, cushioned seats, especially if you're opting for a model with longer battery life.

Remember, the more comfortable the ride, the longer they'll play.

Type and Model Selection

A Car that Reflects Their Personality Ride-on cars come in all shapes and sizes, from sports cars to construction trucks.

Think about what excites your child.

Do they dream of being a police officer or a race car driver?

Matching the car to their interests can make a world of difference in their play.

Related: Different Types of Kids Ride-on Toy Accessories and Features

Customer Reviews and Feedback

Learning from Others One of the best ways to gauge a ride-on car's performance and reliability is through reviews from other parents.

Their experiences can provide valuable insights into the specific make or model you're considering.

Budget Considerations

Balancing Cost and Quality Ride-on cars come in a wide price range.

It's essential to find a balance between what you can afford and the features that are important for your child's enjoyment and safety.

Remember, the most expensive option isn't always the best one.

Types of Ride-On Cars

Exploring the Options

  • Push/Pull Ride-Ons: Ideal for babies and toddlers, these require adult assistance.
  • Ride-Ons with Steering Controls and Pedals: Perfect for kids ready to take control.
  • Electronic Ride-Ons: A modern choice offering a range of models like Lamborghini and BMW.
  • ATV Ride-Ons: For the adventurous child, offering a more rugged experience.
  • UTVs: Single-seat options with chunky tyres, great for rougher terrain.
  • Kids Drift Cars: Designed for thrilling drifts and turns.
  • Motorcycles: Tailored for toddlers with added safety features like training wheels.
Type of Ride-On Car Ideal Age Range Power Source Best Use Environment Push/Pull Ride-Ons 1-3 years Manual Indoors/Outdoors (Flat Surfaces) Electronic Ride-Ons 3-8 years Battery-Powered Outdoors ATV Ride-Ons 4-9+ years Battery-Powered/Manual Outdoors (Rough Terrain) UTVs 5-9+ years Battery-Powered Outdoors (Varied Terrain) Kids Drift Cars 3-9 years Battery-Powered Outdoors (Flat, Paved Surfaces) Motorcycles (with Training Wheels) 3-7 years Battery-Powered Indoors/Outdoors (Flat Surfaces)

 

By understanding these types and their unique features, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your child's age, interests, and your safety concerns.

Related: How Do I Transition My Child From an Electric Ride on to Petrol?

Understanding Battery Types and Charging Requirements

When selecting a ride on car, especially a battery-powered car, it's essential to understand the battery size and charging requirements.

Ride-on cars typically come with 6V batteries, 12V batteries, or 24V options.

Battery charging times vary; for instance, a 12V battery might take less time to charge than a 24V battery.

It's crucial to balance battery lifespan with daily usage needs, ensuring your child enjoys their electric toy car without frequent interruptions for charging.

Battery Options: Lead-Acid vs Lithium-Ion

When it comes to ride-on cars, the two main types of batteries you'll encounter are lead-acid and lithium-ion.

Lead-acid batteries, often found in traditional models, are heavier and have a longer charging time but are usually more cost-effective.

Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, are lighter, charge faster, and typically last longer, making them a great choice for more advanced models.

Understanding the type of battery in the ride-on car can help you manage expectations regarding performance and charging time.

Charging Time and Practices

Charging times can vary significantly between models.

Generally, lead-acid batteries may take 8-12 hours to fully charge, while lithium-ion batteries can charge in 3-6 hours.

It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure battery longevity.

Overcharging can reduce the battery life, so using a timer or charging overnight might not always be the best approach.

Also, consider the practicality of charging: will the car need to be near a power source, or can the battery be removed for charging?

Maintenance Tips for Longevity

Regular Cleaning and Inspection

Regular cleaning and inspection are vital for both licensed and unlicensed models of ride-on cars.

Maintaining these cars properly is essential for longevity.

Check components like the wheels and steering wheel as part of your routine maintenance.

Proper Storage

Proper storage is key in maintaining your ride-on car, especially when considering indoor and outdoor use.

Store the car in a space that is free from extreme temperatures and moisture to prevent damage to the battery and the car's bodywork.

Battery Care

Battery care is critical for ensuring a long battery lifespan.

For ride on cars with lead-acid batteries, regular charging is crucial, even during periods of non-use, to maintain battery health.

In contrast, lithium-ion batteries used in some models require different care, such as avoiding complete discharge before recharging.

Check the Tyres Regularly Just like a real car, the tyres on a ride-on car can wear down over time.

Regularly check them for signs of wear and tear and ensure they are properly inflated (if applicable).

This not only ensures a smoother ride but also prevents accidents caused by tyre failure.

Conclusion

Whether you're choosing a dual motor 12V ride on car or a single motor model, understanding and maintaining the battery and the car's overall condition is essential.

Paying attention to battery size, charging times, and proper maintenance practices will ensure your child enjoys their electric toy car for years to come, while adhering to safety guidelines and ensuring age appropriateness.

Remember, investing a bit of time in maintenance can significantly extend the life and performance of your child's cherished ride-on car.

"When selecting a ride-on car for your child, always prioritise safety, suitability for their age and size, and quality of construction. Remember, the right choice ensures not just a fun experience but also contributes to your child's development and well-being." - RiiRoo

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ideal age range for kids to start using ride-on cars?

The ideal age for kids to start using ride-on cars typically begins from as young as 1 year old, with push-along cars suitable for toddlers. As children grow, around ages 3 to 8, they can transition to more advanced battery-powered or pedal cars, depending on their motor skills and interest level. It’s important to choose a ride-on car that aligns with the child's developmental stage for both safety and enjoyment.

Can ride-on cars be used indoors, or are they only suitable for outdoor play?

Many ride-on cars are versatile enough to be used both indoors and outdoors. However, the suitability depends on the size of the car and the available space. Smaller, manual push-along cars are often ideal for indoor use, while larger, battery-powered models are better suited for outdoor spaces. Always ensure there is ample safe space for your child to play without risks of accidents or damage to home furnishings.

How do I choose between a manual (pedal) and an electric ride-on car for my child?

The choice between a manual (pedal) and an electric ride-on car depends on your child's age, physical abilities, and interests. Manual cars are great for younger children as they help develop motor skills and require physical activity. Electric cars, on the other hand, are more suitable for older children who can handle more complex controls and are looking for a more realistic driving experience. Consider your child's readiness for either type in terms of coordination and safety awareness.

Are there any special considerations for maintenance and care during colder months or winter?

Yes, during colder months or winter, special care should be taken, especially for electric ride-on cars. It's advisable to store the car in a dry, cool place to protect the battery and electronic components from extreme cold, which can reduce battery efficiency and lifespan. If the ride-on car won’t be used for an extended period, fully charge and disconnect the battery before storing. Additionally, check for any necessary maintenance or repairs before storing, so it’s ready for use when the weather improves.

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Check Out Our Kids Ride on Cars

Here are all the things that you need to consider before you invest in a kid’s electric ride-on car. 

  • How to take care of the battery
  • Safety features 
  • Battery voltages 
  • Various sizes 
  • Colors and prices 
  • Imperfections 
  • Cleaning process
  • Product delivery
  • Personalizing license plates 
  • Extended warranties

Before being elaborate it is important to get a notion of a kids’ electric car. If you visit buyer’s guides you can find attractive kid’s electric cars on display.

These are toy cars that your kids enjoy the most if you purchase one for them. These cars run on electricity. If you have a spacious apartment or if there is a spacious backyard adjacent to your house then your kids can have a super fun time riding these toy cars. 

If you have a kid at the house like your child, grandchild, nephew or niece then read this blog as it will help you in your journey of purchasing the best kids electric car. Every buyer wants to know about the item, he or she is investing in.

Therefore, if you are interested to procure kids’ electric cars then you need to know a few important facts about the product that you are buying.

Apart from the electric vehicles, there is available a host of other toys including balance bikes, kids’ bikes, pedal cars, kids’ helmets, pedal cars, skates, skateboards, unicycles, tricycles, scooters, and related equipment.

The following are some of the important points that you need to consider while you are purchasing electric cars from the market for your kid. Table Of Contents

How to take care of the battery that the electric car is using

If you are investing in an electric toy car for your kid then by common sense you can understand that the toy runs on electricity. If that is the scenario then from where can you obtain the electric supply for your toy car. Yes, you guessed it right. You need to use electric batteries to power your toy car. 

If you use electric batteries for your toy car then understand that you need to take good care of the batteries that your electric car is using. Below is a list of how you can take care of the batteries that your electric car is using.

Speaking of batteries make sure you have extra for the parental remote as they rarely come with the AA or AAA batteries needed to power the remote.  Some ride-on cars also need batteries for exterior lights, not all but make sure to check if they do especially if the lighting is on the top of the car.

Things to do after you purchase an electric toy car

Following is a list of things that you need to be doing after you have bought an electric toy car from the market:

Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying A Ride On Car

Safety

Ride on cars are safe but there are things you need to know to make sure you cover all of your bases.  We already have a full article if you would like to go further into this.  “Are Ride On Cars Safe?“

When purchasing some ride on cars come with parental remotes and some do not.  It is recommended you know how the parental remote works.

Different voltages

If you are using electric batteries in an electric toy car then understand that there are numerous types of voltages. There are batteries with 6V, 12V, 24V, and 36V ratings. In this context, it is important to understand that the current that is flowing through a circuit depends on the voltage.

For higher voltage ratings, the current flowing through the toy car circuit board is higher. If you want to understand the differences between the batteries with different voltage ratings then visit relevant websites available online.

In this context, it is important to understand that higher voltage does not imply that the electric toy car is powerful. It does not enhance the power of the toy car vehicle. Then what difference do different voltage batteries make?

If the batteries have a higher voltage rating then those batteries last for a longer duration of time upon full charge. A higher voltage of a battery also determines its effectiveness during the battery lifetime.

The higher the voltage of the battery that is used in the toy car, the more expensive is the toy car. Therefore, if you are using more than 24V in the toy car then that toy car uses two batteries instead of one battery.

The size

If you check out the online store selling toy cars then you will find that the size of the toy cars can be larger than what you may expect. Similarly, the toy car size can be smaller than you think. Therefore, it is very important to check the measurements of the toy car before investing in it.

There are selected websites that furnish the toy car measurements in the product description section. Such data often proves to be immensely helpful for buyers of toy cars.

If you are using toy cars in your house then it is recommended that you first measure the size of the toy in your house, make sure that the toy car fits in your house premises. Also, measure the toy car keeping in view the measurements of your kid. These tips help you to get the best deal for the money.

If you visit an e-commerce website like Amazon and take a look at the toy car models then you can find that car models are having two seats. But if you take a closer look at the car models then you find that there is only one seat in the electric cars.

The different car models have headrests for design purposes. The headrests are non-functional.

If you are looking forward to investing in a 2 seater car model we have a full guide with info like maximum height, maximum age, colors, the number of seats, etc.

Colors and pricing

Many make assumptions that all car models are available in a wide variety of colors and they have the same price. However, this is not the case.

There are many retailers of toy cars, a certain type of colored products don’t sell at all.

There remain chances that few colors like pink, black, white, and blue colored toy cars are the most expensive. The enhanced price of the car does not imply that these toy car models take more cost to manufacture but it is based on the product popularity and supply and demand of the products.

The car finish is not smooth

If you want to purchase toy cars from the market then understand that the car and motorbike bodies have imperfections and that their finish is not as smooth as silk.

People who are interested to invest in toy cars expect that cars have a perfectly smooth body and that there is not a spot or blemish in the car body. However, the reality is different. Toy cars don’t have a silky-smooth finish.

In this context, it is important to understand that toy car bodies are built with plastic. Few industries, toy car manufacturers use plastic that is without post-process. Therefore, in most instances, it is observed that the toy cars don’t have a silky smooth finish.

Cleaning process of toy cars

If you are using toy cars then you know by now that they are manufactured using plastic that is not processed well and this gives rise to imperfections in the car body. Repeated use of toy cars results in the accumulation of dust particles in the imperfections on the car body.

Therefore, one needs to clean the toy cars from time to time so that they can be used for a long period. To clean the toy car water is not used directly on the product.  

It is because the important parts of the car are the motor and they must not get wet during the cleaning process. If the important parts of the toy car like the motor get wet then the longevity of the item is very much diminished.

Water is not directly used to clean the toy cars as the critical components that constitute the toy cars are not waterproof.  Learn more in our article “Can ride on kids cars get wet and stay outdoors?“.

The ideal way to cleanse the toy is to use a wet cloth followed by the use of a dry cloth. The dry cloth gives the toy a shine.

It is also recommended not to polish the toy car using chemicals. This is because certain chemicals could have a corrosive effect, they can be too abrasive or may remove the paintwork of the car body.

Product delivery

Retailers of toy cars often maintain e-commerce websites where they sell the products online. The toy cars that are sold have prompt delivery of the products.  Our site concentrates on Amazon products as the delivery is very fast and often free if you have prime.  It was fast when I purchased my son this tractor ride-on car [Amazon Link]!

This is primarily because online retailers often work with the 3rd party courier services to deliver the products to the buyers. The product delivery often depends on factors like the amount of workload present, the number of available drivers, weather conditions.

Therefore, there are retailers who because of the above-mentioned factors can’t guarantee same-day product delivery. 

However, observations suggest that a majority of the customers who have invested in toy cars get their products delivered on the next day provided the order is placed before 1 pm on the previous day.

The buyers can personalize the toy car license plate

Cars have number plates. On similar grounds, manufacturers of toy cars prefer keeping number plates to lend a more realistic look to the toy car. There are many manufacturers of toy cars. Similarly, there are a host of retailers available.

Not all retailers provide a service to personalize the number plate of the toy car. Those who provide services to personalize the number of plates seek charges.  We have a whole list of accessories at the bottom of this article for you to check out.

Therefore, before purchasing a ride of the toy car the buyer needs to make sure that he or she checks with the retailer whether the service to personalize a number plate is available for free or paid

Therefore, before purchasing your next ride on make sure that you check with the retailer if the cool service is available with that person.

Car buyers can buy an extended warranty

Often people fail to realize that most retailers can buy an extended battery warranty for the toy car. This is mainly because the batteries that are used are in the toy car are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and if they are it’s 6 months max.

If your battery is not able to charge or recharge within 12 months then by buying a warranty you can get a cover for a battery replacement within 12 months of purchase.

Many retailers of toy cars offer such services as does Amazon. Therefore, if you want to invest in a toy car then you should purchase the warranty just make sure to know the terms and conditions.

Additional features that a toy car has

A toy car manufactured by popular manufacturers has a host of features that make it popular among kids. Most electric ride toy cars come with media players and this implies that the kids taking a ride can also listen to their favorite music while using the toy.

Besides having a media player, a toy car is known to have other attractive features like Bluetooth, radio, USB input, preset sounds, SD card for storage purposes.

Power Wheels are hard to drag and put away. Another cool feature is some Power Wheels even have a lift handle and an extra set of wheels so it is easier at the end of the day.

This article lays out the 10 important things that you require to consider before investing in the toy.

Tips for purchasing toy cars

This blog highlights Things I wish I knew about buying a ride-on car, it highlights some of the tips that you can use to purchase toys. You need to know that several car manufacturers are hugely popular for manufacturing high-quality kids’ toys. Some retailers sell toys to customers.

You can go through the product descriptions, product features, compare them by visiting multiple websites, or just take a quick look at our buyer’s guide that has all these features laid out in a nice table or more in detail later on. 

Conclusion

While you buy a toy for your kid try to make sure if important components of the toy car have a warranty on them and check reviews to see what the majority of buyers are saying about the electric car. 

If you are seeing a very low number of stars that is not a good sign and again I would recommend you to our site where we review the best we can find.

If you get warranty services on the batteries or motor that is used in the toy then it is a plus point.  After having ascertained all the important stuff that is required for a toy car purchase, then your us online and check out the best buyers guide that fits your child’s needs.

10 Things to Consider When Buying Ride on Car

10 Things to know before buying a ride on car

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