When my girls were little, I bought them trains and toy cars, and they couldn’t have been less interested. Everyone told me to prepare myself when I had my first boy, but I didn’t believe them. At just eight months old, he couldn’t take his eyes off the train that went around our Christmas tree. And now, at age two, he plays with toy vehicles all day. He knows the first and last names of almost every character from Cars. From train sets and fire trucks to police cars and anything Lightning McQueen, his love runs deep. Here are what I think are the best vehicle and car toys for toddlers and preschoolers.
The Very Best Vehicle and Car Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers
When it comes to toys, the best ones will keep them engaged, spark their imagination, and even help develop important skills like hand-eye coordination and problem-solving. I never would have considered how great toy trains and cars are for imaginative play or that they’d help develop fine motor skills. Whether your little one loves zooming cars across the floor, playing with a racetrack, or pressing buttons for lights and sounds, the right car toy can provide hours of entertainment. From classic wooden vehicles to interactive, battery-powered options, I’ve rounded up the best car toys for toddlers that are both parent-approved and kid-loved.
Etsy
This wooden toy is fun and functional, and has gets used every day at our house. It's such a great gift! There are garage spots for both big and small cars, and he loves driving his cars up and down the ramp.
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Way to Play Toys
This is the perfect toy for kids that love to build cities and play with vehicles. Young engineers will can construct a city, and toddlers will love driving their cars over these roads They're durable enough to play with outdoors, and waterproof, so they're a great bath toy, too.
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Mattel
When looking for a track for my son, I wanted something that was easy to build, not too large, and ideally, that wouldn't burn through batteries. This track checked every box, and bonus: all three of my kids love it!
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Pixar
When my girls were little, they loved Daniel Tiger action figures. But my son is all about cars. These are a little bigger than hot wheels, so I feel better about him playing with them. There's a smaller car in the set that I can't let him keep in his car seat, but he does really well with the larger ones.
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Etsy
This is a great toy for the young racer who likes to take their cars on the go. I keep this in my bag with a few cars, so he always has a place to drive his cars. It's great in the car, at restaurants, and for travel, too.
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Pixar
These are recommended for 3+ but I let my son play with them with supervision. He's almost 2 and absolutely loves them.
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Pixar
This Mini Mack is a must-have for the Pixar mini cars. Any cars-loving toddler or preschooler would love this one.
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Amazon
These have been a hit with all 3 of my kids. I love that they're simple wood cars, but they also make car sounds and light up when you push them. And they're a great developmental toy for toddlers who are learning how things work.
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Tubworks
I love these cars because they don't have holes, and can't fill with water. They are really easy to clean, and are great for pretend play in the tub.
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Blu Track
This flexible car track suctions to windows and can go across tables, and over chairs, stairs, and pillows. It works well with Hot Wheels and our Pixar cars, and has been a hit with all 3 of my kids.
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Funrise
RC cars are typically a toy you'd think would be played with by older kids, but this one is great for toddlers since it's simple to control. My girls (4 and 6) love playing with it, too.
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Cat Toys
I got this for my son for his first Christmas, and it took him a few months before he played with it without taking the track apart. But it's very toddler-friendly and easy to operate.There's an app that lets you control the train, but we just push the body of the train to start it.
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Amazon
This was a gift and is another favorite. Friction cars and trucks are so fun – just a little push and they're off! It's plastic, but sturdy enough, and lights up and makes noises.
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Pixar
Another great mold-free bath toy that any Pixar cars lover would love.
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Hot Wheels
We haven't gotten into monster jam, but my son loved the monster trucks at a friend's house and I ended up buying this set.
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Maxx Action
This is the best electric car toy—we have a few from this brand.
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Maxx Action
This was on sale, too, and these inertia trucks are under $4 each. I basically had to buy them (and he's a huge fan!).
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