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Totcars Buyers Guide
Which car is most suitable for your child

Its not an easy choice buying a child's car, you're buying something they will play with for years - and will remember for the rest of their lives - so their happy childhood memories are dependent on your choosing the right car! So what do you look for?

   Safety  

 Its not the sexiest aspect of buying a car but if you don't think about the safety of the car  before you buy, you certainly will when you see your bundle of joy careering off towards a brick wall. If safety isn't your primary concern when buying a child's car its probably because you assume if its being sold it the UK it must be safe. Child cars are made in all parts of the globe with safety standards that can range from non existent to exceeding all requirements, here's what to look for: 

Safety checklist

If the car you want doesn't satisfy you on the following points, DON'T put your child in it.

• Ask what safety certificates the car has

• Ask what its made of

• check out if its got any sharp bits that could hurt a child

• find out if the paint used is lead free and non toxic

• ask what safeguards are built into the electrical system to prevent overheating

• find out if the batteries used can leak

• does the car have a speed limiter that can only be controlled by an adult

• is there any way for an adult to stop the car from the outside

• Does the car have a strong steel chassis that will withstand children jumping on it

• Does the manufacturer have a reputation for quality and safety

   Do you have to put it together yourself?  

Be very wary of buying an electric car that you have to put together yourself, particularly if the instructions are in dubious English.  They look great in the pictures but the reality is being faced with a pile of plastic you have to build yourself with sketchy instructions, a non existent guarantee and no spare parts back up - its not what you want the night before a big birthday or Christmas.  Quality kids cars come assembled. They're assembled by hand by skilled workers who do nothing but put together cars. If you have to put it together yourself make sure you are provided with a detailed wiring map and comprehensive instructions. Pedal cars are much easier to put together and some quality pedal cars do require some assembly. Generally for an electric car there should be minimal assembly and definitely should not require you to install the wiring.

   Pedal or Electric?  

It is something of a myth that children get more exercise from pedal cars. In fact they get their exercise from being outside, running around and jumping in and out of their car. The more they enjoy their car the more they will be outside playing with it. Children don't use their cars to get from A to B, they use them to create fantasy worlds, to feel the thrill of being propelled at the push of an accelerator just like Mum and Dad's car, to test their steering skills through ever tighter bends and for the sheer joy of having their own car to show off just like a big person. They will play around, in and on them and after a few months you'll be astounded at their skills. 

Pedal Cars

Pedal cars come in two versions, push pedals and rotary pedals. Push pedals are like stirrups and the car is propelled by pushing each in turn. Rotary pedals are similar in style to a bicycle and usually use a chain to aid pedaling which makes it easier to pedal and consequently the car is able to go faster. When buying a chain driven pedal car always check that the chain is covered inside the car so the child cannot get caught up in it or get grease on his clothes. Cars are different to bicycles in that the child will be sitting next to the chain rather than high above it.

Electric Cars

Electric cars come in 6 Volt, 12 Volt and 24 Volt versions. Which type you choose depends on the child's ability, weight and the terrain you will be using the car on. 

6V cars

A 6V car is ideally suited to hard flat surfaces. A 6V car will go on grass but not at a great speed and factors such as the length of the grass and the gradient will become important. The car will go at around walking pace for an adult. Generally 6V cars are suited to children under 5, above that age they want a little more speed.

12V cars

They cost more - what do you get for the money? More speed, more surfaces it can be used on, more interior space, perhaps rubber tyres and movable seats.

12V cars are suited to hard surfaces, grass, gravel - almost anything other than quicksand. 12V cars are limited to 5mph (8km/h). Some 12V cars have 2 speeds, allowing you to limit the speed to 6V speed until the child is ready to 12V graduate to the faster speed. 
There are now also models coming onto the market with progressive acceleration just like a real car.
6V speed is about walking pace, 12V speed is a gentle jogging pace.

Generally 12V cars offer more flexibility as they are designed to allow young children to drive them but have more interior room so that older kids can fit in and have the extra speed to keep them happy.

24V cars

These are great for older kids, they often go up to 15mph and while they may be the perfect size for younger kids too, you do need to ensure you follow the manufacturers age recommendation as smaller children may not be able to handle the extra power. If you have concerns check if your 24V comes with a speed limiter.

   Rubber tyres - are they necessary?  
Rubber tyres are noiseless on hard surfaces and provide more grip. They will also not crack or split after prolonged use and abuse. But they cost more and only premium sports cars have them.

Generally top quality plastic tyres are extremely robust, have deep tread and will last for years. The tyres on the quality Spanish and Italian made cars are generally excellent and will provide the grip and strength you need. Be extremely wary of cheap plastic tyres as these may split and replacing them is difficult and costly even if your dealer stocks them.

Matching the car to the driver's ability

Choose a car that will give your child a lot of fun for a long time. Child cars aren't cheap so choose one that will last. Look for features such as movable seats, movable steering wheels and adult controlled speed limiters that enable the car to grow with the child. 
Many little children wont work out how to pedal straight away, they will however get just as much fun from moving the car along the ground with their feet. If you are buying a car for a child that cannot work the pedals yet look for a car that is light and sturdy with no footplate. This will enable the child to propel the car using his feet and allow him to progress to using the pedals in his own time. 
 

How old must your child be to drive?
Most child cars are sold as being for ages 3+. Most dads are eyeing up a new kids Ferrari when their child is 20 minutes old. So how old can you be?

The 3+ rating on most child cars is usually based on safety reasons rather than ability or size. Well designed cars will allow many 18 month olds to fit into them, reach the pedals and steer. They will probably also amaze you with their ability after a short time. However they may lack the judgement to avoid a tree or might start chewing small parts and for this reason the manufacturers recommend various age guidelines. The parent ultimately controls the environment the car is used in and understands the child better than anyone else. The manufacturers can only offer guidelines and their recommendation is based on the average child.

Build Quality

When buying a child car its going to arrive all shiny. As any parent knows the chances of staying that way are minimal. One of the first things your child will do is to see how hard he can bash it into a wall and for this reason choosing a car with a flexible body is vital. Cars with flexible bodywork cant dent and the paint cant peel off as it could with metal cars. Flexible cars also wont destroy your house if used inside as the old metal cars used to.   To keep the car looking good as new, ensure the paintwork is shot deep into the bodywork so that scratches can be easily wiped away.

Battery Life

Most batteries should last between half an hour and two hours. The cars are designed to be used as play accessories not a means of getting to distant destinations so in practice this means you will often get a full days play from the car as kids will stop and start, jump in and out. Battery life will be determined by the weight of the driver, the terrain its used on and the care of the battery. Rechargeable batteries will last a long time if looked after and used correctly. Avoid lights on an electric car that are linked to the main battery, lights that have their own battery will not drain the battery used to move the car. Similarly horns and radios should have their own AA batteries or similar.

After Sales Service

Children's Cars should be designed to be hammered and bashed and be able to take it time and again. However they can and do break down just as an adult car can that is subject to a lot less bashing. When buying your car ensure there is a guarantee on not only the body but the electrical system too. 
Ensure the outlet you buy from stocks the things that may wear out or get lost or you could end up with a very expensive, very large paperweight. 
The most common parts you may need some time in the future are: 

• replacement batteries - the most common part needed. These are seldom included in the guarantee and if not regularly charged performance can degrade. Or you may just want extras for longer performance.

• new charger to replace the one lost behind the sofa

• replacement wiring - if anything goes wrong its usually quick and easy to plug in new wiring - if your retailer can supply it.

• fuses - these are designed to blow when junior hits a wall and keeps pushing the accelerator - they blow to prevent overheating.

• wing mirrors - somehow always manage to get lost/snapped off.

• steering wheels - they take a hammering from kids and are made to be tough but not designed to be jumped on - a child hell-bent on breaking one will manage it in the end. If yours breaks you need to know a replacement is available.

Check out the new TotParts service for details of Totcars spare parts store.

Ask about the cars mechanism and ensure its not so complex that it will take a garage to fix it. Well built cars use very simple mechanisms to power them and are designed to be easily fixed at home with the right part. 

This guide is intended as an introduction to what to look for when buying a car, if you need any further advice our friendly customer service team is available on 0845 6432470 or at  info@totcars.com to answer any questions you may have. Every year we evaluate every single child's car on the market and select the cars we believe offer the most comprehensive features to our customers. And very importantly the ones we know wont let you down. 
We are specialists in childrens' cars and maintain a very high level of expertise to enable us to advise you as to the right car for you and give you in depth information on each car's features to enable you to make an informed decision.