How to Assemble a Toy Car

The New York Times reports that ride-on toy cars — from pedal-powered vehicles to motorized sedans that look (and drive) just like mom and dad’s car — remain one of the hottest toy trends in North America.

But while toy cars might be smaller and usually intended for toddlers, tikes, and tweens, they can still be a big pain to put together, especially in a time crunch!

It’s time to put the pedal to the metal. This guide to toy car assembly will help you put it together. And if you’re trying to avoid spending the usual five to six hours building a toy car, don’t worry. We also share how to find easy assembly services to have your mini-me going from 0 to 60(ish) without lifting a tool.

Start Your Engines: Tools, Parts, and Inspections

Think of this step as like your first trip to the DMV to get your license. You probably took a few practice quizzes, re-read your notes multiple times, and asked to borrow the family van one last time for a practice drive around the block.

Building a toy ride-on car is no different: Success (and safety) starts with the right preparation.

Some ride-on toy cars may include one or two tools, such as a small ratchet or a few hexagon keys. But check the manual before turning your living room into a Nascar pit stop, since most toy car products require a slew of other tools:

• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Sharp scissors or knife

Most toy car manuals start off with a diagram showing you all the necessary parts to build your ride-on toy car. Carefully empty the contents of the box and layout each piece. Verify that you:

• Have all the right toy car parts
• Have the right number of each toy car part

Finding out halfway through the assembly process that you’re missing a wheel or an axle will cause huge headaches for you and any excited, impatient children in the next room.

It might not be a true fender bender, but a twisted bumper or bent battery terminal is, at the least, a huge disappointment when the average ride-on toy car costs $400 to $600. At most, it creates a safety hazard for your family.

Look for:

• Rust and oxidation
• Chipped or peeling paint
• Dents, scrapes, cracks, or scratches

If you notice a damaged piece, consult the manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to submit evidence of damage and get the part replaced.

🤔 If at any point you feel stuck or you realize you don’t want to spend your weekend building the toy car, you can send assembly professionals from LoadUp to get it ready to ride fast. Experts will fix it up and assemble the toy car without the price gouge of the sketchy neighborhood mechanic!

Steps to Assemble a Ride-On Car

While every specific brand and model will differ slightly, the general process is long, tedious, yet straightforward. (Yes, if you’re hoping to save time on building a toy car, we’ll give you a hint in a second).

A small Hot Wheels car left on your living room floor is a minor inconvenience. But a ride-on toy car built improperly can create actual hazards for your children. Before you get started, carefully review all safety info included in the owner’s manual.

While you’re reading, plugin and charge the toy car’s battery. Charging can take upwards of a day, so don’t delay.

You need a clean, uncluttered, and quiet space to build the toy car. Now is not the time for little ones to go dashing through your pile of tiny screws, or for little fingers to press the ignition of the yet-to-be-completed vehicle.

Set all of your tools and parts out in front of you, then arrange the parts in order of when you’ll need them. Assembling a toy car can take hours, so get organized up front if you want to save time during the process.

In most cases, you’ll start by assembling the chassis of the car. However, every brand and model is different. Treat the owner’s manual like you would if you were to drive past a roadside police check: Slow down, and ensure you’re following all the rules and regulations.

Putting the sticker and brand emblem on the front of your toddler’s racecar? Easy. Adding fake mud paint to the back of your daughter’s toy Jeep? What a breeze.

But there are a few key parts of your family’s ride-on toy car that are notoriously difficult:

• Door latches:
  It’s easy to get the tension wrong, or to have a bent or insufficiently spaced spring. This can lead to door latches that don’t shut the door fully, or that pinch your child’s fingers.
• Wheel axle:
  The axle, just like in a real car, keeps the car’s four wheels moving in sync with each other. Poor alignment, or a bent axle, can mean a stuck wheel, a car that drives unpredictably, a car that’s hard to steer, or a wobbling movement when your child is playing.
• Electronic pieces and wiring:
  From headlights to battery terminals, a poor connection can lead to a malfunction. And a missing connection can make the car not work at all!

🚦 Want to hit the brakes? Our done-for-you toy car assembly service delivers a fast and friendly toy car professional right to your door. Our experts are familiar with all toy car makes and models, and we’ll assemble a ride-on toy car quickly, safely, and correctly! Send your professional today.

As noted previously, try to charge the battery before you even get started (if the toy car comes with a freestanding battery charger).

All motorized toy cars run on an electric battery. The more common 12V and 24V batteries take up to 20 hours to charge the first time, and then approximately eight hours to recharge. Some rare 6V batteries require 12 hours of initial charging, but only six hours to recharge.

Before charging:

• Consult the owner’s manual
• Ensure the battery is securely plugged into the charger or, if it charges while in the toy car, ensure the battery is touching all the terminals
• Keep the toy car and the battery away from rain and moisture (in other words, bring it into your garage or house and don’t let it charge where it will be exposed to the elements)

If you’re hitting some speed bumps while trying to assemble the toy car, give LoadUp a call.

LoadUp is your full service, white-glove assembly partner assisting in putting together products for you, from toy cars to scooters and bikes. Our nearly assembly professionals in more than 170 cities will swing by and do the heavy lifting.

Plus, if you’re worried about toy car safety, you’re 100% covered by our multi-million dollar premium insurance. Find your upfront, guaranteed price for a pro toy assembler near you!

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