RC Cars for Sale in Australia
Experience the thrill of radio control with Australia's best range of RC cars. Whether you're looking for a high-speed brushless beast, a realistic rock crawler, or a beginner-friendly basher, we have the perfect model for you.
We stock thousands of vehicles from top brands like Traxxas, Arrma, and HSP, catering to all skill levels and budgets. Choose from electric, nitro, and petrol-powered options backed by our massive range of spare parts.
$691.60
$1,799.99
$1,050.03
$1,104.04
$1,278.68
$289.99
$1,040.95
$790.42
$1,040.95
$289.99
$1,085.06
$1,085.06
$914.09
$258.24
$999.00
The Best RC Cars in Australia
At Hobbies Direct, we live and breathe radio control. Our massive selection of RC cars covers everything from palm-sized micro racers to massive 1/5 scale petrol giants. Unlike toy-grade cars found in department stores, our hobby-grade RC vehicles are built for performance, durability, and repairability. This means you can replace broken parts, upgrade components for more speed, and customise your ride to make it truly unique.
Choosing Your Power Source
One of the first decisions you'll make is how you want to power your vehicle. We offer three main types:
- Electric RC Cars: The most popular choice for both beginners and pros. They are quiet, clean, and easy to maintain.
- Brushed Motors: Great for beginners and younger drivers. They offer smooth power and are generally more affordable.
- Brushless Motors: The choice for speed freaks. Brushless systems are more efficient, require less maintenance, and can reach incredible speeds (some over 100km/h!).
- Nitro RC Cars: Powered by a mixture of nitromethane and oil, these small engines scream with high RPMs and produce real exhaust smoke. They require tuning and maintenance, making them perfect for those who love mechanics.
- Petrol RC Cars: These large-scale beasts run on standard unleaded petrol mixed with 2-stroke oil. They are big, loud, and run for ages on a single tank.
On-Road vs. Off-Road
Where do you want to drive? Your terrain determines the best chassis type for you:
- Off-Road (Buggies, Truggies & Monster Trucks): Built to handle dirt, grass, gravel, and jumps. Monster trucks offer the best ground clearance for rough terrain, while buggies and truggies offer better handling and stability at high speeds.
- Rock Crawlers: Designed for technical driving over rocks and trails. These aren't about speed; they are about torque, suspension articulation, and scale realism.
- On-Road (Touring & Drift): strictly for smooth surfaces like bitumen, concrete, or carpet. Drift cars are specifically set up to slide sideways with hard plastic tyres, while touring cars are built for grip and racing lines.
Ready-to-Run (RTR) vs. Kits
Most of our RC cars are Ready-to-Run (RTR), meaning they come fully assembled with the radio gear installed. You usually just need to add batteries and a charger to get driving. For the true hobbyist who enjoys the build process, we also stock RC Kits. Building a kit gives you an intimate understanding of how your car works, making maintenance and repairs much easier down the track.
Top Brands & Spare Parts Support
We stock the world's leading RC brands, including Traxxas, Arrma, HSP, Tamiya, Axial, and Losi. The best part about buying from Hobbies Direct is our commitment to support. We stock thousands of spare parts and upgrades right here in Australia, so if you have a crash, we can get you back on the track fast.
FAQs for RC Cars
For most beginners, a ready-to-run (RTR) electric car is the way to go. They come with everything in the box — car, transmitter, battery and charger. Check out our beginner RC cars for models starting from around $150.
Toy-grade RC cars start around $30-50. Hobby-grade ready-to-run cars range from about $150 to $1,500+ depending on brand, scale and features. Budget another $30-80 for a spare battery and a few replacement parts down the track.
4WD cars grip better on loose surfaces and handle more predictably, but they cost more and have more parts to maintain. 2WD cars are lighter, simpler and often faster in a straight line. For bashing and off-road, go 4WD. For on-road or budget builds, 2WD works well.
For younger kids (5-8), look for a toy-grade or smaller scale like 1/18 or 1/24. For kids 10+, a hobby-grade 1/10 is fine — they're tougher than you'd expect and parts are easy to replace. Brushed electrics are the safest and simplest to start with.
Go electric unless you specifically want a 1/5 scale vehicle. Electric cars are faster, quieter, cheaper to run and way less maintenance. Nitro and petrol have a cool engine sound and longer run times, but they need tuning, fuel and more cleanup. We wrote a full comparison on our blog.