Whether you’re an experienced hobbyist searching for the best RC drift car that money can buy, or you’re just dipping your toe into the hobby, knowing where to buy RC cars will help you get the most bang for your buck!
There’s a huge range of RC brands on the market, and an even greater range of stockists. Online retailers often have a vast selection of RC vehicles, and so this is a great place to start if you’re not quite sure what you’re after. Alternatively, heading to a physical store will allow you to test out different models, and chat with an expert in the field about which RC would best suit your needs.
Here’s where to buy the very best RC Cars:
RC Planet
Get stuck into the world of RC vehicles at RC Planet! Established in 2004, RC Planet remains one of the most popular retailers for RC vehicles. They have a vast selection of cars, trucks and even RC aircrafts to suit a wide range of budgets from a variety of retailers including Traxxas, Redcat and Losi.
While they are based in Sandy Utah and have two warehouses, they ship to customers around the world. You can find vehicles, batteries, electronics, spare parts and maintenance tools.
Horizon Hobby
Established in 1985, Horizon Hobby has a huge amount of experience serving happy customers with quality RC vehicles. They claim to take their ‘purpose of inspiring dreams and building memories seriously’, offering great products as well as support, spare parts and an entire RC community for you to get involved in!
Tower Hobbies
Stocking a huge range of awesome brands, including Axial, Tamiya and many more, Tower Hobbies is well worth considering for quality RC products.
Tower Hobbies was established by Bruce Holecek, equipped with just a passion for RC vehicles and $800 in savings! It’s now an established online retailer, with their website launching way back in 1995.
We love Tower Hobbies for their good selection of brands, unique history and competitive prices!
RC Superstore
Family-owned and fairly new to the RC scene, RC Superstore was established in 2004. They stock a wide range of radio controlled cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, helicopters and more. It’s made up of a team of specialists, who you can get in touch with for information about the world of RCs.
RC Superstore can be found in Faribault Minnesota, but it’s also very easy to shop online.
RC Hobby Shop
A smaller retailer than others we’ve recommended, RC Hobby Shop is pretty new to the scene. While they’ve been serving Houston’s RC enthusiasts for over 25 years, their website is not long launched.
They are best known for their Traxxas stock, and they have a wide range of vehicles and parts from this much-loved brand. Alternatively, have a look at their ‘General RC’ section if you’re not sure what you’re after. This section includes model rockets, drones, tires, chargers and much more.
RC Street Shop
Operating out of Long Beach and Lawndale, RC Street Shop has been serving West-coast hobbyists for over 30 years.
They work with some of the top names in the RC world, while they also have their own selection of RC vehicles. They stock both electric and gas cars to suit a range of budgets. You can also shop parts, upgrades, tires, accessories, electronics and models.
rcMart
While their website can feel a little cluttered, rcMart remains an online hub for RC hobbyists. They stock car kits, model kits, accessories and parts from leading manufacturers around the world. Their core values are value for money, customer service, integrity and commitment to the community, so they are well worth supporting.
Dollar Hobbyz
A hobby store specializing in RC cars, trucks, drones and parts, Dollar Hobbyz has that local feel. Their store is located in Woodbury Minnesota, and while their range is somewhat limited, you know that everything they do have is going to be good quality.
While they’ve been trading online since 2002, it wasn’t until 2019 that they opened their bricks and mortar store and race complex. Follow them on social media to be first to know about their RC focused events.
Amain Hobbies
If you’re searching for somewhere to buy RC cars, trucks, planes, helicopters and drones, Amain Hobbies is a good choice. Set up in 2004 from founder Kendall and Kelly Bennett’s 2-car garage, this retailer really is family-run!
Within their first 10 years of business, Amain Hobbies has had to move to 3 different locations, but they now serve customers around the world from two 50,000ft locations in sunny California and North Carolina.
HobbyTown
With stores all around the US, HobbyTown is a go-to for many hobbyists invested in the world of RC vehicles. While not a specialist RC store, they do stock a wide range of brands, as well as parts, batteries, electronics, fuel and maintenance.
While their customer service is great, they lack the online community feel of specialist RC retailers.
Hillsboro Hobby Shop
Hillsboro Hobby Shop carries a wide range of RC brands, including cars, trucks and rock crawlers. They have been operating for over 60 years and stock much more than just RCs. In fact, they are committed to supporting their local community with a diverse inventory of hobbies and supplies.
They operate out of Oregon and also offer a maintenance service for your RC. Choose from electric or gas repairs and technical support.
RC Car World
Operating out of New Jersey, RC Car World is an established bricks and mortar store with a decent website. They are a lot smaller than some of the others we’re recommended, but those who visit their store will almost certainly discover a warm, local feel.
Perhaps the best thing about RC Car World is that they have two tracks which you can hire for up to a full day! Check out their drift track on the second floor, and their off road dirt track, open to vehicles up ⅕ and smaller in size!
Traxxas
Read any of our RC vehicle buyer’s guides and you’ll know that we are huge fans of Traxxas. They are world-renowned for their production of RC vehicles, the number one sellers when it comes to Ready-to-Race nitro and electric RC cars.
Established in 1986, Traxxas are responsible for a number of the industry’s ‘firsts’. They created the first ready-to-run RC, the first waterproof electronics and the first 100 mph RTR vehicle.
If you’re after an RC from a brand that knows what they’re doing, opt for Traxxas. There’s also an awesome online community on their website.
Hobby Works
Based out of Maryland, Hobby Works is an extensive hobby store stocking everything from RC vehicles to science kits, books and games. While they don’t specialize in RCs (which may put some people off), their stock is still pretty impressive. They sell trucks, buggies, cars, boats and more, as well as supplies, spare parts and accessories.
Amazon
How could we forget Amazon? Stocking a huge range of RC vehicles to suit almost any budget, global superpower Amazon is a firm favorite amongst hobbyists for a reason. Read thousands of customer reviews to ensure you’re choosing the right model for you.
