• Discover Radio Control Vehicles

• Choose the Right Radio Control Vehicles for You

• Find Radio Control Vehicles on eBay

• Buy Radio Control Vehicles With Confidence

Discover Radio Control Vehicles

Discover Radio Control Vehicles

The "radio" is what you use to control your RC vehicle. It's typically powered with rechargeable batteries. If you're just getting started with an RTR or RTF set-up, the radio is included. With a Kit or ARTR (almost-ready-to-run) model, you'll also need a radio system (not included) to drive or fly your RC vehicle.

The radio system has three parts: the transmitter, receiver and the servo. The transmitter is what you hold in your hands and use to send signals to the receiver, which is built into the vehicle. The receiver then sends signals to the servo, which controls the steering and acceleration.

If you'd like to learn more about RC, AirAge publishes a helpful beginner's guide that goes into more detail.

Clubs and competitions

Racing and exhibition are very popular with RCs. You can compete informally with friends or join local RC groups that race among each other and against other clubs. If you're into aerial RCs, join a local chapter of the Academy of Model Aeronautics so that you can fly in approved areas. It's a terrific hobby and the AMA has a vibrant 175,000 member community of flyers of all ages!

Choose the Right Radio Control Vehicles for You

Choose the Right Radio Control Vehicles for You

Toy or hobby?

Find both toy and hobby RC products on eBay. Both are great fun, but there's a significant difference between the two. The toy products, sold by companies like Nikko or Tyco generally cost between $20 and $80 and are very easy to get running out of the box. Most of the parts are plastic and replacement parts and upgrades are not available. With Hobby RC vehicles, you get better performance and durability. The models are manufactured to scale with more sophisticated engineering and parts can also be replaced and upgraded.

Kit or RTR/RTF?

Hobby RC vehicles are sold either as kits or RTR/RTF ("ready to run" for cars and trucks or "ready to fly" for aircraft). A kit requires assembly with the help of an instruction manual. RTR or RTF vehicles are ready to go right out of the box. Which is right for you? Kits are essentially designed for hobbyists with technical aptitude and interest, while RTR/RTF models are ideal for kids and new enthusiasts.

Cars and trucks

Most new RC hobbyists get started with a new RTR. You can get started with a very basic car or truck for between $80 to $100. If you're a more serious hobbyist, you may spend between $300 to $500 for a more advanced model. eBay sellers carry all the top brands, including Traxxas, HPI, Tamiya, OFNA, Associated, Kyosho, and others.

On or off-road?

Off-road buggies and Monster Trucks are both popular starter cars. With big knobby tires, these little trucks can handle the roughest terrains and the steepest climbs and some of them come with 4-wheel drive. On-road cars are faster and more streamlined, and are designed to run on a track or paved surface. The fastest models travel at over 50 mph! Most of these are about a foot and a half long and some come with 4-wheel drive. Trucks and buggies will run between 10 and 30 mph.

Gas or electric?

If you're just getting started, consider buying an electric RC vehicle that runs on a rechargeable Nickel Cadmium. More serious enthusiasts might invest in a gas-powered RC, or more specifically, on "nitro" which is a special RC fuel that is a mixture of nitromethane and synthetic oil.

By air and sea

Ready for your pilot's wings? On eBay, you'll find the broadest selection of planes, helicopters as well as boats. There are even military RCs if you're into military gear. With model airplanes, you can get started with a mini or toy plane for less than $100. If you're a more serious hobbyist, you may spend about $300 for a model plane.

Find Radio Control Vehicles on eBay

Find Radio Control Vehicles on eBay

Once you know what type of Radio Control Vehicle you want, go to the Toys & Hobbies portal, click Radio Control, then click Radio Control Vehicles, and start searching for items on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Air, Boats, Cars, Tanks, Trucks, and Other.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find Tyco cars, type “Tyco car" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

The eBay Toy Finder can also help you find hot and award-winning toys appropriate for kids of any age.

Buy Radio Control Vehicles With Confidence

Buy Radio Control Vehicles With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.