RC Car Kit vs RTR: What's the Difference?

You can choose between getting your RC car ready to drive and race (RTR, ready-to-run) or building it from scratch yourself, piece by piece.

As the name suggests, ready-to-run cars come already assembled and usually just need a battery to run, while an RC car kit usually doesn’t include the electronics and you assemble every part of the car yourself.

Which should you choose: RTR or build your own?

Let’s look at the differences between these two kinds of RC cars: a kit you assemble piece by piece, or one that’s ready to run. Both options have plenty going for them, but some drawbacks too, so it’s worth looking at them in more depth.

RTR (ready-to-run) RC cars

In general, RTR RC vehicles are the best choice for a beginner, because you have more time to focus on learning how your RC car works. These models come ready to run, as the name says, so all you have to do is take it out of the box to start having fun.

Getting to know the vehicle and learning the routines takes time. With an RTR RC car you also don’t need to worry about whether the different components are compatible.

That leaves you more time to have fun. Over time, you’ll learn how to repair the vehicle properly and look after it well. You’ll also find out which kind of RC car suits you best.

Note! Maintaining your RC vehicles and taking good care of them are important jobs whether you have an RTR or one you built yourself. It’s important to check and tighten the screws regularly and to carry out maintenance routines between runs.

RC car kits

An RC car kit is better suited to hobbyists who already have experience with RC cars, or to those who specifically want to get into the hobby and learn about it by building their own vehicle.

A kit differs from RTR vehicles mainly in the materials its components are made of and in the gear it includes.

Kits usually include only the chassis, the body and the wheels.

For example, tires often aren’t included in kits. When you get a kit, make sure you know everything that’s included so you know which components you still need.

Details of RC kits

Generally, when you build a specific model, the kit and the components it needs will cost more than the RTR version. An RC car kit is aimed more at racing and experienced drivers, and allows different setups from RTR cars.

Many hobbyists adapt their RC car to their driving habits, with better electronics and other upgrades.

You could say that an RTR RC car and a kit aren’t fully comparable, even when they share the same model name.

RC car buyer’s checklist

The following checklist will help you choose an RC car, whether it’s an RTR or a kit you build yourself. We think this list matters so you don’t run into problems or missing parts when it’s time to race your scale RC car.

You can go with either option, but always remember to go through the list below so there are no surprises later.

Ready-to-run (RTR) RC cars

If you want a ready-to-run (RTR) model, there are a few points to keep in mind too, like the ones below.

• Does the package include a battery and charger?
• Can you add a spare battery to extend how long you can drive?
• Charging time with the stock charger: will you need a faster charger?
• Transmitter batteries: typically 4 or 8 AA batteries, which aren’t included.
• Make sure you have some basic RC tools for routine maintenance on the car.

RC car kits

The following checklist will help you when buying an RC kit.

• Does the kit include tires?
• Does the kit include a body?
• What extra tools do you need to build the vehicle?
• Does it include tire glue, spray paint for the body, and oils (differential and others)?
• Electronics: steering servo, ESC, motor, battery, charger and radio system, plus a LiPo safety bag for the batteries.

Buying an RTR car or a kit

Throughout this article we’ve walked you through RC cars and the differences between an RTR and a kit. If you’ve already decided which option to go for, or you want more details, we recommend checking out the products we’ve pointed you to in this post.

When you select one of the products, you’ll be taken to Amazon, where you can see all the product specifications and make your purchase.

We chose this platform because of the huge range of products to choose from, as well as the security when you check out.

We’re sure you’ll find the products you’re looking for. Also remember that you can take advantage of discounts the platform may offer, especially when choosing a shipping method for your order. You may well end up paying less than you expected.

We hope you found this post useful, and we invite you to keep exploring the other sections we have for you.