What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £120 (~$160) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £102 (~$136) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £78 (~$104) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £54 (~$72) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £30 (~$40) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Missing pieces, which turn a set into a parts lot, and sun-yellowed plastic that photographs far better than it looks.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether RC cars is worth what is being asked:
- Toy-grade models with no spare parts
- Degraded or swollen battery packs
- Stripped gears and cracked chassis
- Missing transmitters, which must be paired
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Hobby-grade models with replaceable parts
- Working electronics, servo and receiver
- Batteries holding charge, with charger included
- Recognised brands with spares available
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit trading cards and building bricks are widespread. On cards, print dots and edge layering give it away; on bricks, the clutch and the moulding marks.
Ask for a piece count against the official parts list, for the set number, and for the figures photographed together in daylight rather than under warm light.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about RC cars, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Say it in the title as well. A car without a matched battery and charger costs the buyer real money to get running, and they price accordingly.
Charge it, run it, and answer from the test rather than from memory. A short video clip in the listing photographs, if allowed, settles it instantly.
Say what you know about the model’s support. Discontinued platforms with no spares are worth a fraction of ones a hobbyist can still repair.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Run it and check steering and throttle respond
- Inspect battery packs for swelling
- Confirm the transmitter is present and paired
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The car from the side, whole, with the body shell on
- The chassis with the body removed, showing electronics and gears
- The transmitter, battery and charger together
- Any broken arm, stripped gear, worn tyre or cracked shell
Details to confirm before you commit
- Brand, model and scale
- Whether brushed or brushless, and electric or nitro
- What is included — transmitter, battery, charger, spare parts, body shells
- Whether it currently runs, and any known fault
Live RC cars listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse toys & games for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Rises sharply before Christmas. Hobby-grade brands sell year-round to enthusiasts; toy-grade cars are seasonal and cheap outside December.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have RC cars sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell RC cars for what to photograph and how to price, or what RC cars are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used RC cars?
Around £10 to £78 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check RC cars before buying?
Ask for a piece count against the official parts list, for the set number, and for the figures photographed together in daylight rather than under warm light.
Is buying RC cars second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Missing pieces, which turn a set into a parts lot, and sun-yellowed plastic that photographs far better than it looks.
See also: all buying guides · RC cars value guide · selling RC cars · Toys & Games · condition grades.