Used RC cars in Australia typically sell for A$29 to A$230 (about $20 to $160). Radio-controlled cars sell on what is included — battery, charger and a matched transmitter — because a car without all three is a project rather than a toy.
What RC cars are worth in Australia
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | A$230 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | A$195 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | A$149 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | A$103 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | A$57 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Working electronics, servo and receiver
- Recognised brands with spares available
What pulls it down
- Toy-grade models with no spare parts
- Stripped gears and cracked chassis
Selling RC cars in Australia
Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.
Australia’s second-hand market is strongly local and strongly seasonal, with most activity concentrated in the eastern capitals and buyers who expect to collect.
Australia is a pre-launch market, so it is worth saying what a seller here should expect when it does open. Distance dominates everything: interstate parcels cost several times a metro delivery, and bulky items effectively only sell within a city. Most trade concentrates in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and buyers in those cities expect to collect rather than wait. Seasons run opposite to the northern hemisphere, so listings that follow UK or US timing arrive exactly half a year out of step — warm weather items want September, not March, and winter gear moves from around May.
Seasons are inverted relative to the UK and North America: warm-weather items move from September, and winter gear from around May.
Working out what yours is worth
- Run it and check steering and throttle respond
- Confirm the transmitter is present and paired
Getting it ready
- Check the transmitter is the matched one and that it binds, and note the frequency or protocol.
- Look at the suspension arms, servo saver and gears for cracks, which are the parts that break in a crash.
Photograph
- The car from the side, whole, with the body shell on
- The transmitter, battery and charger together
- Any broken arm, stripped gear, worn tyre or cracked shell
Put in the description
- Brand, model and scale
- Whether brushed or brushless, and electric or nitro
- What is included — transmitter, battery, charger, spare parts, body shells
Brand, scale and state: “Traxxas Slash 1:10 Brushless RC Car, RTR with Battery” or “Tamiya 1:10 Buggy, Roller, No Electronics”. Hobbyists search brand and scale, and the shorthand matters — RTR means ready to run, a roller has no electronics, and using the wrong one brings the wrong buyers.
Rises sharply before Christmas. Hobby-grade brands sell year-round to enthusiasts; toy-grade cars are seasonal and cheap outside December.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the A$230 a buyer pays is the A$230 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in Australia
Australia is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of Australia with their own page for RC cars.
- Selling RC cars in Sydney
- Selling RC cars in Melbourne
- Selling RC cars in Brisbane
- Selling RC cars in Perth
- Selling RC cars in Adelaide
- Selling RC cars in Gold Coast
- Selling RC cars in Canberra
Common questions
Where can I sell RC cars in Australia?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.
Does it come with a battery and charger?
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.
Are swollen batteries a problem?
Yes, seriously. A swollen lithium pack is a fire risk and should be safely disposed of rather than sold.
Does the transmitter need to be included?
Yes. It is paired to the receiver, so a car without its transmitter is much harder to use.
More: how to sell RC cars, what RC cars are worth, or Toys & Games across Australia.