What is the Right Battery for My Riding Toy?

Riding toys allow kids to experience the fun of driving miniature versions of their favorite cars, trucks and tractors. Just like with real vehicles, these toys rely on batteries to keep them going. If you’ve got a little Land Rover or miniature Mustang in your garage, you’ll need to maintain its battery to get the best performance possible. Got questions? No problem. Keep reading for answers to the most common questions related to riding toys, the batteries they take and how to maintain them properly.

What Type of Battery Does My Riding Car Need?

The type of battery used in your riding toy will vary from brand to brand and sometimes from model to model, however, the majority of riding toys rely on some type of sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries. This includes toys from Peg Perego, Power Wheels, Kid Trax, Safety 1st and Little Tikes.

You’ll also want to pay attention to the required voltage of your riding toy. Most models, particularly those that rely on SLAs, will have a voltage requirement of 12-volts, although some models require 6-volts’ worth of power in order to operate.

Do I Need an OEM Battery?

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer, which is just a fancy way of saying that a replacement part has been made by the same manufacturer that created the original. There are some OEM batteries available from Peg Perego which we carry, however, it's not vital that you use them. As long as the replacement battery matches the voltage, capacity and fit of the original, it will work just fine.

Remember to Charge Your Riding Toy Battery

A reliable charger is absolutely critical in getting the longest life out of your riding toy battery. Be sure to charge your battery regularly to maintain its charge, but don’t keep it attached to the charger for extended periods of time as overcharging can shorten its life cycle. The one exception is if you have a charger with a float mode, which will shut off power to prevent it from overcharging.

The Peg Perego 12V Charger is perfect for 12-volt SLA batteries, while the Power Wheels Riding Toy Battery Charger is made for 6V SLA batteries. Looking for a charger that’s compatible with both 6V and 12V batteries? The Schumacher Charge ‘n Ride Charger charges three times faster than an OEM option. If you’re looking for a solution that’s perfect for maintaining riding toy batteries over the winter, we suggest the Schumacher Electric Charger. It’s compatible with both 6-volt and 12-volt batteries and switches automatically from charge to float-mode, allowing you to connect your battery for extended periods of time without worrying about overcharging.

Where Can I Recycle My Old Riding Toy Battery?

Got an old SLA battery you don’t know what to do with? Bring it in to your local Batteries Plus to have it recycled. Recycling helps to repurpose valuable components and keeps harmful substances out of the environment. Our stores accept a wide range of batteries and light bulbs. Due to differences in state and local regulations there is some variation in what your store may accept. There also might be a cost for recycling, but this also varies by location. Contact your local store for more information on what recyclable material they accept.

Batteries Plus makes it easy to find the right battery for your needs. Visit our riding toys battery page online. From there, select your specific brand and model and you’ll be given a list of compatible batteries. If shopping online isn’t your thing, stop in to any of our stores and have your questions answered in person.