How to Know if a Ride-On Car is Charging — and What to Do if it's Not!
15 November 2025So you've just set up your kids ride-on car, plugged it in for a charge, and nothing obvious seems to be happening. Is it charging? And how do you know? Don't panic — this parent-to-parent guide will show you how to confidently check the charging and battery health of your kid's set of wheels and get them back on the road in no time.
What’s in this guide
- Your kids ride-on car is charging if the charger indicator light turns red (or amber) when it’s plugged in to the mains socket.
- A working charger typically gets a little warm after a few hours of charging.
- You can use a voltmeter or multimeter to test a ride on car battery.
How to Know if Your Ride-On Car is Charging
Your ride-on car is charging if the indicator light on the charger turns red (or amber) when it's plugged in to the toy and the mains; it will eventually switch to green after the recommended charge time has elapsed.
Below, we walk through these charging steps in more detail:
Check the Charger's Indicator Light
Most kids' ride-on car chargers feature a small LED indicator that, when plugged in, lights up red or amber, signaling that the battery is receiving a charge. When the battery is full and the charge cycle is complete, the light changes to green or switches off completely. However, if you plug it in and the charger shows no light at all, that's a red flag that either the charger isn't working or there's a poor connection.
Feel the Charger After a Few Hours
A working charger typically gets a little warm (but not dangerously hot) after a few hours of charging; it's an indicator that current is flowing into the battery. If the charger remains completely cold and the indicator light shows "charging" or doesn't change over a typical charging period (e.g., 6-10 hours for most 12v ride-on toy batteries), then there might be an issue.
Time-tracking and Recommended Charging Times
Before charging your child's ride-on toy for the first time, read the manufacturer's instructions to determine the recommended charging times for both initial and regular charges. Here are the typical charging times for most ride-on car batteries:
- 6v, 12v, and 24v batteries take 10 hours for their first full charge.
- 6v batteries require 8 hours for each subsequent charge.
- 12v and 24v batteries require 10 hours for each subsequent charge.
How to Test a Ride-On Car Battery
Once charging is complete and you unplug your budding racer's ride-on, the car should run at its expected speed and not slow down within a few minutes. Instead, the duration of play should match what the manual indicates (e.g., an hour for a 12v battery); if it's significantly shorter, that may signal charging or battery issues.
Follow the instructions below to test the ride-on car's battery and see whether it's holding charge or needs replacing:
- First, ensure you've charged the battery (or at least attempted to do so), then turn the toy off and disconnect it from the charger.
- Locate the battery in the ride-on car — many use sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries in 6v, 12v, and 24v configurations.
- Using a voltmeter or multimeter, measure the voltage at the battery terminals. For example: A fully charged 12v battery should have a reading of roughly 12.6-12.7v. A fully charged 6v battery should have a reading of 6.2v or slightly higher.
- Compare the actual reading with the expected voltages listed above. If the battery reads significantly below its nominal voltage, this indicates it's not holding a full charge.
- Another option is to perform a load test. With the battery at full or near full voltage, operate the ride-on car for a few minutes and see how quickly the voltage drops. If it falls quickly, this suggests the battery is beginning to weaken.
It's essential to note that ride-on car batteries do deteriorate with age, especially if they've been stored in a discharged state or left unused for an extended period. However, this doesn't mean the end of the road for your child's favourite toy, as you can easily remove and replace them, keeping the fun going for even longer.
How to Use a Multimeter to Test a Ride-On Car Battery
To use a multimeter to test a battery, switch the tool to DC voltage mode and select a range that exceeds the ride-on car battery's voltage (e.g., a 20V DC range for a 12v battery). Next, turn the toy off, disconnect the charger and locate the positive (+) and negative (–) terminals on the battery. Then, attach the red (positive) probe to the positive terminal and the black (negative) probe to the negative terminal.
Once connected, the multimeter will display a number. If it's near the expected voltage, the battery is healthy; if it's less than nominal, it's likely the battery is degraded.
What to Do if a Ride-On Car Battery Isn't Charging: Troubleshooting Tips
- Double-check connections: ensure the charger plug, battery terminals, and wiring are firmly connected and there's no corrosion, as these issues can mimic "not charging" symptoms.
- Test the wall outlet: try plugging another electrical item into the outlet; if that doesn't receive power, plug the battery charger into a different socket.
- Inspect the charger: if the indicator light doesn't come on or the charger is extremely hot, it may be faulty, and you will need to replace it with the correct specification charger for your child's ride-on car.
- Store the battery properly: when leaving the ride-on vehicle unused for extended periods (such as during the winter months), charge the battery periodically and store it in a cool, dry place.
- Use the correct charger: never use a charger with a higher voltage or incorrect current rating to juice a ride-on toy, as this can damage the battery.
Luckily, you don't need to be an engineer to keep your kid's battery-powered toy in tiptop shape. With a few simple checks — indicator lights, charger warmth, and measuring voltage with a multimeter — you'll have the peace of mind that everything's working, as well as the skills to troubleshoot and fix any issues that might arise.
