There is a thin line between model and toy cars. Some toy vehicles are scaled and detailed well enough to be considered models too. However, for enthusiasts, a metal or plastic model car is mainly a miniature representation or scale model of an automobile or similar powered vehicle. It reproduces the proportion, shape and details of an actual production vehicle.

Aside from cars, other mini ground-running vehicles like trucks and buses are also included in the general category of model cars. Miniature cars that are poorly proportioned or lack significant details are usually grouped into the pure toy category rather than with other model vehicles. Model cars usually come in kits designed for aficionados to construct.