So you thought stepping on a tiny Barbie shoe was bad? Try a convertible at 2 AM on your way to the bathroom. Those plastic vehicles are everywhere, and if you’ve got a Barbie fan who’s collected cars, campers, and that ridiculous dream plane, you know exactly what I’m dealing with.
Barbie cars are not ordinary toys as they are clumsy, big, and somehow occupy a lot more space than they ought to. However, I have come up with some storage solutions that do work (I have tried about a dozen solutions that fail to work). These thoughts will assist you in corralling those cars, playsets and those large pink plastic monstrosities without losing your marbles in the process.
Wire Shelving Units for Easy Access
Here’s my go-to solution: basic wire shelving units. You can snag them at any home improvement store, and they’re perfect for Barbie vehicles.
The open design gives children the ability to look at everything after one cast of the eye. No more “Where’s the Jeep?” asks questions after every five minutes. In addition, the wire shelves allow the dust to fall through rather than collect it (since, again, no one ever dusts toy storage once a week).
I recommend getting adjustable shelves so you can customize the height based on what you’re storing. The dream camper needs more vertical space than a basic convertible, right? Set it up in the closet, along a wall, or even in a corner of the playroom.
Sizing Matters
Get a unit that’s at least 36 inches wide if you’re storing multiple vehicles. The standard 24-inch shelves work, but they’re tight for larger playsets. Trust me on this one—I learned the hard way when the ambulance kept falling off :/
Under-Bed Storage Bins for Larger Playsets
Those flat, rolling storage containers that slide under beds? Absolute lifesavers for big Barbie playsets.
Chunky playsets like the dream house, the car wash, and the veterinary clinic all fit neatly in under-bed bins. When it’s time for play, your child can pull them out, and when they’re finished, they can push them back. Maximum floor space saved, little effort, and out of sight.
Get the ones with clear tops so you can see what’s inside without pulling everything out. FYI, the wheeled versions make this SO much easier for kids to manage independently. No more dragging heavy bins across the carpet and complaining about it.
Garage-Style Toy Organizers Create a Play Space
Want to make storage fun? Get one of those garage-style toy organizers designed specifically for cars.
These appear to be miniature parking garages complete with levels, ramps, and parking spaces. In addition to serving as a play activity, your child stores their Barbie cars in specific areas. After parking the convertible and driving it up the ramp, they store it.
It’s organizational stealth mode. Kids think they’re playing, but really they’re cleaning up. Genius? I think so. Just make sure you get one sturdy enough for plastic vehicles—some are designed for Hot Wheels and can’t handle the bigger Barbie cars.
Hanging Shoe Organizers Aren’t Just for Shoes
Yeah, I’m bringing up shoe organizers again, but hear me out. The over-the-door hanging organizers work differently for vehicles than they do for accessories.
Use the pockets to store smaller Barbie vehicles—scooters, motorcycles, ATVs, that little pink bike. Each pocket holds one vehicle, and kids can actually see their whole fleet at once. It keeps smaller items from getting lost in bins with bigger stuff.
The clear pockets are key here. If your kid can’t see the motorcycle, they’ll assume it’s gone forever and insist you buy a new one. Ask me how I know.
Stackable Plastic Crates for Modular Storage
Those milk crate-style plastic bins? Perfect for Barbie vehicle storage.
Put them in the closet or along a wall. You can remove just the vehicle you require from each crate without interfering with the system as a whole. If you’re feeling particularly organized, color-code them: purple for emergency vehicles, pink for cars, or any other sensible scheme.
| Storage Type | Best For | Space Efficiency | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wire Shelving | All vehicles | High | $30-60 |
| Under-Bed Bins | Large playsets | Very High | $15-35 |
| Garage Organizer | Small cars | Medium | $25-50 |
| Plastic Crates | Medium vehicles | High | $5-10 each |
The handles make them portable too. Your kid can grab a crate and take it to another room without you worrying about vehicles falling everywhere. Small wins, people.
Bookshelf with Bins Creates Designated Zones
Got a bookshelf in the playroom or bedroom? Dedicate some shelves to Barbie vehicle storage and use bins to keep things contained.
Put fabric bins or plastic containers on the shelves, one for each category. Cars in one bin, campers in another, emergency vehicles somewhere else. Label them clearly so everyone knows what goes where.
This is quite effective where you have a combination of cars and other Barbie toys. The shelves on the top may be used to store the dolls and accessories whereas the lower shelves may be used to store the heavier vehicles. Everything is all under a single roof yet all categorized by type.
Keep It Kid-Height
Make sure the vehicle shelves are low enough for your kid to reach. If they can’t put stuff away themselves, they won’t. Revolutionary concept, but it took me way too long to figure this out.
Wall-Mounted Floating Shelves for Display Storage
Want to get fancy? Install floating shelves on the wall and turn vehicle storage into a display.
This works best for kids who take care of their stuff and won’t immediately knock everything off. Line up the cars on the shelves like a showroom, and suddenly storage looks intentional instead of chaotic.
I am fond of this choice on the special cars–the ones your child can really play with–the ones he will bang into furniture with. It keeps them secure and presents them at the same time. Also it releases the floor and closet space to more abused everyday vehicles.
Large Plastic Totes for Mixed Collections
Sometimes you just need a big plastic tote to throw everything in. IMO, there’s no shame in this approach.
Get a tote that’s large enough to hold multiple vehicles without cramming them. Toss in cars, playsets, accessories—whatever doesn’t have a more specific home. It’s not Pinterest-perfect, but it works, and that’s what matters.
Store the tote in a closet/table. At the end of the play time, all is in the box. It takes no time, it is simple and your child can do it unsupervised. That’s the dream, right?
The Catch-All Solution
I keep one catch-all tote for Barbie stuff that doesn’t fit the organization system. It’s my safety net for those random pieces that don’t belong anywhere specific. Every organization system needs one.
Drawer Units with Deep Drawers
Those plastic drawer units you see everywhere? Get one with deeper drawers specifically for Barbie vehicles.
Regular drawer units have shallow drawers that can’t accommodate anything bulkier than accessories. But the ones with 6-inch or 8-inch deep drawers? Perfect for cars, SUVs, and medium-sized playsets.
Each vehicle type has one drawer which stores everything apart. Drawer, draw in, take what you want, shut back. Get the transparent drawers and your kid can see what is in each drawer and this will reduce the drama of I cannot find it.
Pegboard Organization for Smaller Vehicles
Want to try something creative? Mount a pegboard on the wall and use hooks to hang smaller Barbie vehicles.
This works great for motorcycles, scooters, bikes—anything with a part that can hook onto a peg. It’s vertical storage that doesn’t eat up floor space, and kids think it’s cool because it looks different from typical storage.
Add some small baskets hanging from the pegboard for vehicle accessories like helmets, suitcases, or those tiny license plates. Everything’s visible, accessible, and off the floor. Win-win-win.
Rolling Toy Carts Offer Mobility
Here’s my wildcard suggestion: rolling toy carts with multiple tiers.
You know those metal or plastic carts everyone uses for craft supplies? They work brilliantly for Barbie vehicles. Put cars on the top tier, larger vehicles on the middle, playsets on the bottom. Roll it wherever you need it.
The mobility works if your child is playing elsewhere. Take the cart to the living room to play in the afternoon, back to the bedroom when you are finished. No lugs of plastic cars and certainly no procession of cars abandoned in each room.
Bonus Storage on the Sides
Some carts have hooks or magnetic sides where you can attach small accessories. Hang bags with vehicle accessories, stick magnetic containers with tiny parts, whatever works for your setup.
Making It All Work Together
Look, you probably don’t need all ten of these solutions. Most people find success with a combination of three or four storage methods that fit their space and their kid’s habits.
The key is matching storage to what you actually own. Got mostly small cars? Shoe organizers and garage-style holders make sense. Tons of large playsets? Under-bed bins and wire shelving are your friends. A chaotic mix of everything? Totes and drawer units create order from madness.
To organize my daily cars I would put wire shelves, under-bed shelves on the massive playsets, and one general purpose tote on the miscellany. It is not flawless, however, it makes the mess manageable, and my child can even keep the order in place without being reminded of it every minute.
The real test? Can your kid clean up independently? If the storage system is too complicated or requires adult help every time, it won’t stick. Keep it simple enough for your kid’s age and attention span.
Final Thoughts
Storing Barbie vehicles doesn’t have to be rocket science. You don’t need a color-coded, Pinterest-worthy system (unless that’s your jam—then go for it). You just need solutions that work for your space, your budget, and your kid’s play style.
It can be unzipped and stored on a single or two methods and expanded. Experiment, see what works and what not and change accordingly. It is likely that the Barbie collection will continue to expand (as it always does), and pick systems that can be expanded but do not need a complete renovation.
Now go reclaim your floor space from those pink plastic vehicles. And maybe invest in a nightlight so you stop stepping on convertibles in the dark 🙂