Model Car Pre-Orders UK: May 2026 Guide

Model car pre-orders let UK collectors reserve a new release before it arrives, so you're in line for one when stock lands rather than hoping to catch it on the shelf. The one thing to know from the start is that a pre-order date is the manufacturer's estimate, and it often moves.

We first published this guide in May 2026 and have since expanded it into a fuller guide to pre-ordering, with a selection of models open for pre-order at the time of our latest update.

Model car pre-orders in the UK: how they work with us

Every model on our website is listed in one of three ways, and it helps to know the difference:

In stock: the model is on our shelves and is usually delivered within 3 to 5 days.
Available to order: we order the model in for you, and each listing shows how long delivery usually takes.
Pre-order: the model hasn't been released yet. The listing shows the manufacturer's estimated date, which often moves.

When you place a pre-order, you're reserving a model that may not have been made yet. Once it reaches us, we pack it in a sturdy cardboard box and send it Royal Mail Tracked. Our pre-order information and policy page sets out the terms, so please read it before you order.

If you have several pre-orders due at different times, Build a Box can help. Enter the code BUILD at checkout and we'll hold your orders so they can go out together in one parcel.

Why estimated release dates move

The date on a pre-order is the manufacturer's best estimate at the time the model is announced. A lot can happen between announcement and delivery:

New castings take longer. A model listed as new tooling needs a brand-new mould, which has to be made and tested. Pop Race's RWB 930 in matte black, which we've highlighted below, is one current example.
Licences need approval. Car makers, race teams, film studios and other licence holders usually sign off samples before production starts, and each round of changes adds time.
Factory time is shared. Many diecast models are made in China, where one factory may be producing for several brands at once. Factories also close for a few weeks around Chinese New Year, so releases due early in the year can slip.
Shipping takes time. Stock often travels by sea, then has to clear customs and reach the UK distributor before it gets to shops.
Faults happen. If a batch has problems, it may be held back and corrected before release.

Estimates are often given as a window, such as "Aug / Sept". Treat that as a guide, and don't be surprised if it slips. If you're unsure about a particular model, just ask us.

Allocations: why models sell out before release

Manufacturers make a set number of each model. That run is split between countries and distributors, and each distributor shares its allocation between the shops it supplies. When demand is high, shops can receive fewer than they ordered, and many limited runs and exclusives aren't made again once they've gone. That's why it pays to pre-order early for the models you'd hate to miss, rather than waiting to see how popular they turn out to be.

How to plan a collection around pre-orders

Keep a simple list

Note each pre-order's maker, scale, estimated window and price. It shows at a glance what you've already committed to, and stops you ordering the same model twice.

Budget for bunching

Because dates move, pre-orders placed months apart can arrive in the same week. Leave some slack in your monthly budget for that, and use Build a Box if you'd rather receive everything together.

Decide what to pre-order and what to wait for

Pre-orders make most sense for limited runs, exclusives, sets and new castings of popular cars. For mainstream releases that are widely stocked, you can often wait until they land and pick them up from our in-stock collection instead.

Choose your version before you order

Some releases come in more than one form. Mini GT lists some cars in both a standard box and a blister pack, such as the No.77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) from the 2025 Sebring 12 Hours. It also marks whether a model is left- or right-hand drive, and a few releases come in regional packaging. If you're building a matching set, pick your version at the start.

Leave room on the shelf

A 1:18 model is roughly 25 cm long, and a few large pre-orders arriving together can fill a cabinet fast. Plan the space before the parcels start turning up.

Pre-order highlights from our current list

These models were open for pre-order at the time of our latest update. Any dates mentioned are manufacturers' estimates and may well change.

1:64 scale

Mini GT's Fast and Furious pair: Brian O'Conner's Bomex-kitted Toyota Supra and Han's Mazda RX-7 VeilSide Fortune from Tokyo Drift. Both come in blister packaging and are pencilled in for early 2027, though that could easily move. They'll sit well side by side, so it makes sense to order them together.
Pop Race's RWB 930 in matte black, a new casting for fans of RWB's widebody Porsches.
Mini GT's Porsche 911 (992.1) set in Rubystone Red, a neat starting point for a Porsche shelf.

1:18 scale

Solido's 1968 Meyers Manx buggy in white makes a cheerful change from supercars.

FAQs

Is a pre-order release date guaranteed?

No. The date shown is the manufacturer's estimate, and it often moves, more often later than earlier. Treat it as a guide rather than a promise.

What's the difference between pre-order and available to order?

A pre-order is for a model that hasn't been released yet. An available-to-order model is ordered in for you, and each listing shows how long delivery usually takes.

Can I have several pre-orders sent together?

Yes. Use Build a Box: enter the code BUILD at checkout and we'll hold your orders and send them together in one parcel.

Why do some models sell out before they're released?

Each model is made in a set quantity and shared out between countries and shops. When more collectors want one than were made, pre-orders can use up the whole allocation before release day.

To see everything that's open right now, browse our full pre-order collection.