Use a duplicate, and hang it from the chassis, not the roof. Drilling a car to take a hook is permanent, so pick a car you have two of. And if you would rather not drill at all, a loop of fine line around the axles holds a 1:64 car level on a branch without a single mark on it.
Pick the right car
- Duplicates and everyday cars. An ornament gets handled, packed away and knocked every year.
- Cars that already have a chip. They are about to have a better second life than sitting in a box.
- Bright colours. Dark cars disappear against a green tree; red, white, yellow and chrome read from across the room.
- Not anything carded you want to keep sealed, anything premium, or anything you might sell - with one exception covered below.
Weight is not a problem: a small-scale car weighs only tens of grams, which an ordinary branch holds easily.
Four ways to hang it
| Method | Damage to the car | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Axle loop | None | Any loose car, including ones you might display again |
| 2. Hang it carded | None | Cars you want to keep sealed |
| 3. Loop glued under the base | Glue mark on the underside | Duplicates; hangs neatly |
| 4. Screw eye into the base | A hole - permanent | A car that will only ever be an ornament |
1. The axle loop (no drilling)
- Cut two equal lengths of clear fishing line or thin ribbon.
- Pass one behind the front wheels around the axle, and one behind the rear wheels.
- Bring all four ends up over the roof and tie them together above the car.
- Slide the knot forward or back until the car hangs level - most cars are heavier at one end.
- Add an ornament hook or a loop of ribbon at the knot.
Everything comes off in seconds, and the car goes back on the shelf in January untouched.
2. Hang it carded
Most blister cards already have a hanging hole at the top, because that is how they hang in shops. An ornament hook through it puts the whole carded car on the tree with no damage at all. Keep it on an inner branch away from any warm bulbs, and back in a protector afterwards - see the card protector guide.
3. A loop glued under the base
Glue a short ribbon loop to the underside of the chassis with epoxy or hot glue, keeping the glue off the body and wheels. Neater than the axle loop, and the mark is on a surface nobody sees. Glue choices by material are in how to fix a broken diecast car.
4. A screw eye into the base
Drill a small pilot hole into the base and twist in a tiny screw eye. This is the most secure and the most permanent - on a car held together with rivets, it also makes the car useless for anything else. Drill the base, never the painted body, and only on a car you are certain about.
Make it hang well
- Side-on shows the car. Hang it so the profile faces out - the silhouette is what makes it recognisable from a distance.
- Outer branches for visibility, but not the lowest ones in a house with toddlers or a cat.
- Two or three cars in a cluster read as intentional; one on its own can get lost among ornaments.
Make it personal
- A car for the year - one new ornament car every Christmas, with the year on a small tag.
- A model of the family car, or a first car. Finding the right one is in how to get a diecast model of your own car.
- A mini number plate with a name on it, stuck to the rear.
Safety on the tree
- Small parts. Wheels, mirrors and spoilers can come off, and they are exactly the wrong size for a toddler or a dog. Hang cars high in a house with either - more in protecting collectibles from kids and pets.
- Warm bulbs. Older incandescent mini lights run warm; keep plastic parts and card from resting against them. LED strings stay much cooler.
- Cats bat ornaments. A secure hook, closed rather than open, keeps a car from being knocked off.
After Christmas
Remove the loops, wrap each car individually, and store the box inside the heated part of the house - not the loft, where a year of temperature swings does more damage than the tree did. The reasoning is in what to do with collectibles you do not display.
And if one of the cars turns out to be a keeper, it probably deserves better than a box for eleven months. The best display for a single model car compares the options.
FAQ
How do you make a Hot Wheels ornament without drilling?
Loop two equal lengths of clear fishing line or thin ribbon around the front and rear axles, behind the wheels, and tie them together above the roof. Slide the knot until the car hangs level. It comes off in seconds and leaves no mark.
Can you hang a carded Hot Wheels on a Christmas tree?
Yes. Most blister cards already have a hanging hole at the top, so an ornament hook through it hangs the whole carded car with no damage. Keep it away from warm bulbs and put it back in a protector afterwards.
Is a diecast car too heavy for a Christmas tree?
No. A small-scale car weighs only tens of grams, which an ordinary branch holds easily. Use a closed hook so it cannot be knocked off.
Which cars should I use for ornaments?
Duplicates, everyday cars and ones that already have a chip, in bright colours that show up against a green tree. Avoid anything premium, sealed or that you might sell unless you use the no-drill or carded methods.
Are diecast ornaments safe with toddlers and pets?
Hang them high. Wheels, mirrors and spoilers can come off and are a choking or swallowing risk, and cats will bat low ornaments off the tree.