Registering a Go kart?

[Big Slappy]

Has anyone ever done this? I'm wondering if it's worthwhile to get an old chevy alternator and get a setup working. Here's some requirements I got from the DOT website.

1. Horn
2. Windshield Wipers
3. Mirror
4. Steering
5. Seat Belts
6. Brakes (system) Parking - (beginning with 1960 models)
7. Tires
8. Wheel Assembly
9. Safety Guards or Flaps (if four tires or more on rearmost axle)
10. Exhaust System
11. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
12. Beam Indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
13. Tail Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
14. Stop Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
15. License Plate Lamp (1)
16. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
17. Turn Signal Lamps (beginning with 1960 models) (mea-sure if 1959 model or earlier)
18. Head Lamps (2)
19. Motor, Serial, or Vehicle Identification Number
20. 1988 & newer - inspect for window tinting or coating
21. Gas caps on vehicles 2-24 model years old.

Overall width is determined by measuring from the widest part on one side to the widest part on the other side of the vehicle. In some vehicles this may be the dual wheels which would be considered as part of the width. Do not include an outside mirror or mirrors in determining overall width.


And as for the speed issue, my kart could go up to about 45 miles per hour and I know for a fact many electric scooters max out at about 40 and are street legal.

By the way I do not have a small race kart, it is a large yerf dog with the roll cage and an 11 hp motor.
Safety concerns are there, but it would just be to drive somewhere close with minimal traffic.

What do you guys think?

 

[JHen]

I'd say go for it. I've done a bit of research on this subject myself for homemade buggies and motorcycles. You would also have to provide proof you are the owner, IE bill of sale, reciept, or a signed affidavid affirming you are the maker. They like to make titling and registration a real pain in the *** for non-commercial made stuff. They want to make sure none of it is stolen. Also check your state laws and take them quite literally. It will say things like, doors must have handles, but it won't say that you have to have doors.

 

[redsox985]

What are the requirements for a bike? Using a bike engine and registering it as such might require a lot fewer parts.

 

[Big Slappy]

hmm good I do have all the old receipts. And it'd be nice if they made it easier to find a complete list ofwhat is required. Do you have a link that could help educate me some more?

I'm from Texas if that makes any difference on the regulations you have researched

 

[anderkart]

First thing before doing any mods, I'd suggest you haul your kart down to your local motor vehicle title inspection station and let them actually look at it.

You'd be pretty bummed out if you did everything you listed and then found out there's no way they would ever register your kart...

 

[Big Slappy]

That's pretty much what I'm asking about right now ^^

I know all that stuff is doable that's why i'm seeing if anyone has actually done it

 

[fowler]

no chance id say

first of what kart is this

if it is a typical yard kart then id say it is simply too small tio start with id say they have a minimum size
also id say u would have to get the chassis inspected my an engineer
also u will have to make it enclosed
and a long list of other stuff

at least it is a production kart

u can try and i think u should but i dont like your chances

 

[JHen]

Take a wheel off and call it a motorcycle. To the state, anything with less than 4 wheels is a motorcycle and is a lot easier to register. And, don't forget INSURANCE.

 

[Big Slappy]

you don't have to make it enclosed. There are numerous dune buggies and other vehicles driving around in Texas that are completely street legal. Also I have never heard of anyone ever having to have their chassis inspected by an engineer, maybe that's the wise thing to do but I doubt it is required or done often.

 

[JHen]

No, no engineer inspection is required. It will go through a safety inspection when you apply to have it titled which is when they check to make sure you meet all the street legal qualifications. This is also when you will get your VIN number, as they will give it to you. Also, once you have that, then you should get insurance and tell them it is titled and has passed inspection and it will be driven pretty much whenever a motorcycle would be driven, IE warm, clear weather, IE safe. You might have to try a few places and you will only be able to get liability.

 

[anderkart]

I know all that stuff is doable that's why i'm seeing if anyone has actually done it

Man your sure confident, that's a great attitude to have but its going to come down to the opinion of that 1 DMV inspector that looks your kart over and decides if he's gonna let you risk your life riding a go kart on the street or not.

If you wanna Ignore my advice and roll the dice that's fine, but I still think you should let one of these inspectors from your community look the kart over first and find out exactly whats required before you preform a bunch of upgrades/mods just hoping they'll approve it.

Here's a good link for ya: --> http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/custom-built-cars.php You should research to see if your state has any type of 'LSV' (low speed vehicle) registration program. It'd probably be easier to register a kart as one of those...

If you've never dealt with these DMV inspectors before you just don't know what its like. These dudes think their God and arguing with them wont help, it'll only pi$$ them off. You have to be polite, hold your temper and follow all their freakin Nazi rules to the absolute letter!

If they dont use some type of form they'll give you a copy to take home, I'd bring a pen/paper along and write everything down the DMV inspector says needs to be done, and then get him to sign it. That way after you do everything, you'll have some type of recourse in case a different DMV inspector claims there's absolutely no way your kart could ever become street legal.

We've had several threads here from guys like you that wanted to have a street-legal kart. I dont think any of them have reported successfully pulling this off.
If you haven't done a search, here's 3 of these older threads:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10230&highlight=street+legal
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10130&highlight=street+legal
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1792&highlight=street+legal

Have you already done this google search? -->http://www.google.com/search?source...z=1T4GZAZ_enUS369US369&q=Street+legal+go+kart You might find more info to help...

Be sure to let us know if you succeed or not to help out the next guy trying this, I'm pulling for ya man

 

[BAM]

A friend of mine built and registered his own car. It was quite a proccess, and looks nothing more than a fancy Kart. It was built with registration in mind, which Is the difference. There's a big community in Britan on "kit cars", Which are cars you build out of a kit of parts. Some of them are small buggys, basically a fancy kart. I've added links below of my friends project and a link to a British buggy manufacturer.

http://www.gatechlocost.com/
http://www.blitzworld.co.uk/3-road-legal-imports-c143.html

 

[fowler]

im just going off what i heard from people here in aus

i would love to see it done as i dont think anyone here has yet

is there anyway of regestering stuff like quads for small road runs

it would proberly be easyer to regester it as a recreational vehical then go from there

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Anderkart makes some very good points. A lot of it comes down to your local DOT/DMV/(whatever you call it) laws.

According to the laws in Ontario, Canada, there is absolutely no flying chance you can register/plate/insure, or otherwise "street legal" a go kart. Doesn't matter how many safety features it has.

 

[karl]

Check this out. Im in Ohio. They look at the rules for golf carts or other low speed vehicals under 20 mph. A go-kart that goes 20mph can fit in that group. Then after you get plates for it, change the sprockets to a higher speed if you want.

http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/registration_titling_apv_usv.stm


Soon is my birthday, and ill be 14, so I can get my moped license! YAYAY street leagle on a moped !

 

[mikegrundvig]

I live in Kansas and called my local DMV about making an electric motorcycle/scooter/go-kart (2 main wheels, 2 dollies) thing I made street legal. Believe it or not, they were pretty cool about it. It needed lights and had to pass inspection and I couldn't drive it on highways or faster but otherwise it was no big deal. They had this whole concept of homemade vehicle and what it had to pass but it was mostly just ensuring that I wouldn't be a menace to other drivers with a visibility problem. Note: I didn't go through with the process in the end - it just wasn't that drivable like I'd hoped so they might have told me one thing and meant another which would make this all BS.

The trick is you need to pass your local city's standard first and foremost as the city is where you will be most. The highway patrol has more rules to pass on top of that. One thing they were both big on is lights high enough to be seen by other drives. You can't mount em right on the ground. If you were never to take it on the highway, then it's likely much easier.

-Mike