Kids Go Karts: The Ultimate Guide

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Do you think your child would love go karting but worry they’re too young? Never fear, as it’s never too early to start planning your child’s racing future. 

This ultimate guide to kids electric go karts will help explain everything you need to know, from basic safety precautions to different go kart options. 

What is a go kart?

A go kart is a quadricycle or open-wheeled car used for small racing games. They look similar to an open race car and can come in all shapes and sizes. They can cater to adults or children and use a variety of powering methods to run. The simplest karts rely on gravity to get up to speed, while more complex models run on electricity or gas. 

For most people, to use a go kart you’ll have to rent one or take a kart you own to an indoor or outdoor go karting track. Depending on where you live, you might be able to use your go kart at home if you have enough space. 

How fast do kids go karts go?

Adult karts can reach speeds of 150 mph, but this isn’t the standard by any means! The top speed of a go kart will depend on the make, model and rider age limits. For example, some gas-powered go karts will reach speeds as high as 40 or 50 mph. Typically, a child’s go kart will have lower speeds than an adult go kart for safety reasons.

At Electric Ride On Cars, our go karts have a maximum speed of 13km/h. Our popular Kids Drift Go Kart features a 24v battery and powerful dual 200w engines, which allow it to reach speeds of between 10 and 13 km/h. Slower speeds like this allow children to ride with a parent easily keeping pace to keep an eye on them.

What to look for when buying a kids go kart

Before you purchase a kids go kart, there are several factors you need to consider. These can include your child’s age, height, weight, and maintenance for the kart itself. 

Age range

Most go karts require a child to be at least four or five years old before they can use one. Go karts for younger children will have more restrictions such as speed, power, and size. When your child outgrows their kart, they can enter into the following age range. 

Always check the age range of a go kart before you buy it. Doing this means you’re choosing the best electric ride on for them and one that is safe for them to use. 

Driver height and weight

As go karts base their age ranges on a child’s height and weight, this is another factor to consider when buying a go kart. Once a child is too heavy for a go kart or doesn’t fit in the seat anymore, they will age up into the next age category. 

The go karts from Electric Ride On Cars have a max load capacity of 70 kg and a max user height of 150 cm. 

Top speeds

You’ll also need to think about how fast you want your child to go! After all, you’ll want to make sure you can control their speed for safety.

The top speed of our Kids Drift Go Kart is between 10 and 13 km/h. These low speeds mean you can keep an eye on your child and they can easily control the kart. 

Replacement parts 

Do your research to see how easy it is to find replacement parts for your go kart. Accidents do happen, and sometimes your kart can develop a faulty part you’ll need to replace. 

If you know you’re going to struggle to find replacement parts, you probably don’t want to buy the go kart in the first place. At Electric Ride On Cars, we can supply replacement parts to save you the hassle of searching. We also carry spare parts if you feel the need to stock up beforehand.

Maintenance 

You need to think about how easy the go kart will be to maintain as well. If it requires a lot of maintenance, you might want to explore other options. Choosing a go kart with lower maintenance that’s easy for your child to take care of not only makes life easier but also teaches your child responsibility. 

Safety equipment

You’ll also have to consider what kind of safety equipment your child needs to ride their go kart safely. Regardless of the speed of the go kart, it’s important to always ensure your child is wearing adequate safety equipment. This includes a safety helmet as well as appropriate footwear and clothing.  

How to drive a go kart

Learning how to drive a go kart is imperative for a good time. Not only will it get your child to where they want to go, but it will also keep them safe.

Learn the controls

Learning where each control is and how it works will help your child operate their kart in no time. Fortunately, most go karts are very simple to drive. They usually have a steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake pedal. These three elements make it easy for a child to control their kart.

Most kids electric go karts come with gear shifters or reverse functions to help turn them around. Gear shifters will look like a regular vehicle gear stick or there will be buttons on the steering wheel. If your child’s kart has a reverse gear shifter, make sure you explain to them how to use it before they take the kart for a spin.

Warm up the tires

Warming up the tires helps them grip better, making it easier for your child to handle turns without losing control. 

To warm the tires, do a practice lap at a slower speed around a track. If you’re visiting a go karting track, they may be able to help you to warm up the tires.

Slowly build up speed

Building up speed slowly gives you a sense of the track and helps you stay in control. Taking the first few laps at a slower pace shows your child how to handle corners and how to steer the kart. 

Though go karts look a lot like tiny cars, how they respond is quite different. It can take some time to figure out how to handle a kart properly, so it’s best to hold off on max speeds to start with.

Follow any track rules

It’s always important to follow the rules of a go kart track to keep everyone safe. Tracks also use flags to signal when races begin and end, so knowing which flags to look out for is vital. 

If you plan to use your own private track or let your child ride around your garden or on private land, ensure they use safety precautions such as staying off main roads or avoiding sharp corners. 

Wear the right equipment

Many public tracks let you rent equipment, so you never have to worry about what to wear. Most will provide helmets as a minimum, and others will also supply racing suits, gloves or rib protectors.

If your child is using their own go kart, you still need to ensure the right equipment is worn. They should be in comfortable clothing and footwear which grip such as trainers or boots. Your child should never wear open-toed shoes like sandals. Make sure your footwear has a flat sole so you can effectively use the pedals.

It’s also essential to wear a safety helmet while driving a go kart. This keeps your little one safe and protects their head as they move around.

FAQs about kids go karts

What is the top speed of a kids go kart?

Depending on the kind of go kart and the manufacturer, a kids go kart can reach up to 50 mph. However, there are lots of electric go karts for children with much safer and lower maximum speeds. For instance, our electric ride on go karts has a top speed of 13 km/h.

Is go karting dangerous?

Go karting is safe for children, so long as they wear the proper safety equipment, keep their go kart at slower speeds, and drive under supervision. Go karting has its risks just like any other sport, but there are caps on speeds, safety precautions, and safety equipment to help combat any possibility of danger. 

At what age can you start driving a go kart?

There are go karts available for children as young as four or five years old. However, each go kart will have a specific age range. This age range includes weight and height, so if your five-year-old is below average in both categories, they still might be too young to drive a go kart. If you need more information, read our beginners guide to go karting.

Discover your child’s favourite new toy

If you think your little one would love go karting, be sure to check out our range of ride on cars for kids! We have 12v ride on cars and 24v ride on cars for several age groups, making it easy for you to find your child’s next favourite toy. Also, check out our round up on how fast are 6v, 12v and 24v kids electric cars are.