At What Age Can Kids Start Go Karting?

If you are on the lookout for a fun activity that your kids will love, go karting could be the answer.

Go karting offers kids an adrenaline-fueled, fun way to spend their time. This action-packed activity will keep them entertained for hours at a time. But at what age can kids start go karting? How young is too young to find out if you’ve got the next Lewis Hamilton under your roof?

Keep reading to learn more about the go karting age requirements and what you need to consider before booking your first session. 

Age requirements for go karting

Age limits will typically be in place at go kart facilities for safety reasons.

Most go kart tracks will have a minimum age range requirement of around 8 years old for children that want to compete in kart racing. This may vary depending on the track and individual policies.

Entry-level classes, where younger children can enjoy karting lessons, are typically available for children aged 6 and above.

If you would prefer to purchase a go kart for your kid to enjoy at home on private land, there are models available for kids aged 4 to 6, such as the Drift King Go Kart or our Kids Pedal Go Kart. This is a great way for young drivers to learn their skills before taking to the track, as they’ll be in a safe and controlled environment.

Some of these karts are even electric-powered, which can help your child get to grips with driving and steering without exhausting themselves. You should, however, consider the speed limitations, as it is still essential that all safety advice is adhered to.

Kids aged between 8 and 13 can invest in mid-range karts. At these ages, kids can begin “Cadet” karting classes. Cadet karts offer more speed than kid karts but are not as fast as adult go karts.

Safety considerations for kids’ go karting

The first question on most parents’ minds is understandable: is go karting is safe for kids? The honest answer is that go karting can be a very safe activity, when you follow all the right safety procedures.

This means that speed limitations and safety equipment are essential. This is especially true for younger kids that are just starting out.

There are many steps in place with professional go karting experiences to ensure children can enjoy the experience safely.

These safety procedures include:

Clothing

Before racing, go karts must be checked over to ensure they are safe. Clothing and hair will also be checked prior to go karting. This is because loose hair or clothing could get tangled in machinery.

Kids should wear simple yet comfortable clothing that is stretchy but not too loose. They should also wear clothes that aren’t afraid of getting dirty. A T-shirt and jeans along with some trainers are a sensible option, but most go kart facilities will provide special suits that can be worn over clothing. 

Safety gear, including gloves and helmets, must also be worn when riding a go kart.

Safety instructions

Instructors should tell children how to use a go kart and negotiate the track safely before they begin. This helps everybody understand what is to be expected from the lesson and that everyone is on the same page. 

They will also advise what to do in case an accident occurs.

Supervision

There should always be an instructor or responsible adult who can supervise the children. This will ensure they can provide adequate advice after the race and watch out for any difficulties a child might have with go karting.

They can also slow participants down or stop them by waving flags or activating warning lights. This can happen if an obstruction appears on the course.

Speed limitations

Go karts can reach impressive speeds. 250cc adult karts can reach speeds as fast as 150mph. As you might expect, this will not be the speed a kid’s go kart will reach, but you should be cautious about how fast the child is going.

Speeds will typically be limited to around 10mph on kid-karts which will help children of a young age get to grips with controls and steering at a safe speed.

Factors to consider before taking your child go karting 

Many factors should be considered before deciding whether to invest in a go kart or take your little on to lessons.

These factors include:

Height

Children grow at different rates. A five-year-old child might not be tall enough to operate kids’ karts safely, so it’s important you get all the right measurements so your child can drive safely. If your child were to drive a go kart that is too big for them, they might struggle to keep the kart under control. On the other hand, a kart that is too small may make driving an uncomfortable experience. 

Ability

You should also consider how well-developed your kids’ cognitive and motor skills are. Some children might take to go karting much more quickly than others. If you find that your child is struggling to get to grips with go karting, remember that every child is different and try to support your child the best you can without demoralising them. 

Suitable practice locations

It’s possible that you may not have many go karting facilities near you. If this is the case, you might want to consider purchasing your own go kart and find a suitable location, such as privately-owned land, where your child could practise driving.

Benefits of go karting for kids

Go karting is not only fun but it comes with a lot of great benefits. Some of these benefits include:

Mental development

Sports can be great for the website development for children in the UK. It teaches them discipline and the importance of training.

Kids can often find it difficult to channel their endless energy into something productive. Go karting can give them something positive to channel that energy into.

Many parents have concerns about the amount of screen time their children have from their various devices, but by encouraging children to be more active and enjoy physical activities like go karting, you’ll be able to help them grow in confidence.

This can be crucial at developmental ages and improve their ability to interact and engage with others at school.

Social development

As previously mentioned, kart racing and lessons at your local track can also be an excellent way for kids to develop socially.

Children typically have the most opportunities to build relationships at school. Extracurricular activities like go kart racing can provide another opportunity for your child to develop social skills and make new friends.

Joining a race academy will put kids into age-appropriate categories where they can make friends with people their own age and practice with other motorsport fans.

Fitness

Good upper body strength is required to control a cart for long periods of time. By letting your child ride regularly, you’ll be helping them build an enjoyable workout routine that isn’t too strenuous. 

Children will also benefit from the excitement of the activity. The buzz many go kart riders experience is caused by adrenaline. The benefit of this is that blood is pumped quickly around the body, delivering blood and sugar to your muscles and providing energy.

Adrenaline also improves alertness by pumping more blood to the brain.

Improved circulation and memory are just two benefits that have been shown to result from adrenaline-inducing activities.

Tips for introducing kids to go karting

Introducing go karting to kids is usually met with enthusiasm – after all, being a racing driver is many children’s dream job! Here are some of the best ways to introduce kids to karting.

Training

The first step for introducing a child to go karting is to train them. This can be done at your local go kart track and can be carried out by trained professionals.

They will teach the basics of how to control go karts and provide essential safety information. You will also be able to use rental karts with this option to see whether it is worth purchasing your own.

Read our beginner’s guide to go karting to learn more about introducing kids to this excellent activity.

Showing them professional motorsports events

Inspiring children is a great way to introduce them to sports. Major events like the World Cup or the Olympics have been shown to increase interest in local football or athletics clubs. Similarly, F1 racing can have the same effect on inspiring go karters.

Lewis Hamilton, for example, began karting in 1993. He has gone on to hold the record for the most F1 race wins in history. Introducing your child to these inspiring figures can really help encourage them. 

Conclusion: What age is best to start go karting?

Introducing kids to go karting is an excellent way for them to enjoy themselves. Kids’ go karts aimed at 4 years olds and above are a great introduction to karting. As they get a bit older, they can then enjoy professional lessons and start racing.

Cadet karts will be the next stage for more experienced children, though you’ll need to check whether their age and height requirements are suitable. When kids finally reach an age where cadet karts aren’t quick enough, they can then explore shifter karts and adult carts.

Go karting is fun for all ages, and starting your kids from a young age could potentially help them become the next big Formula One star!

If you’re interested in getting your child into go karting, check out our range of Drift Go Karts and Pedal Go Karts. 

FAQs

At what age can my kid start go karting lessons?

The earliest age go karting lessons typically start from is 6. This may vary depending on facilities. If you’re interested in your child go karting around the age of 4, you could purchase your own kart for them to practice with at home. 

How safe are go kart tracks for young children?

There are a lot of safety procedures involved with go karting, so you can expect your child to be in a safe environment. There will always be an adult present who can supervise and an abundance of safety advice and precautions that will be provided. 

Will my child’s height affect their ability to go kart?

Minimum height requirements will be in place to determine whether a child can safely fit in the vehicle and reach the pedals. If your child is too small to drive the kart, they will struggle to control it but if your child is too tall, they may feel uncomfortable. The safety belts will also need to fit correctly.