Karting guidesFrom first lap
to first race
Everything you need to start karting in the UK, checked against Motorsport UK and the circuits themselves, with live data from real race weekends.
Start here · 7 min read
How to start karting in the UK
The four steps from arrive-and-drive to club racing in the UK: rental sessions, arrive-and-drive leagues, the ARKS test and your first race, with 2026 prices.
Read the guideCosts
What karting really costs
Real 2026 UK karting prices from circuits, clubs and kart shops: arrive-and-drive sessions, the licence and ARKS test, race entries, karts, engines, tyres and transponders.
8 min read
Classes
Kart classes explained
Every Motorsport UK kart class for 2026, from Bambino and Cadet to Junior, Senior and gearbox, with ages, weights, tyres, this year's changes and how many drivers race each.
9 min read
Young drivers
Karting for kids
When kids can start karting in the UK: minimum ages at real circuits, racing from 6 in Bambino, the helmet and kit rules for young drivers, and what parents sign up for.
7 min read
Licence
The ARKS test explained
What's on the ARKS test, the pass marks, the flags you must know, what it costs, and how to lose your novice plates and upgrade to a Kart National licence.
8 min read
Buying
Buying your first kart
How to buy your first racing kart in the UK: choose the class first, new vs used prices, the homologation and engine seals to check, and everything else you'll need.
6 min read
Who races what
Not sure which class to aim for? This is how many drivers raced each class at the UK meetings AllKart timed in the last 90 days.
AllKart data · last 90 days
Drivers per class
- Rotax Senior / DD2260 drivers
- Rotax Junior205 drivers
- CLUB100 arrive-and-drive144 drivers
- Honda Cadet62 drivers
- Other cadet classes59 drivers
- X30 Senior44 drivers
- X30 Junior44 drivers
- Rotax Mini Max34 drivers
- Bambino18 drivers
- KZ gearbox12 drivers
- IAME Water Swift10 drivers