A road-legal race car is a joy to drive on and off the track. Yet it takes some work to convert your racing pride and joy into something you can pop down to the store in. The legality of it isn’t an issue as long as you adhere to the regulations of the city, state, or country in which you live.
Find the Right Insurance
Insurance is a necessity for pretty much any type of car ownership. As a track user, there are insurance policies that cover your car and medical expenses you may incur as a result of crashing. No insurance company wants a call from a well-known car accident lawyer looking to make a claim because of your semi-legal race car. So, finding the right insurance for a track car might be harder than for a standard car because of the big list of changes that must be made.
Road Legal Race Steering Wheels
Not all steering wheels are made the same unless your car is a standard road-legal one. While almost 14,000 people in the UK were fined mainly for modified number plates, there are other mods that drivers love, including steering wheels. Butterfly steering wheels look cool as hell. No one is disputing that. But they aren’t legal because they don’t translate well for control when driving on the road. Change the wheel to an approved standard one to avoid fines and liability.
Get Proof of Ownership
Many race cars are built for purpose and were never designed to touch a road. Because of this, they don’t have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that often indicates proof of ownership. This is a barrier because you must have proof of ownership for a track car to be street-legal. However, there is light at the end of the smog-filled tunnel. A bill of sale is proof enough that you own the car. However, additional checks will probably need to be made if you are pulled over.
The Car’s Ground Clearance
Racing cars are positioned much lower to the ground. There are scientific reasons for this that make sense on a track. The center of gravity becomes lower, so the car is much more stable when entering and exiting corners at a high speed. So before your car is legal on the road, the suspension and ride height must be altered. This prevents the underside of the car, such as the muffler and exhaust, from hitting the road (speed bumps) when casually driving your vehicle.
Add the Necessary Parts
The less weight, the better when it comes to racing. Because of this, as many parts are removed as possible, and some aren’t relevant to a track. For instance, you don’t have time to signal when making a turn at 90 mph. Some of the items you must reinstall are as follows:
- A street-legal race car needs to have the necessary working lights and reflectors.
- Two headlights
- Front and rear turn signals
- Reversing lights
- Seat belts are a necessity for making a race car legal to drive on the roads.
- There needs to be an internal mirror and at least one external mirror on the driver’s side.
- Your car, of course, needs to be licensed, and license plates must be displayed.
- The small lamps that light the license plates must be installed on the front and back.
These are the basic changes required to make your racing car legal and most are related to safety. Of course, we all make mistakes, but the safety of yourself and other drivers is absolutely vital. Failing to install any of these means your car won’t be passed for legal registration.
Change the Bumpers and Tires
There are tons of regulations and rules when it comes to bumpers. This is because they are a crucial part of the overall safety of a vehicle. Bumpers must provide adequate clearance for tires to turn inward and outward easily enough without touching. This can bald the tires and reduce the turning rate. Additions to wheel arches and bumpers are also regulated in some places. This includes mud flaps and additions to the fenders. Check the laws where you want to register.
Safety Standard Seating
Seats might look insignificant, but they are one of the most heavily regulated parts of a legal car. The seats provide protection and comfort and must be able to withstand a crash without jeopardizing the safety of a car’s occupants. Therefore, seats must be strong and sturdy and must provide protection features. For example, road legal seats must be bolted to the floor, have impact resistance, and come with regulation safety harnesses and seat belts for protection.
Inside a Road Legal Race Car
As mentioned, there are many parts that are left out of a racing car that must be present inside a road-legal street car. This, of course, includes seatbelts, which are essential for safety since around 30% of fatalities don’t wear one. But one of the most overlooked is the handbrake. A handbrake is an essential part of a legal road vehicle, and you must install one if you want your racing car to be registered legally. This is non-negotiable, and your inspection will fail without it.
Check the Laws Where You Want to Drive
Finally, doing your homework is vital. Different cities, states, and countries have different rules, laws, and regulations about what makes a car legally road-worthy. For instance, some states in the US require a license plate at both ends, and some only require one at the rear. However, almost all require necessities such as seatbelts, working lights, and regulation bumpers. Taking the extra time to install what you must will cost money, but it will save on fines down the road.
Summary
Finding the right insurance is a good first step for a road-legal race car to be registered. But there are also many legal parts your car must have, such as seat belts and a hand brake. Of course, the laws around what you need will differ from state to state or country to country.
