How to Sell Your Go-Kart in 5 Simple Steps

Selling your go-kart has become easier over the years, as there are various places to sell them and the process is relatively straightforward. As you’ll most likely want your go-kart to fetch the highest price possible, you should ensure that you follow a process that is easy to understand and comprehensive. 

In summary, to sell your go-kart, you will need to prepare it, price it, list it, negotiate the final sale price with the buyer, and finally close the deal. This may seem like a daunting task, but I’ve sold a couple of go-karts in the last few years and I can tell you that it’s not as difficult as it sounds. 

In this article, I plan to guide you through the entire process from preparing your go-kart and negotiating the best possible price to the final handshake. If you’re ready, let’s get started!

1. Prepare Your Go-Kart

Before you’re able to set a listing price for your go-kart, you first need to prepare it accordingly, as you’ll need to determine what it’s worth. In other words, you’ll need to make a list of parts that are included in the sale (upgrades and mods), and also make sure that all parts and components are working as intended. 

Create a List of Upgrades & Mods

If you’ve upgraded or modded certain parts of your go-kart, you should indicate this in the listing, as this will likely increase its value. For example, if you’ve upgraded the engine, radiator, and racing clutch, you should create a list of these items and establish the value of these parts. 

This is important, regardless if you’re selling an off-road go-kart or a racing go-kart, as you’ll want the potential buyer to how much you’ve invested in upgrades and modifications (as this will increase the value of the go-kart). 

Here’s a list of the most common parts:

Take note that this list is non-exhaustive. For a comprehensive list, please read my article on all go-kart parts, where I list and describe the most essential parts of a go-kart. 

Ensure that Everything is Working

Next, ensure that all parts of your go-kart are working as intended. You can do this by manually testing each part, such as the engine, brakes, carburetor, radiator, and all other components. 

As you want to be transparent with your potential buyer, you will need to indicate if any part is defective or not performing as intended. 

2. Price Your Go-Kart Right

Arguably the hardest task of all is to price your go-kart accurately. Many owners tend to overvalue their go-kart because it has sentimental value. They also commonly overestimate the value of upgraded parts.

Therefore, you will need to use various references to establish a fair value for your go-kart. You may use the information below to get a better picture:

• Current Market Value to Go-Kart – You can get an estimation of your kart’s value by looking at similar go-karts that are available on classified ads, marketplaces, and forums. Make sure that you accurately compare the go-kart manufacturer, year of production, and condition.

• Upgrades & Modifications – You will be able to use the list that you prepared earlier to calculate how much each part is worth. However, you should understand that parts and upgrades depreciate over time and are only worth a fraction of what you’ve paid for them. 

• Surveys – You can even ask around in your local go-karting community, kart racing events, or on online forums what people think your go-kart is worth. Take these types of assessments with a grain of salt, as even the most experienced owners and racers have different opinions. 

Use any combination of the methods listed above to get an accurate assessment of what your go-kart is worth. Remember to factor in the upgrades and modifications (but at fractional value).

3. Put Your Go-Kart Up For Sale

There are various things to consider when creating a listing for your go-kart, such as the place to sell it on, as well as creating and publishing a listing.

Select a Place to Sell It 

In today’s world, there are plenty of places to sell your go-kart. Back when I sold most of my go-karts, I had to resort to classified ads and my local karting community. Nowadays, you’re spoilt for options with places like forums, online marketplaces, and more. 

Here are some of the best options:

• Classified Ads
• Online Marketplaces
• Local Community
• Online Forums
• Garage Sales
• Racing Events

I’ve created an entire list of places! Make sure to check out my guide on the best places to sell your go-kart. Here, I list and explain the pros and cons of each option! 

Pro Tip: You can also list your go-kart for sale on multiple websites, such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp. Just make sure to update all of the listings once it’s sold!

Create & Publish Your Listing

After deciding where to sell your go-kart, it’s time to create the listing. There are a couple of things that you’ll need to mention so that the potential buyer has enough information to make a decision. Let’s take a closer look.

• Price – The listing price of your go-kart
• Specifications – Engine, output, dimensions, and more
• Accessories – What else it comes with (tires, engine oil, etc.)
• Manufacturer – The name of the manufacturer
• Year – The year of production
• Condition – The overall condition of your go-kart and all of its parts
• Upgrades & Mods – Any type of parts that were modified or upgraded
• Delivery Terms – Whether it’s to be collected or delivered
• Payment Method – How it’s paid (cash or electronically)
• Achievements (Optional) – What races you’ve won with this go-kart

Remember that the more information you provide, the fewer questions you’ll have to answer during the sales process and the more trustworthy you come across. It’s best to be honest and descriptive with your listing. You can always clarify the details during the buyer’s inspection. 

4. Negotiate the Final Price

Great job! You’ve created and published your listing. You’ll start noticing that people are going to enquire about it, asking all sorts of questions about the go-kart specifications, conditions, and obviously the price. 

While you’ll naturally want to be firm with the price, it’s typically best to be somewhat flexible. Set a price range at which you’ll be willing to part with your go-kart. 

As you want to get the highest price possible, you should emphasize the highlights of your kart and why it’s worth the amount that you have decided on. Point out its strengths and if possible, what you’ve managed to achieve with it. 

If you have no time constraints, wait until you have garnered a decent amount of interest and are able to select an offer that is aligned with your expectations. Hear out as many offers as you can and don’t be forced into selling it as quickly as possible – you’ll most likely leave a lot of money on the table. 

Lastly, you’ll also want to sell it to an owner who is going to take care of the go-kart that you’ve put so much of your time and effort into. Therefore, make sure that you’re selling it to someone decent. 

5. Close The Deal

Once you’ve found a buyer and everything checks out, it’s time to seal the deal. Make sure that the buyer is completely aware of all details of listing and the condition of the go-kart. If they aren’t clear about it, they may be unhappy after the purchase and it’ll come back to haunt you, as you will need to sort it out eventually. 

Here are some quick tips to ensure that the deal runs smoothly:

• When using an offline method of selling, ensure that you have an acknowledgment in place (to make sure that the buyer has fully inspected the go-kart)
• Let them take it for a test drive before closing the deal 
• Make sure that the payment is received
• Ensure that the go-kart is either delivered to the buyer or picked up at the agreed location
• Update all of your listings once your go-kart has been sold 
• Offer support and guidance for a limited time after the sale (optional)