Go-kart racing is an incredibly exciting motorsport that’s enjoyed by people of all ages and genders. The great thing about racing go-karts is that the barrier of entry is relatively low, compared to other types of motorsports.
While the average cost of a go-kart is about $1,500 to $2,500, racing go-karts in particular can be a lot more expensive; they could set your back a couple of thousand dollars. While not everyone who wishes to race go-karts has this kind of budget, there are various methods and places to find cheap go-karts. Here’s a quick summary of what this guide covers:
I’ve had my fair share of go-kart purchases – new and used! I’ve learned what things to look out for when buying go-karts, which is important when looking for cheap used ones. I’ve also created a separate guide that shows you the best places to buy go-karts.
However, in this article, we’ll focus on locations and methods of finding cheap go-karts. I’ll share with you where to look for them and also how to negotiate, in order to get the best possible price!
Best Places to Find Cheap Go-Karts
As most brand new go-karts can cost a couple of thousand dollars (towards the upper end of four figures), your best bet for finding cheap go-karts is looking for a high-quality used one. You’ll be surprised at how affordable used go-karts can be, if you know where to look.
I highly recommend three places where you should start your search. Most often, you’ll get the best deal within your karting community, through classified ads or at online marketplaces.
Finding Cheap Go-Karts in Your Karting Community
One of the best places to purchase an affordable go-kart is in your own go-kart racing community. Karting communities are typically tight-knit, so you’ll know that most people won’t try to overprice their go-karts.
As many go-kart racers are looking to upgrade their existing go-karts or are planning to compete in a different class, they’ll often let their current go-kart go at reasonable prices.
There are various ways to find these great deals. You should definitely inquire within your network of racing buddies, at your local go-kart racing club (check for bulletin board postings or if their website has a classified ads section).
Also make sure to check out various types of offline and online communities, such as karting associations or online forums. You’ll be surprised how many good deals you can find there!
Best Places in Your Community to Check:
- Within your racing network
- Within your group of friends
- At your local kart club
- At karting associations
- Go-kart forums
Finding Cheap Go-Karts in Classified Ads
If you want to look beyond your local karting community, you’ll also have the opportunity to find great deals on classified ads. You’ll definitely see a large number of used go-karts available.
While the downsides are that you’ll probably have to make a longer trip to the seller’s location and take care of the logistics, there are plenty of creative ways to transport your go-kart back to your garage.
One of the benefits of searching for cheap go-karts in classified ads is the availability and quality. They are often also cheaper than local offerings, just because there are so many options available to filter from.
You’ll also be presented with many more options to choose from and will most likely find something suitable. Just take note that you may not know the buyer and must rely on your own assessment skills.
Best Classified Ad Places:
- Garage sales
- Craigslist
- eBay
- Offerup
Finding Cheap Go-Karts at Online Marketplaces
If you want to explore online methods to find affordable go-karts, then you should try online marketplaces. Here, you’ll be able to find new and used go-karts at good prices.
Online retailers and distributors sometimes have clearance sales, where new go-karts are heavily discounted. This typically happens if they’re phasing out older models, making room for new inventory or when they are running campaigns with certain manufacturers.
Some of these online marketplaces also have a special section for refurbished and used go-karts at cheaper than usual prices. These go-karts are often pre-inspected for quality and are heavily discounted.
Best Classified Online Marketplaces:
- eBay
- Retailers
- Distributors
- Wholesales
How to Negotiate to Get the Cheapest Go-Kart Prices
Just because a go-kart is advertised at a certain price doesn’t mean that it’s the lowest price that the seller is willing to let it go. If you think about it, the seller is looking to sell his or her go-kart for the highest price that someone is willing to pay for it.
On the other hand, you’re looking to buy a high-quality go-kart at a cheap and affordable price. The goal here is to meet somewhere in the middle and convince the buyer to drop the price to a point that is aligned with your budget.
Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a bit of knowledge on buying and selling go-karts and I am happy to share with you what worked and what didn’t. Here are some of the best negotiation tips to reduce the price of a go-kart listing.
- Point Out Wear & Damages – Go-karts are made of various components that can wear over time. It’s important to highlight to the seller that this is something that you’ll need to fix, which will cost you extra and that this should mark the price down. Here’s a guide on what to look out for when purchasing a go-kart, that you can use as a reference.
- Compare With Other Listings – If there are models in better condition at a more affordable price (perhaps located elsewhere), you may point this out. Sellers usually put a high starting price to gauge initial interest. Chances are that they’re willing to offer it for cheaper than their original listing price if you show more affordable listings of similar go-karts.
- Discuss Transportation Costs – You may also mention that you have to sort out the logistics of bringing the go-kart for inspection and then sending it back to your home.
- Be Open, Transparent and Honest – Always be friendly, honest and open when negotiating and discussing the condition of the go-kart. Remember that he or she may have put a lot of effort into upgrades and the go-kart may have some sentimental value to them.
Alternative Options
If you aren’t able to secure a cheap go-kart that suits your budget, there are various other options that you can explore. From building your own go-karts to renting go-karts at the race track, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. Here are some of the best alternatives:
- Build your own go-kart
- Share the costs with a friend
- Rent a go-kart at a race track
- Save up a little more
- Look for older go-karts
- Look outside of your area
