Terms and conditions for a go-karting track

A go-karting track gives the public a fast vehicle in a competitive setting, and its terms have to control both: the briefing, the rules, the marshals' authority to stop a driver, the damage a deliberate collision does to a kart, and the accurate position on injury. They also have to run group and corporate events. I draft those terms for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Indoor and outdoor go-karting tracks in England and Wales selling arrive-and-drive sessions, races, memberships, junior sessions and corporate and group events to consumers and businesses.

What matters in go-karting terms

The briefing, the rules and the marshals

The terms should record that every driver receives and must follow the safety briefing and the track rules (flags, no contact, no overtaking under yellow, pit lane speed), and that marshals may warn, penalise or remove a driver for dangerous or deliberate contact without refund. That authority is what keeps the track safe and the terms should state it plainly, because the driver who is removed will dispute it.

Age, height, equipment and disclosure

The terms should set minimum ages and heights for each kart, require the safety equipment provided (helmet, suit, gloves, balaclava where used) to be worn, and require drivers to disclose pregnancy, heart or back conditions, recent injuries and anything else that affects safety, and to confirm they are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A driver who does not disclose takes the risk.

Damage to karts and deliberate contact

Karts are built to take contact but not deliberate ramming. The terms should say that damage caused by deliberate contact, reckless driving or a breach of the rules is charged at the cost of repair, and that the decision that damage was deliberate is the track's, on the evidence of marshals and any camera. Against consumers the charge must reflect real cost, so a schedule of parts helps.

Injury, risk and what cannot be excluded

Karting carries an inherent risk of injury and the terms can record the driver's acceptance of it, the briefing given and the health information provided. They cannot exclude the track's liability for injury caused by its own negligence, such as a defective kart or barrier, because the Consumer Rights Act 2015 does not allow that against a consumer, and the track owes visitors the common duty of care under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 and the duty under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, with the karts maintained as work equipment under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The terms describe your maintenance and inspection regime and the marshalling rather than disclaim them.

Bookings, groups and corporate events

A session on a specific date is a leisure service excluded from the fourteen-day cancellation right by regulation 28 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, so your own cancellation policy applies and must be fair. For a group event, name one organiser who pays the deposit, confirms numbers by the cut-off and answers for the group's behaviour; a company that books an event is a business customer, pays on invoice and owes statutory interest on late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. An outdoor track should also say what happens in wet weather.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted for your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want them checked and brought up to date. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Email me at geoffrey@caesar.co.uk with what you need and any documents, and I will confirm the scope and the fee in writing, usually the same working day.

What you get

• A full set of bespoke terms drafted for your business, reflecting the legal requirements that apply to your business and sector
• A note in plain English explaining the terms I have drafted for you
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions that protect your position and are drafted to withstand scrutiny from the other side
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly
• Your questions and comments answered by email or phone
• One round of amendments to finalise the terms ready for use

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers (I am happy to quote for this as an additional service if required)
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country
• Tax advice

Questions I am often asked

A driver was removed for ramming and demands a refund. Do they get one?

If the terms say marshals may remove a driver for deliberate contact without refund, and the removal is recorded, no refund is due. Camera footage where you have it settles the argument.

Can I charge for a damaged kart?

The terms can charge repair costs for damage caused by deliberate contact or a breach of the rules, provided the charge reflects the real cost. Ordinary racing contact within the rules is your cost.

A corporate group turned up with half the numbers booked. What can I charge?

If the event terms set a cut-off for numbers and say that places not released by then are charged, the full booked number is chargeable. The organiser who signed is the customer.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495
• Terms and conditions for a paintball or airsoft site
• Terms and conditions for an escape room

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.