Mutant Vehicle Criteria and Licensing

Welcome!

Thinking of bringing a Mutant Vehicle to Burning Man? This page will guide you through the criteria and licensing process. Remember, all vehicles driven at the event need to be licensed by the Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV). To be eligible, your vehicle must be radically mutated, offer an interactive experience, operate safely, and be well-lit. Registration opens in mid-February and closes in mid-April each year.

TL;DR Summary

Why do Mutant Vehicles need to be licensed?

Burning Man’s permit from the BLM stipulates that all participant and staff vehicles driven at the event must be licensed by Burning Man.  The Department of Mutant Vehicles is the department responsible for licensing Mutant Vehicles and Accessibilty vehicles at the event.

How many Mutant Vehicles do you invite each year?

With 80,000 participants, mainly on foot and bicycle, roaming the streets and open playa in and around Black Rock City while intermingling with Staff, Mutant, Accessibility and Law Enforcement vehicles, there is a threshold where having more than a certain number of vehicles driving would be a safety hazard.  To address these safety concerns in consult with the BLM, the target for the number of Mutant Vehicles licensed to drive at the event is 650 or fewer.  To meet that goal, we limit the number of vehicles the DMV invites each year to 800. This number takes into consideration that we have a very consistent 21% “no-show” rate among invited Mutant Vehicles so the number of vehicles we end up licensing falls under the 650-vehicle threhold.

How do you get a Mutant Vehicle license?

• Create or plan a Vehicle that meets the DMV’s Mutant Vehicle Criteria (below).
• Fill out a Mutant Vehicle Application through our online application form. All Mutant Vehicles must apply through this form to be considered for on-playa licensing (you can’t just show up at the event with your vehicle and get licensed).
• If your vehicle is invited, Bring your Mutant Vehicle to the DMV at Black Rock City for final vehicle inspection. Final inspection and licensing are required before you can drive your vehicle at the event.

Mutant Vehicle Criteria

To be eligible for a Mutant Vehicle license, you must satisfy ALL of the following criteria:

There are five main points the DMV considers when reviewing your vehicle.

1. Level of Mutation / Visual Presentation

• • Mutate or create your vehicle to the point that it is not recognizable as a street or stock vehicle. A radically mutated vehicle will not resemble or represent a car, truck, golf cart, or any other readily identifiable street or stock vehicle. In most cases, little or none of the base vehicle should be visible.
  • Beyond just changing, covering, or hiding the base vehicle (if any), the mutation should aim to be visually compelling, providing “wow factor” for the other participants of Black Rock City. When a person sees this vehicle, their reaction should be “Wow! Look at that!”
  • General Considerations:

• • • If a vehicle maintains its stock form (i.e., it keeps the shape of a bus, golf cart, or street vehicle), it may not be sufficiently mutated to meet the Mutant Vehicle Criteria.
    • A vehicle primarily covered with fabric, fur, or other material, without significantly changing the vehicle’s shape, may not be sufficiently mutated to meet the Mutant Vehicle Criteria.
    • A vehicle where the Mutation is primarily art or mutation on top of an unmutated vehicle may not be sufficiently mutated to meet the Mutant Vehicle Criteria.
    • A vehicle primarily stripped to the engine and/or frame may not be sufficiently mutated to meet the Mutant Vehicle Criteria.
    • For visual examples of vehicles that applied but did not meet Mutant Vehicle Criteria, please see:
      DMV GALLERY.
    • Consideration may be given to vehicles that are presented outside of their normal context.
    • The DMV will be looking to invite a balance of different types of vehicles on the playa: large-scale sound vehicles, flame effects focused vehicles, small artistic vehicles, large transport vehicles, highly participatory vehicles, etc.
    • We are dedicated to licensing vehicles from projects of all budget levels, not just the most expensively built ones.
    • We primarily look for vehicles that meet the criteria above AND demonstrate good execution of their design concept.
    • We also consider the originality of a vehicle. There are already quite a number of bar-cars, furniture cars, and boats, for example, and the DMV may choose only to invite some of the vehicles that are similar or identical in design. The same applies to groups of identical vehicles, ie, fleets, herds or swarms of similarly designed vehicles.
    • TRAILERS – Any trailer attached to a Mutant Vehicle must also meet the criteria for Mutation as well as the Trailer SafetyRequirements (see below)

2. Interactivity

• • Provide an interactive experience for participants of Black Rock City. Interactivity is defined as an opportunity for any BRC citizen to participate in some activity offered by your vehicle. The theme and/or size of the vehicle are considered here. Do you entertain a crowd? Does your vehicle have room for riders? Does your vehicle provide a service to the community? Does it include an interactive element?
  • Interactive aspects alone are not a replacement for the Mutation Criteria above, but are considered more like  “extra credit”.

3. Safety

• • The safe operation of a Mutant Vehicle at the event is the Registrant’s responsibility. Depending on the size and style of your vehicle, some or all of the following may apply:

• • • The vehicle must be able to maintain a steady speed of five MPH (the speed limit in Black Rock City) or less.
    • The brakes must be in good working order.
    • The vehicle should have sturdy side Guard railings and stair railings. Guard railings should be a minimum height of 36-48 inches above the floor surface. Allowances may be made for ingress and egress zones no more than 36″ wide.
    • There should be no sharp or protruding objects.
    • Having a fire extinguisher and First Aid kit on board is highly recommended.
    • The vehicle should have a safe access area and procedures for loading and unloading passengers.
    • For safety requirements of lasers mounted on Mutant Vehicles, please see Mounted Lasers.
    • Vehicles with trailers must have Trailer Barriers protecting the space between the vehicle and the trailer.  For details on trailer safety requirements, please see the section on safety below.
  • Important notes
    • The DMV does not do Safety Inspections.  There are specialized teams that do Fire Effect and Laser Inspections for Mutant Vehicles.
    • The DMV may decline a license to a vehicle if there is a demonstrable safety concern such as sharp objects that protrude from a vehicle or some other dangerous aspect to the vehicle.

4. Lighting

• • There are two fundamental requirements for Mutant Vehicle night illumination.

1. • 1. SAFETY: First and foremost, people need to be able to see you and you need to be able to see them. The vehicle must include front head lights and the front, rear, AND sides must be lit. All vehicle extremities must be lit. Any trailer hitch or dangerous area of the vehicle must be lit. Anywhere someone would walk, step, or climb on your vehicle should be lit, especially stairs and ladders.
     2. RADICAL ILLUMINATION: The visual presentation of your vehicle should be at least as stimulating at night as it is during the day,  if not even more so. This can be accomplished in two ways:
        •  You are showcasing a well-crafted mutant vehicle that is already worthy of a day license.  Flame effects alone are not sufficient to qualify for night licensing.
        • The lighting itself is the “art” (such as the Death Star)
   • In either case, the vehicle should be easily seen from all sides from some distance away.

5. Sound

• • There is a Sound Policy for Mutant Vehicles. It is important that you know it. Please go here to review the policy. All vehicles driving in Black Rock City must follow the sound policy.

What is NOT Considered a Mutant Vehicle?

• The following are not considered Mutant Vehicles:
  • Vehicles only stripped to the frame and engine.
  • Street/stock vehicles with minimal changes or temporary decorations.
  • Vehicles that too strongly resemble the original form or where too much of the base vehicle is unmutated and still visible. For example:  A fur-covered golf cart or street vehicle that keeps its original shape.
  • Vehicles that may be unusual but are stock/mass-produced (military, industrial or foreign-made vehicles).  Examples of this that have previously applied include an MK 48, Swamp Buggies and Tuk-Tuks
  • Low riders, classic cars, custom cars, monster trucks, dune buggies, rat rods, and hot rods (there are other venues for these vehicles to be appreciated)
  • Vehicles that are primarily unmutated but have art placed on top, unless the base vehicle underneath the art is well-obscured and incorporated into the overall art. The underlying vehicle should be unrecognizable as its original form.
• NO EMERGENCY VEHICLE LOOK-ALIKES
  • Burning Man does not permit vehicles that resemble emergency services vehicles, including any vehicles decorated with red, blue, or amber rotating/flashing lights or vehicles with sirens. During an emergency, participants MUST be able to differentiate between an actual emergency vehicle and a Mutant Vehicle or other vehicles.

Mutant Vehicle Application Review

Once you have filled out a Mutant Vehicle Registration form, the DMV will review your application and notify you once we have reached a consensus on whether and how well your vehicle meets the Mutant Vehicle Criteria and whether it is invited to Burning Man.

For more details on the DMV Review process, please see the DMV FAQ/MUTANT VEHICLE OPERATOR’S HANDBOOK

Mutant Vehicle Licenses

Mutant Vehicle licenses are issued by the DMV on-playa. All licensed Mutant Vehicles will be given a Day and/or a Night license. Licenses will also be designated for Street or Playa driving, based on the size of the vehicle (see more below). Day or Night designation is based on many factors, including what purpose the vehicle serves, lighting, and how it is implemented.

Standard/Playa-Only Licenses

• A Standard Mutant Vehicle License allows a Mutant Vehicle to operate on city streets (with the exception of pedestrian-designated streets) and on the open playa of Black Rock City. To be eligible for a Street License:
  1. The vehicle must be less than 13 feet in width, and less than 45′ in length,
  2. The vehicle must be able to safely navigate a right turn on a typical BRC intersection while remaining within one lane of the street.
  3. Operators must be able to safely monitor all segments of the vehicle while in operation.
• A Playa-Only/City Restricted License allows a Mutant Vehicle to operate PRIMARILY on the open playa of Black Rock City. Mutant Vehicles with a Playa-Only License may NOT be operated on BRC streets except on their way to the playa from their camp (using the most direct entry).  Playa-Only vehicles may require walkers/spotters.
  See: https://burningman.org/event/art-performance/mutant-vehicles/vehicle-rules-and-protocols/#walkers

Day/Night Licenses

• DAY licenses allow Mutant Vehicles to move around Black Rock City during the daytime.
• NIGHT licenses allow Mutant Vehicles to move around Black Rock City at night. To receive a night license, Mutant Vehicles must be FULLY and RADICALLY illuminated (see above).
• Some vehicles may receive both a DAY and a NIGHT license.

Trailer Licenses

Trailer licenses are required for any trailers that are attached to Mutant Vehicles. These are licensed separately from the Vehicle.

Flame Effects

Flame Effects

Mutant Vehicles that incorporate flame effects must include flame effects information in their Mutant Vehicle application and also must be inspected on-playa and be granted a Flame Effects license from the Fire Arts Safety Team before the flame effects can be operated.

Important details for MV’s with Flame Effects

In order to protect your passengers from danger, the height of the first point of fire must be at least 10-feet above the last place a person could possibly stand on your vehicle. This allows plenty of height above heads and a little extra in case the wind presses it down a bit. This rule has been in place all along and this year we are going to be strict with this rule. Please take action to correct this pre-event if your MV flame effect is lower than 10-feet.

Questions about Mutant Vehicle flame effects should be sent to dmv-flame-effects@burningman.org.

To Register Your Vehicle

Mutant Vehicle Registration for Burning Man is open from mid-February until mid-April each year.

After you have read and understood all of the above sections, go to the Questionnaire site for this year’s exact registration dates and to fill out a Mutant Vehicle application.

https://profiles.burningman.org/participate/brc/

If you have additional questions you can contact the DMV by emailing dmv@burningman.org.