Mutant Vehicles (Art Cars)#

DMV, safety, lighting#

• DMV (Mutant Vehicles) 2024 FAQ (PDF): Li‑ion battery safety — Official MV rules on lithium battery placement, inspection, and thermal runaway awareness. (burningman.org)
• Mutant Vehicle Owner’s Handbook 2023 (PDF): Li‑ion safety — Guidance on recognizing/preventing Li‑ion incidents on playa vehicles. (burningman.org)
• 2023 Mutant Vehicle Owner’s Handbook (PDF) — Map of the DMV yard, queue flow, sticker placement, and “leave it parked if you fail.” (burningman.org)
• 2024 DMV FAQ / MV Operator’s Handbook (PDF) — Invite review rounds, ZipLine expedited inspections, and inspection‑day expectations. (burningman.org)
• Accessibility Vehicle Criteria & Licensing — AV licensing, flame‑effects inspection notes, and how AVs interface with DMV on playa. (burningman.org)
• AfterBurn 2011 — DMV section — Behind‑the‑scenes DMV ops, iPad/photo workflows, queue redesign to speed licensing. (burningman.org)
• Help Center: “Why did that ‘crappy’ vehicle get invited?” — Often it wasn’t licensed; how to tell the difference on playa. (help.burningman.org)
• DMV Gallery — examples that didn’t meet criteria — Visual examples linked from the criteria page showing applications that didn’t pass. (burningman.org)
• DMV Hours of Operation for Inspection — Current season’s inspection windows by day (incl. Accessibility‑only midday blocks). (burningman.org)
• Instagram: That long DMV line — Official reel about the on‑playa queue you’ll join to be inspected. (instagram.com)
• Journal: 2024 AfterBurn — DMV streamlining — Shorter DMV lines with process changes; inspection throughput improved. (journal.burningman.org)
• Journal: A Look Back with DMV OGs (2023) — How DMV reviews ~1,000 apps, ~650 licensed, and why final inspection matters. (journal.burningman.org)
• Journal: Cultural Course Correcting (2019) — “If you had a bad experience with ANY MV, tell the DMV”; how complaints feed licensing. (journal.burningman.org)
• Journal: It’s okay to be miserable at Burning Man (2012) — A first‑timer vows to build a MV that at least “passes inspection.” (journal.burningman.org)
• Journal: MOOP Map Live — BLM site inspection looming (2012) — Strict audit culture that informs DMV expectations. (journal.burningman.org)
• Journal: MOOP Map Live 2012 — MV talk in comments — Community asks DMV to require MOOP kits on MVs. (journal.burningman.org)
• Survival Guide 2025 (PDF) — driving & licensing callouts — Pre‑register, bring your acceptance letter, obey sound policy reminders. (survival.burningman.org)
• Vehicle Rules & Protocols — Who can enter for inspection, what’s allowed on streets vs playa, and how licensing ties to driving. (burningman.org)
• Reddit: Art Car update — “We’re in!” (acceptance letter text) — Real invite language before you face the DMV yard. (reddit.com)
• Reddit: MV applications ’24 vs ’25 — hard data & targets — Invite caps (~800) and licensed target (~650) clarified by DMV. (reddit.com)
• Reddit: MV owners’ last-minute advice — “Arrive 100% ready” — Why there’s no second inspection if you show up incomplete. (reddit.com)
• Reddit: What day/time is DMV registration? — Best times to see the inspection line and typical volumes. (reddit.com)
• Secret Santa Cruz: The Burning Man DMV — Lines, checklists, inspectors, and what they look for. (secretsantacruz.com)
• Journal: The Dancetronauts Meet Civic Responsibility (2015) — Official: why a high‑profile MV wasn’t licensed in 2015; sound & conduct issues. (journal.burningman.org)
• Journal: Welcome Home, Again (2011) — “Waiting twice in the DMV line… then YESSS!!” — the emotional rollercoaster of inspection day. (journal.burningman.org)
• Journal: What’s Actually Going On with Dance Music (2015) — Clarifies “not banned,” just not licensed to drive; common outcome for non‑compliant MVs. (journal.burningman.org)
• Mutant Vehicle Application Preview (2023 PDF) — What reviewers expect up‑front so you’re not surprised at on‑playa inspection. (webassets.burningman.org)
• Mutant Vehicle Application Sample (2022 PDF) — Sample answers; if the finished build doesn’t match your app, license may be denied. (webassets.burningman.org)
• Mutant Vehicle Criteria & Licensing — Invite ≠ license; what “radical visual stimuli” means; how final inspection works. (burningman.org)
• Mutant Vehicle Operator’s Handbook (2025) — Invites vs on‑playa licensing, inspection location & hours, day/night stickers, no second chances if not ready. (burningman.org)
• Mutant Vehicles landing page — One‑stop for criteria, FAQs, inspections, sound/flame policies, and licensing steps. (burningman.org)
• Presurfer: In line at the DMV (2014 video) — Classic DMV line vibe. (presurfer.blogspot.com)
• Reddit: Any DMV folks here? — Deep thread on what qualifies as mutation vs decoration. (reddit.com)

Chassis & fabrication#

(none yet)

Flame effects on vehicles#

• Guidelines for Flame Effects on Mutant Vehicles — MV flame rules; ties into fuel cylinder storage and access. (burningman.org)
• Guidelines for Flame Effects on Mutant Vehicles (FAST) — Separate on‑playa flame inspection flow at DMV; fail FAST = no fire. (burningman.org)

Pedal cars and small EVs#

• Reddit: Three wheels & pedals = no MV license — Where DMV jurisdiction stops; why pedal trikes aren’t inspected/licensed. (reddit.com)

Resources#

• Safety Perimeters (for burns & fuel) — Standoff distances and safety zones around hazards. (burningman.org)
• Burn.Life: Full Dancetronauts/DMV email chain — Raw correspondence showing how a license gets withheld after issues. (burn.life)
• Burn.Life: The Real Reasons Dancetronauts Were “Banned” — Context on rejections and what “not licensed” actually means. (burn.life)
• ChefJuke blog: “A Prank is Born” (DMV proximity & antics) — DMV lead’s personal blog post set ~300’ from the DMV; slice of inspection‑week life. (chefjuke.com)
• Dept. of Mutant Vehicles (volunteering page) — A day in the life of DMV “Hotties” doing inspections and issuing stickers. (burningman.org)
• Stout Travel Adventure (2011) — DMV inspection mention — Field notes: all MVs must be inspected and licensed by the DMV. (stouttraveladventure.blogspot.com)
• Unaverz: “We may have a problem” (approach/height) — Pre‑planning the route into DMV & height constraints from a builder. (unaverz.com)
• Unaverz: DMV Acceptance Letter 2013 — Full text of invite and conditions prior to inspection. (unaverz.com)
• Unaverz: DMV Acceptance Letter 2015 — Repeat invite showing multi‑year conditions before the DMV yard. (unaverz.com)
• Wandering Through Time & Place — DMV check‑in & safety — Photo essays noting “must pass safety inspection” before licensing. (wandering-through-time-and-place.com)
• Wandering Through Time & Place — HQ & safety inspection explainer — Focus on DMV HQ and the inspection requirement. (wandering-through-time-and-place.com)
• XyloVan: 2011 invite letter text in full — “Invitation… licenses are granted when/if you pass on‑playa inspection.” (xylovan.com)
• XyloVan: BOOM — Approved for Burning Man 2014 — DMV acceptance letter and conditional notes ahead of inspection. (xylovan.com)
• XyloVan: Light Fandango build log (DMV sticker shots) — Photo of the “DMV hottie” attaching the night sticker after inspection. (xylovan.com)
• XyloVan: Passing inspection at the DMV (2014) — Line nerves, quick pass, day & night stickers slapped on. (xylovan.com)
• YouTube: Department of Mutant Vehicles — LOVE Project short — Short profile on DMV’s mission inspecting and licensing MVs in BRC. (youtube.com)
• Reddit: Campmates bought a former MV — review notes & on‑playa risk — Approvals may include notes; failures if not addressed before inspection. (reddit.com)
• Reddit: How your art car broke at Burning Man — Post‑mortems beyond DMV checks; real failures after passing inspection. (reddit.com)
• Reddit: MV etiquette & capacity (why some deny boarding pre‑inspection) — Why some MVs say “no” while headed to DMV or when at capacity. (reddit.com)