Texas outlaws dune buggies

It\'s important to regulate dune buggies for safety reasons, according to Texas officials.

It is now illegal to drive a dune buggy on public roads in the state of Texas. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) argues it's important to regulate dune buggies for safety reasons, and it has started revoking titles.

Texas law lumps dune buggies into the same basket as race cars, off-road vehicles, and flood-damaged cars, according to Hemmings. Owners are receiving letters in the mail asking them to send back their car's title, the registration sticker on the windshield, and the license plates. Most are complying, though some have decided to sell their car to an out-of-state buyer instead.

"Many of these vehicles do not have key safety components or do not have a body at all. These vehicles, as manufactured, were not designed for on-road use. These vehicles, as modified from previously manufactured vehicles, also do not keep their on-road qualities," said Adam Shaivitz, a spokesperson for the Texas DMV.

He added DMV officials are in the early stages of studying how other states regulate dune buggies. His comments suggest the DMV could enact a more lenient law in the coming months or years.

The ban affects thousands of Volkswagen Beetle-based dune buggies like the Meyers Manx and the numerous replicas it has spawned over the past few decades. Some were built in the 1960s, while others are much more recent. Trying to circumvent the rule by registering a buggy as its donor vehicle (e.g., 1966 Volkswagen Beetle) doesn't work anymore.

Texas also outlawed sand rails and many kit cars.

Hemmings points out some enthusiasts chose to fight back against the ban. They have enlisted the help of Texas State Representative Ed Thompson, SEMA, and the Historic Vehicle Association. Thompson has already asked the DMV to repeal the ban in a timely manner.

Note: Empi Imp pictured. Photo by Ronan Glon.