If you design and build a vehicle from scratch, is it legal to operate it on public roads?

Question

If you design and build a vehicle from scratch, is it legal to operate it on public roads?

Answer 1

The exact requirements to do this very from country to country.

In the US  from state to state.

At one time there was a guide published in for this in the US that listed  requirements by each state.

Any such car, would have to meet the requirements for the location in which it is being built.

To give you some idea  of what you are up  against, Pennsylvania requires that the engine be covered and that the car has fenders. In Calif the process is complicated, with EPA  and other  safety requirements.

So yes, a car that is of unique origin (home  designed and built) can  be driven on the road many places, once it is  certified legal  and is registered.

Answer 2

no you have to get it certified to be on the road.

Answer 3

no it is too dangerous you have to have a driveing licence and regestrition

Answer 4

For the UK, you need Single Vehicle Approval to start with - here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles...

Answer 5

You can get DOT approval at your expense of required safety testing. One of the big three and/or the uaw is going to make your life miserable though. Just have the Chinese crank em' out for you. Everyone else does.  

Answer 6

Get an MOT certificate on it and you can drive a lawn mower on the roads.

Answer 7

its called a junk yard title-once its street legal and certified you can drive it anywhere

Answer 8

People build custom cars all the time. It would have to be able to pass state inspection for safety items. You would run into certification problems if you went into production.