Bumper cars
Bumper cars are part of every funfair, just like bratwurst at the fairground. Here you can find all bumper car rides, from classic scooters with light shows to children's bumper cars for the youngest drivers.
Bumper cars: the meeting place at every fairground
Few rides are as popular as bumper cars. They're a fun ride, meeting place and disco all in one. That's why large fairs often have several tracks. Modern bumper cars also impress with elaborate façades, LED light shows and powerful sound systems. The cars are padded all around and protected by a thick rubber ring.
How bumper cars work
In the classic design, the cars get their electricity from a pole that reaches the conductive ceiling. The metal floor completes the circuit. Newer systems, on the other hand, supply power to the cars through the floor alone, so no pole is needed. You steer just like in a car, using a steering wheel and accelerator pedal. There is usually no brake: when you release the pedal, the car rolls to a stop.
What types of bumper cars are there?
As well as the classic bumper car for teenagers and adults, you'll find a children's bumper car at many fairgrounds. The cars there are smaller, slower and intended for children aged around three and up, often without an accompanying adult. Some tracks also have two-seater cars, where an adult rides with a child.
Tips for your ride
Bumper cars: from funfair disco to light show
For decades, bumper cars have been more than just a ride. For many teenagers, they were the first place to meet without their parents, with loud music, first flirts and calls for another round. Today, operators also use large LED screens, fog and their own DJs. As a result, some bumper cars feel almost like a disco on wheels. At the same time, bumper cars are one of the few rides where you steer yourself. It's this combination of freedom, skill and being together that makes them appealing to every generation.
On most tracks, the rule is to drive in one direction; head-on collisions are not allowed. It's best to check the rules at the ticket booth. It's also worth buying tokens in a value pack, as a ride usually lasts only a few minutes. Many bumper car tracks get especially busy late in the evening, when they turn into party spaces.