LOVE BURN

Interactive Art Community Event in Miami, Florida since 2014

Love Burn 2025

Department of Mutant Vehicles Information Guide

Thanks for your interest in sharing a Mutant Vehicle (MV) with The Love Burn community.

Getting your Mutant Vehicle driving around at the event is a 4-stage process:

1) Read this DMV Info Guide 2025 in its entirety.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iUHReDKOxVh3u3_Nwrz8i826wGI7uEuWmiSOlV4JESA/edit?usp=sharing

2) Complete the online 2025 DMV Registration Application by January 19, 2025.

https://forms.gle/YrDWuUC7SvTxWA3B7

3) Stop by the LBDMV during the event to show your Driver's License and sign the Love Burn Driving Agreement. The DMV is open: Wednesday 6pm-9pm, Thursday 12pm-8pm, Friday 12pm-8pm

4) While at the LBDMV, your MV or Art Car must pass an inspection which ensures the intent of your application was carried out safely.

You must apply online.

No mailed-in applications will be accepted. Applications will not be accepted at the event and any vehicles not pre-registered will be impounded for the duration of the event. This Web form should take you about 1 hour to complete; less if your vehicle is fairly simple in its construction and implementation (i.e. a single layer, no trailers, lasers or flame effects).

Remember, this application is what gets you approved to bring your vehicle to Love Burn. Put your best foot forward! The more information you provide, i.e. the better the pictures and the more complete your description of the final product, the better chance you will have to get approved for on-site inspection. Keep in mind, you must pull off what you submit in order to pass on-site.

Please note that ALL non-emergency vehicles (including ALL non-emergency golf carts) MUST be mutated to a level such that no branding or advertisements are visible, and the vehicle must be well lit AT ALL TIMES. Vehicles that do not meet this minimum mutation requirement are subject to immediate impound and/or immobilization with lock and key until such time that they are suitably mutated, which is the sole responsibility of the registrant and is subject to the schedule and approval of the DMV.

Questions can be sent to: DMV@TheLoveBurn.com

You will be asked to share the following well thought out information:

Primary responsible party’s information. This person’s valid government issued ID will be required at the on-site inspection.
Safety Coordinator’s information
Leave No Trace Coordinator’s information
Fire Safety Coordinator’s information
Mutant Vehicle Information
Name and Description of the mutant vehicle
Up to 1GB of photo uploads or a link to images of your mutant vehicle, posted on a webpage or photo sharing site that does not require a username/password to access the pictures, such as Flickr.com.
We’d like to see 2-5 photographs or, if your vehicle is not yet to the point where a picture will clearly show what you are bringing to Love Burn, 2-5 design sketches of your vehicle.
Images should show both day and night time appearance of the vehicle.
If you do not submit a link with photos, we will request photos to be emailed before approving your application.
Theme Camp the mutant vehicle is associated with
What makes this a mutant vehicle?
How the vehicle will be RADICALLY illuminated
Intent: What do you wish to share with the community as a result of bringing your vehicle to Love Burn?
Frame Base and Year
Vehicle dimensions
Capacity (See Driving rules about passenger transportation)
Levels
Bar
Standing Passengers
Design Safety measures: A clear indication of the safety considerations you are implementing.
Propulsion Type
Sound: If you’re a rolling dance party, we need complete information about any sound system you may have on the vehicle. Even if you’re not blowing out the neighbor’s windows, we still need to know.
Laser usage
Fire: You’ll need to describe, in detail, any flame effects that your vehicle uses. You’ll also be required to submit a thorough Fire Safety Plan and provide contact information for a designated Fire Safety Coordinator, so be sure to have that ready before you begin.

Criteria for Licensing a Mutant Vehicle

1. Level of Mutation

Mutate 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 addition, beyond changing or covering the base vehicle, the mutation should aim to provide a level of “radical visual stimuli” or “wow factor” for the other participants of Love Burn. When a person sees this vehicle, their reaction should be “Wow! Look at that!”

2. Interactivity

Provide an interactive experience for participants of Love Burn. Interactivity is defined as an opportunity for any Love Burn attendee to participate in some activity offered by your vehicle. The theme and/or size of the vehicle is what’s considered here. Do you entertain a crowd? Have plenty of room for riders? Provide a service to the community via your vehicle? Include some other interactive element we haven’t even imagined?

3. Safety

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 (5) MPH or less. Brakes must be in good working order. The vehicle should have sturdy side railings and stair railings. There should be no sharp or protruding objects. A fire extinguisher is highly recommended. Keeping a first aid kit on board is just plain smart. The vehicle should also have a safe access area and procedures for loading and unloading passengers.

4. Lighting

The RADICAL Illumination policy applies to all Mutant Vehicles and Golf Carts at the Love Burn. These basic requirements must be met: The rear, front 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. The RADICAL Illumination Policy is in addition to any mutation design lighting.

5. Sound

Mutant Vehicles must follow the same sound policy as theme camps and other participants of Love Burn. It is important that you know it. Please go here to review the policy: https://theloveburn.com/musician/music/

6. Fire

If your Mutant Vehicle incorporates Flame Effects, YOU MUST COMPLETE A SEPARATE ONSITE INSPECTION FROM THE FIRE SAFETY LEAD!

In addition to these criteria, you must also:

1. Describe the motivation for creating your Mutant Vehicle.

If the convenience of personal transportation is your primary goal, please rethink your intent. A primary factor of your urge to drive should be the sharing of your creation with the rest of the community. In fact, Mutant Vehicles are expected to act as public transportation during the event if capacity allows.

2. Comply with all DMV pre-registration guidelines and deadlines.

Mutant Vehicle pre-registration is mandatory. You will be asked to include a photo or sketch of your vehicle, describe the safety considerations you are making, give detailed information about the radical mutations to the vehicle.

3. Adhere to Love Burn vehicle/driving protocols.

Love Burn and the venue have a few simple driving guidelines. If you violate these community guidelines, you will lose the privilege of driving your Mutant Vehicle at the event. In addition, you and your vehicle may be removed from the event, and you risk fines by law enforcement. Furthermore, owners that cannot follow our simple rules run the risk of not being licensed in subsequent years.

Please be aware that:

Submission of this application does not guarantee a Mutant Vehicle license. First, your vehicle must be invited to Love Burn by the DMV, and then your vehicle must pass an on-site inspection before a license will be granted.

Submitting this application means that, if granted a Mutant Vehicle license, you agree to abide by all of the driving rules and community guidelines in effect at Love Burn.

You will receive an email from the Love Burn DMV indicating that your preliminary application has been received. This does not indicate anything other than receipt of your application. It in no way implies that you will receive a license. Keep this email as proof that you submitted your application. If you do not receive an email within 24 hours of submitting your application, contact us at DMV@TheLoveBurn.com.

After you submit your application the DMV will review it — this may take several weeks. Yours is not the only mutant vehicle the DMV will be looking at. You will then receive an email from the DMV stating that your Mutant Vehicle has either been invited, which means you may bring it to the event (where licensing is subject to on-site inspection), or not, which means we will ask you to not bring your vehicle to Love Burn. If you have not received a status email from the DMV by January 30th, please email us at DMV@TheLoveBurn.com.

License Types

1. We have done away with day and/or night licenses so that ALL Mutant Vehicles and Golf Carts now require RADICAL illumination. This requires far more thought and implementation than running lights and a few blinkies. The vehicle should cause people hundreds of feet away to squeal in delight and amazement.

2. Mutant Vehicles will be licensed for driving on particular pathways based on size. See Size Restrictions.

Early Admission

As some Mutant Vehicles require assembly, Love Burn makes available Early Entry passes for people bringing those vehicles requiring assembly on-site. Please register for Early Entry through the form on the Love Burn website: https://theloveburn.com/earlyentry/

REMEMBER: Everyone who is at the event before the gates open to the public is there to *work*.

Early Entry passes are specifically for working on (re)assembling your Mutant Vehicle or Theme Camp and related support. Please limit your requests to the minimum number of core people required to get your vehicle up and running for the event, for the smallest reasonable amount of time necessary.

Driving Rules at Love Burn

Only drive vehicles licensed to drive at Love Burn.

Abide by all applicable federal and Florida state laws, including all open container laws (no open containers within reach of the driver).

Drive at a speed of 5 mph or less (less if in hazardous situations such as tight crowds).

Mutant vehicles are intended to be public transportation vehicles, not strictly personal and/or private transportation.

Drivers are expected to accept any respectful Love Burner’s request for transportation if there is room.

Give the right of way to pedestrians, bicycles, trains, and emergency services vehicles.

Do not drive on or park near any part of the railroad tracks. Violations are subject to immediate impound and revocation of license at minimum.

Only cross the railroad tracks on the designated paved crossings.

Before crossing the tracks, come to a complete stop and ensure the train or a railcar is not approaching.

Follow the reasonable and applicable vehicle laws for road safety.

Stop immediately upon being hailed by any Love Burn Staff member, Ranger, or law enforcement officer.

No driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Stay on paths according to your size class (See size restrictions).

No driving on pedestrian-designated streets (see your map for details).

Obey sound policies.

Obey radical illumination policy at all times.

It is your responsibility to be apprised of and abide by any additional guidelines set forth by Love Burn.

About DMV Staff

DMV Staff are volunteers and have a difficult job, please treat them with respect; even if your vehicle is denied for a license.

About Size Restrictions

Some pathways are too narrow, or difficult to navigate safely for large Mutant Vehicles. As such vehicles will be prohibited from driving on some pathways based on their size. The color of the DMV issued registration tag will reflect the size class and allowable pathways (marked on the map) and is defined as follows:

Orange Tags and Pathways are for all MVs that fit entirely (including any fixed overhanging elements) within a 8’ wide X 18’ long X 14’ tall cube.
Green Tags and Pathways are only for MVs that fit entirely (including any fixed overhanging elements) within a 5’ wide X 10’ long X 10’ tall cube.
Any side-car, outrigging, or crows nest must fit within the cube for the size class.
Any trailer must not make the overall length more than 50% longer than the allowed length for the size class and must meet the width and height restrictions of the size class.
Any non-fixed or retractable elements must be retracted or stored such that it does not exceed its class size restrictions when the MV is in motion.
Pathways marked in red are pedestrian pathways only. No MV should be on any red pathway.
Any pathway that is not marked on the map should be treated as pedestrian only pathways.
Mutant vehicles that exceed the orange tag size restrictions may still be considered on a case by case basis and at the discretion of the DMV.
If you have a size restricted Mutant Vehicle, camp placement consideration may be requested, though it is first come, first serve and is not guaranteed. Requests for placement consideration must be included in this application.

About Trailers

Trailers are licensed separately from the Mutant Vehicle. Each trailer will have its own license and can be towed only by the vehicle it was licensed with. Towing vehicles MUST also be mutant vehicles able to pass their own inspection independently of the trailers they are pulling.

The length of the entire MV + Trailer(s) must not exceed 50% more than the maximum MV length for that size class.
Orange Tags: max length of MV + Trailer = 27’
Green Tags: max length of MV + Trailer = 15’
The height and width of any part of the trailer must be within the driving MV tag color’s size class. If any part of a trailer exceeds the size restrictions of the driving MV tag color’s size restrictions (with regard to the length allowances), the larger size restrictions apply. See Size restrictions.
For example: a green tagged MV that is 6’ long can pull a trailer that is a maximum of 5’ wide X 10’ tall X 9’ long and still maintain a green tag because the total length is 15’ or 10’ (max MV length) + 50% of 10’ (extra 50% for trailer).
If your vehicle’s trailers are deemed unsafe, they will not be licensed. In most cases, this should not affect the ability of your Mutant Vehicle to be licensed, as long as the vehicle meets all of the licensing criteria.
Driving a licensed Mutant Vehicle with an unlicensed trailer is cause for revocation of the Mutant Vehicle license, and possible impound of the vehicle.
In addition to the RADICAL illumination required of the Mutant Vehicle, the trailer AND THE HITCH must be radically illuminated as well.
Mutant Vehicles with trailers may have blind spots between the vehicle and the trailer, so must include a barrier against boarding in this zone. This barrier must have a minimum height of no more than 12 inches from the ground and a maximum height that is either equal to the maximum height of the Mutant Vehicle (this is intended to accommodate very low vehicles) OR no less than 36 inches above the ground. The barrier must be in place before the vehicle moves and must remain in place at all times when the vehicle is in motion.

About Lasers

If your Mutant Vehicle is equipped with ANY type of laser Effect (LE) it must be inspected BEFORE you can operate the LE within Love Burn.

Laser power must not exceed 500mW
All lasers must be mounted at least 8’ from the ground
Lasers may only operate when the MV is stopped.

About Sound

The Love Burn has developed a sound policy to help guide those with large sound systems. Please know there is a Love Burn Sound Policy, and be respectful of others around you. There are quiet camping areas where you are expected to turn sound off while passing through. Please take note of these areas on the map at the DMV.

About Flame Effects

If your Mutant Vehicle incorporates Flame Effects, YOU MUST HAVE A SEPARATE ONSITE INSPECTION FROM THE FIRE SAFETY LEAD! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NON-NEGOTIABLE AND APPLICABLE TO ALL FLAME EFFECTS VEHICLES WITHOUT EXCEPTION. VIOLATION IS SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM LOVE BURN.

If your Mutant Vehicle incorporates Flame Effects, you should be aware of the following:

No use of ANY flame effect with overhead power lines, street lamps or tree branches.
No use of ANY flame effect within 20’ of any nearby foliage.
No use of ANY flame effects within camping areas.
Tiki torches, candles or liquid fuel-based Flame Effects are not to be used as high winds may cause spillage of liquid fuel or wax, creating a hazardous situation.
The use of wood fires or burn barrels on Mutant Vehicles is not allowed.
No fireworks or pyrotechnics. All fireworks are prohibited and present a significant fire hazard within the camping areas.
It is required that all Mutant Vehicles incorporating pressurized fuels include an emergency shut-off, such as a quarter-turn ball valve within easy reach of the driver or flame effects operator in case of weather changes or other emergency.
All fuel sources and fuel lines must be within the vehicle and not exposed to collision on the exterior of the vehicle. A severed fuel line or crushed propane tank would be an extreme fire hazard.
All approved fire must be well above head height. Cloth flags, stilters, tall Mutant Vehicles as well as flammable costumes are all reasons to keep the fire safely above the participants.
All Mutant Vehicles incorporating Flame Effects must have appropriate fire extinguishers, within reach, that are up to date and in working order.
No Extra Fuel on board. For the safety of passengers and crews, Mutant Vehicles may not carry extra liquid fuel. Portable gas cans are not to be carried on Mutant Vehicles unless the vehicle is traveling between the fueling station and camp.

Operating Procedures

In order to be eligible for a Mutant Vehicle license, you must demonstrate to the DMV that you have given serious thought to how to safely operate your vehicle during Love Burn.

Anyone striking a member of the community with their vehicle will have their license revoked, and may face legal consequences.
Describe the procedures and policies that you have developed and will follow to safely operate your Mutant Vehicle at the event. The more complex and grand your Mutant Vehicle, the more thorough and detailed your answer should be.
Please cover any pertinent areas that can be problematic or are related to vehicle safety such as moving between levels; dealing with blind spots; starting and stopping your Mutant Vehicle; the location of safety equipment such as first aid kits and fire extinguishers; passenger rules; vehicle crew job descriptions; dealing with difficult passengers, etc.

Your Agreement with Love Burn

If not granted a license:

I will treat the DMV Hotties with respect.
I agree to park my Mutant Vehicle in the impound lot and not operate it during the course of the Love Burn event.

If granted a license:

I agree to follow all Driving Rules in the Love Burn event area.
I agree that if my MV fails to maintain the minimum level of mutation for the duration of the burn, it will be impounded.
I agree to follow the sound guidelines set forth at Love Burn.
I agree to drive no faster than 5 mph, and to slow down if I am creating dust.
I agree to give the right of way to trains, pedestrians, bicyclists, and emergency vehicles.
I agree to accept any respectful request for transportation from any Love Burner or staff provided it does not make the vehicle over capacity.
I agree not to drive on or park near any part of the railroad tracks.
I agree to only cross the railroad tracks on the designated paved crossings.
I agree that before crossing the tracks in the designated paved crossings, I will come to a complete stop and ensure the train or a railcar is not approaching.
I will only drive on pathways within my size class/Tag color.
I will not drive on designated pedestrian-only walkways.
I will be sober when operating this vehicle.
I understand that I am responsible for ensuring the safety and reasonable conduct of all MV occupants.
I understand that I am responsible for the Mutant Vehicle, even if I am not driving it at the time of an offense.
I understand that I am responsible for ensuring all drivers have read and are willing to comply with all DMV and Love Burn rules and are instructed on the safe operation of the MV.
I agree to assume full responsibility for any and all injuries or damage caused by the operation of this Mutant Vehicle.
I agree to the terms and conditions regarding trailers.

I understand that failure to respect and follow these simple guidelines can result in one or more of the following:

Revocation of my Mutant Vehicle’s license
Impound of my Mutant Vehicle (Love Burn is not responsible for any loss or damage to the vehicle or personal property within the vehicle)
Fines
Ejection from the event without refund

I understand that following these guidelines can result in one or more of the following:Revocation of my Mutant Vehicle’s license:

Fun and enjoyment for me and all those that interact with my Mutant Vehicle
A safe experience for me, those on my vehicle, and those that are around my vehicle
The best Love Burn experience I have ever had

I hereby expressly agree to indemnify, defend, and forever hold harmless, Love Burn, Burning Man, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, the event venues, their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, contractors, assigns, parents and subsidiaries, from and against any and all claims whatsoever, occurring or resulting in connection with the use or presence of my Mutant Vehicle at Love Burn.

I Have Read and Understand the Above Information and Agree to these Conditions.

* Please note: This is a preliminary agreement which you are agreeing to by filling out the online DMV Application. Before receiving an official license, you must complete and physically sign the official Love Burn DMV Agreement, which contains additional information. This will be completed on-site once your vehicle has been inspected.

CLICK HERE to fill out the DMV Application.