Guides · Before you book
No. In Pennsylvania a Polaris Slingshot is an autocycle, and a regular Class C driver's license is all you need to drive one. A Can-Am Spyder is different: that one does need a motorcycle license.
PennDOT defines an autocycle as a three-wheeled motorcycle with a steering wheel and seating that does not make the driver straddle the seat. A Slingshot fits that exactly. You sit next to your passenger, buckle a seat belt, steer with a wheel and drive with pedals.
PennDOT says the driver of an autocycle needs a Class C license, the regular one most people already carry. A motorcycle license is not required. If you can legally drive your own car, you can drive a Slingshot with us.
Slingshot rentals start at $30 an hour with a 3-hour minimum. A 9-hour day is $180 and a full 24 hours is $250.
The Spyder has handlebars and a saddle you sit astride, so it does not fit the autocycle definition. To rent our Spyder, you need a valid license with a motorcycle (M) endorsement. Our rental agreement says so, and we check it in person before we hand over the keys.
No motorcycle license? The Slingshot gives you the same open-air ride on the same roads, with the license already in your wallet.
The license rule is the same for all three of our Slingshots, but they do not all drive the same way. Our 2024 orange Slingshot has AutoDrive, so there is no clutch to think about. Our two 2016 Slingshots, one gray and one red, are manual.
If you have never driven stick, book the orange one. If you like shifting your own gears, the 2016s are a lot of fun.
Bring the physical license with you. The person behind the wheel always has to be a driver on the booking.
PennDOT says all motorcycle laws apply to an autocycle, and that includes the helmet law. Anyone who drives or rides one has to wear a helmet unless they meet the exemption.
The exemption covers people 21 or older who have either two years of riding experience or a completed safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. If you are not sure whether that covers you, check with PennDOT before your ride.
PennDOT also says an autocycle driver may not carry a passenger under eight years old. Keep that in mind if you were planning a ride with the kids.
A Slingshot is happiest on a road with curves and views. Three loops we point people to are the Holtwood and Susquehanna loop, Route 340 through Amish country, and the covered bridge loop north of the city. All three are on our scenic routes page, with times so you can match a loop to your rental.
No. Only the driver needs a license. PennDOT does say an autocycle driver may not carry a passenger under eight years old, so every passenger needs to be at least eight.
You need a valid driver's license to rent with us, and we check it at pickup. If all you have is a learner's permit, ask us before you book.
Yes. A valid out-of-state driver's license works for a Slingshot. Plenty of our renters are visiting Lancaster from somewhere else.
If you can drive a car, you can drive a Slingshot. Most renters are comfortable within the first few minutes. Book the orange AutoDrive Slingshot if you would rather skip the clutch.