Are Golf Carts Street Legal?
Golf carts can be street legal in most states if they are electric, can drive over 20 mph, have the proper lights and safety features, and are operated by a licensed driver of 21 years old.
Are golf carts street legal? How do I make a golf cart street legal? These are questions we get asked all the time at Bayou Buggies. We've put together a guide for you outlining everything you need to know about street legal golf carts.
The golf cart market has been changing. Golf carts have become an industry continuously trending toward street legal vehicles. While most consumers still buy and rent golf carts for golf, there is a growing trend toward golf carts that may never see a golf course. Many cities and neighborhoods in America are known as golf-cart-friendly towns, where you'll find more golf carts on the road than actual cars!
So let's look at all the qualifications it takes for a golf cart to be street legal.
Speed
A golf cart must be able to go 20 miles per hour to be street legal in most states and cities in America. This 20 mile per hour threshold is what it takes for a golf cart to be officially classified as a "Slow-moving vehicle." Some states have limits on the max speed of golf carts. All street-legal golf carts and other slow-moving vehicles must remain on roads with speed limits under 25 miles per hour.
If your golf cart can't reach 20 miles per hour, you'll need to talk with a golf cart specialist or research how to boost your cart's power to get more speed. Driving a golf cart on public roads that can't do 20 mph is not only illegal but dangerous.
Gas Or Electric?
Federal law prohibits gas-powered golf carts from being street legal. So for slow-moving classification, you must stick to electric golf carts only.
Visibility
Another thing a golf cart needs to become street legal is proper lights for visibility. A street legal golf cart needs lights to see the road and your surroundings. The golf cart also needs lights for cars, motorcycles, pedestrians, and anything else on the road to see you. A street legal golf cart will need headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and a lighted license plate. Most new golf carts specked out for the streets will come with all these lights, but you can always buy light kits for your golf cart to ensure they have them.
Safety Features
Street legal golf carts will also require certain safety features. The first is mirrors. Your golf cart will need a rearview mirror and adjustable side mirrors. Again, different states might have specific requirements, so do your research as you buy your golf cart or look to upgrade your existing golf cart.
A street legal golf cart will need a windshield. You will want a windshield if you're driving your golf cart on the streets anyway. Bugs, debris, and wind flying in your face can make driving a golf cart on roads a real bummer. These are easy to purchase to upgrade a golf cart without one, but most new ones have windshields.
Finally, your golf cart will need seatbelts. Every passenger seat will need a seatbelt. This is important for golf carts with extra seats and rows of seats. The seat belts do not have to be across the chest; lap-only seatbelts are good enough for a golf cart to be street legal.
Additional Requirements
A valid driver's license is needed to operate a golf cart legally on public streets. In addition, the driver of a street legal golf cart must also be 21 years old. The golf cart must also have a vehicle identification number (VIN).
There shouldn't be much more needed than what's been discussed for your golf cart to be street legal. However, some states, cities, and towns might have specific requirements to legally operate a golf cart on public streets. So be sure to do your research before you take your golf cart out on the streets. Also, golf carts might be banned in certain high-traffic cities and areas, so again, do your research.
Our friendly team of experts can help answer any questions you have about street legal golf carts or how to make your current golf cart street legal. We have an extensive inventory of street legal golf carts at all prices. Please look around here on our website or call one of our team members today if you're in the market for a golf cart.