How to Make Your Golf Cart Street Legal: It’s Not Just for the Course Anymore

Golf carts were first created for the quintessential retired golfer – the man or woman who wanted to cruise from hole to hole with a beer in their cup holder, and pull up right next to their ball after each shot. Lugging around a heavy bag and searching for a tiny white ball on the weekends was not what retirement looked like for them. The golf cart soon became a course staple, and not just for retirees. Teenagers, families, and young adults all saw the value of the golf cart, so much so they soon hit the streets.

Take any good idea, give it to the masses, and, rest assured, people will find new and innovative uses for it. That’s exactly what happened with golf carts. People started thinking, wouldn’t it be great to just drive these around instead of car? If you need to run down to the corner store or the post office, it’s easier to take the cart. If you live in a golf course development, you would rather drive the cart virtually anywhere than use the car. If you reside in a beach community, a drive to the waterfront in the golf cart is more pleasurable than a car.

Once only spotted on the golf course, this vehicle is now a serious mode of transportation for many, because it not only offers comfort and convenience, it’s practical for your wallet and environmentally friendly, too. A gallon of gas in most states is costly, and carbon emissions are polluting our planet; this means other transportation options are in demand. The golf cart is a practical and efficient option; the only small hiccup is that you can’t cruise the streets in any old golf cart. There are certain regulations and specific equipment your cart will need in order to be street legal.

What Is Street Legal? Here Are the Basics

Street legal is exactly how it sounds. Each state or municipality has certain restrictions in order for you to legally drive your golf cart around on city roads. For specific rules, regulations, and restrictionsfor your state, visit the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety that pertains to your area or visit the town/city hall where you live.

In general, street legal golf carts should have a top speed of 25 miles per hour, and feature head, tail, turn, and brake lights. They must also have night reflectors on both sides, and the front and back of the cart. You need to have a vehicle identification number, parking brakes, three-point seatbelts, exterior windows on both the driver and passenger sides, and a rearview mirror internally.

In essence, a street legal golf cart must meet the same requirements of a traditional motor vehicle. On the roadways they are categorized as low speed vehicles. You are required to obtain insurance and DMV registration to drive them on the street.

Where Can I Drive My Street Legal Golf Cart?

Golf carts can be on public roads where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour; however, their top speed is 25 miles per hour. They cannot be on any roadways or highways that exceed 35 miles per hour. These vehicles are generally for short trips in and around your neighborhood, but you could go as far as 60 miles with a fully charged golf cart on the appropriate roadways. If you intend to go somewhere this far, be sure you keep in mind it will take up to eight hours to charge the cart, depending on voltage connection and use. If your golf cart is not street legal, you may only drive it on private property that has the proper credentials and insurance for it, and which allows you to do so.

Purchasing a Street Legal Golf Cart: Where to Start

There are a few different golf cart brands you can choose from, but the three standard choices are Club Car, E-Z Go, and Yamaha. They all have great reputations in the industry, and offer a lot of versatility and choices among them. You can get either a gas powered golf cart gas or an electric version from any of these brands. To save the environment, electric is the better choice. However, if you plan on going long distances, or will be using it regularly for long periods of time, you’ll want gas powered so you don’t have to wait for it to charge.

If you’re mechanically inclined, simply purchase a golf cart, the required street legal parts, and make the necessary adjustments to the cart yourself. If you don’t know a wrench from a ratchet, plenty of stores, eBay, Craigslist, and other classified ads sell already assembled new and used street legal carts. In addition to the standard requirements your golf cart needs, you can add other features to your low-speed ride such as chrome wheels and bumping sound systems. Take your cart from street legal to tricked-out ride in no time.