Can You Drive a Golf Cart Without a License?


Driving on public roads requires most states to have golf carts equipped with horns, appropriate brakes, headlights, taillights, reflectors, a rearview mirror, a slow-moving vehicle sign, and a bicycle safety flag.

A person cannot legally drive a golf cart without a license. Golf carts are classified as Low-Speed Vehicles in the United States, and vehicles belonging to this category have a list of regulations pertaining to their proper use. Among these is the need for the driver to possess a valid license.

The Michigan Golf Cart Law explains that these carts are only allowed in certain smaller communities and on certain roads with speed limits below 35 mph. They cannot exceed 15 mph and must be driven by licensed drivers. Villages, towns and municipalities with a population of less than 30,000 may, by their ordinance, allow the movement of these wagons on the streets of that village, town or village. However, when using a golf cart on roads and public roads, the vehicle must comply with all driving regulations, including a valid license and registration.

Common Golf Cart Regulations in Florida & Other sTates

In Florida, you can operate a trolleybus on public roads with a speed limit of less than 25 miles per hour if you are at least 14 years old and traveling at least 20 miles per hour. You must have a special license to drive over 20 miles per hour and the cart must be registered and insured with the DMV. Golf cart operators are not required to have a driver’s license; however, a person must be at least 14 years of age to use a golf cart on designated public roads. However, various rules and restrictions govern how a person can operate a trolleybus.

Arizona law prohibits a person from driving a vehicle (golf cart) on the road without a valid driver’s license and proper permit. Arizona law states that a motor vehicle (golf cart) may not be used, moved or left on the road unless the vehicle was registered in the year it was registered or was properly registered in the year it was registered in the state. or the country where the owner or tenant lives.

A traditional “golf cart” as defined by the Tennessee Code cannot be registered and registered unless modified to meet all low or medium speed vehicle requirements in accordance with Tennessee law and federal safety standards (contained in 49 CFR 571.500.97) For road use. “Golf Cart” means a vehicle designed and constructed for sporting or recreational purposes for driving on a golf course at speeds not exceeding 20 miles per hour.

What a Golf Cart Is Defined As

A golf cart is strictly defined in the vehicle specification as a “vehicle with at least three wheels on the ground,” has an unladen weight of less than 1,300 pounds, is designed to operate at speeds of 15 mph or less, and is “designed for Bring golf equipment and no more than two people, including the driver,” Case said.

However, the same laws do not apply if you use the cart on private property or on a golf course. If you have a special permit, you can drive on public roads without a driver’s license. When driving, you must carry your driver’s license and insurance policy with you. There are other jurisdictions that allow you to drive on public roads and highways if you have a license and insurance.

You may not drive on a road with a speed limit greater than 25 miles per hour, except by order or regulation of local authorities. The code states that it is possible to cross a roadway with a speed limit greater than 35 mph if you are crossing an intersection from a roadway with a speed limit below 35 mph to another roadway with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. The vehicle code specifically states that low speed vehicles cannot be used on roads with a speed limit greater than 35 mph.

Florida law states that all off-road vehicles (ATVs) may only be used on dirt roads where the specified speed limit is less than 35 mph, and only during daylight hours.

General Heuristics for Golf Cart Legalities

As a general rule, a person is prohibited from driving it on a state highway, except for a short time crossing it while driving on an active highway on a village, city or town road. The Department of Highways may prohibit golf vehicles from driving on any highway under its jurisdiction if it determines that the ban is necessary in the interest of public safety. Except as required by section 169.7056, the vehicle equipment provisions of this chapter do not apply to motorized golf carts, utility vehicles, or all-terrain vehicles that are operated with a permit on designated roads.

The operator must comply with section 648 signaling requirements that apply to driving a vehicle. The ordinance may require, as a condition of obtaining a permit, that the applicant submit a certificate, signed by a doctor, that the applicant can safely operate a motorized golf cart, ATV, truck, or mini-truck on designated roads. .

While golf carts and other similar vehicles cannot exceed 20 mph under current NHTSA interpretations and regulations, they are only subject to state and local safety equipment requirements. However, if these vehicles were originally designed to go faster than 20 miles per hour, they would be considered motor vehicles under federal law. Under Florida law, an LSV (low speed vehicle) is defined as a four-wheeled electric vehicle with a top speed greater than 20 mph but less than 25 mph. Manufacturers designed these cars to only handle 20 mph—any faster speed could cause the golf cart to tip over.

Be Careful while on a Golf Cart

On top of all this, a driver can endanger their own safety by modifying their truck. An example of an illegal modification would be to increase the speed so that the cart can go faster than 15 miles per hour. If our reader wants to drive on such a road, Bloch said, a golf cart cannot be modified to go faster than 15 miles per hour, as Keyes noted.

Be sure to check with the golf course to ensure that your players under the age of 16 are able to drive their carts before heading to the golf course. It is also important to know if the state police check the roads you are going to drive on.

Therefore, you need to speak with your local government to fully understand the license restrictions. These people can help you not only understand your licensing needs, but also give you advice on how to get that license.

The age at which this license is issued varies by state. This license allows a teenager to drive in the presence of a fully licensed adult. However, this partial authorization does not entitle the child to use the cart unless, as in a standard vehicle, accompanied by a fully licensed adult. Section F requires that no golf cart driver be under the age of sixteen, and Section H states that no one whose driver’s license has been suspended or revoked may use a golf cart.

Yousef Savimbi

Yousef Savimbi is the avatar of Sporticane. Savimbi created Sporticane in order to provide general knowledge to aspiring young sports stars and their and as well as help them leverage their athleticism and passion into fulfilling careers.

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