Disclaimer: Please check your State’s Law or if you are in Ohio, your Local Municipality before making a decision. We are working diligently to provide you the best possible information about making your golf cart street legal. If you are wondering if are golf carts street legal, please make sure to use your local municipality or state’s regulations as resource first.
If you are wondering are golf carts street legal, most of the times, yes would be the answer. There are several reasons to own a golf cart today and it shows. Golf Carts can get you to and from particular locations that are in close proximity without having to use a bigger vehicle to get somewhere up the street from your home. You can use them for commercial use in the obvious sense on the golf course, or you can use them on educational campuses, sports facilities, and even more. With many benefits of owning a golf cart, can a golf cart be street legal? Are golf carts street legal? Let’s get right to it.
Benefits Of A Street Legal Golf Cart
There are literally quite a few reasons why it would be beneficial for a golf cart to be street legal. You could use your golf art for grocery shopping, driving up to the street to see a friend in the neighborhood, going to a restaurant, helping another person with their yard, and just so many more. We could go on and on as to how your golf cart being used for transportation on secondary highways or streets would beneficial for you. If you own a utility golf cart, like a golf cart with dump bed, you can help pick up things for transportation to another place or your home. If you own a six seated golf cart, you could transport you and some friends or the family just up the street anytime.
You can save more money just by driving up the road with your golf cart instead of having to get into a standard motorized vehicle or truck. If your golf cart is electric, you can save more money by not having to go to the pump. If you are on a campus or facility that requires a smaller vehicle to get to tighter proximities, a golf cart is your answer, and getting to use it on main roads makes them even better.
With just going over quite a few benefits. Are golf carts street legal? Let’s get to it!
State-By-State Condition
Most states if not all States in the United States allow golf carts for personal usage off of the road, and on road. However, the on road part comes with conditions you will not only need to comply with your state, but even down to the local scope of authority. It is very important to know your laws before making an informed decision to buy a golf cart. Every state has different laws and conditions for not only your golf cart being street legal, but also for ownership as well.
It is vitally important for you to check your State’s laws to make your golf cart street legal. We are working diligently to provide you the best information possible surrounding your state’s golf cart laws.
Making Your Golf Cart Street Legal In Ohio
Are golf carts street legal in Ohio? Yes they can be as long as you follow Ohio Golf Cart Laws. You can have your golf cart street legal as long as you follow these conditions in this article for Ohio Golf Cart Laws. To brief, you would just mainly need to get your golf cart inspected after purchase, have registration, title taken care of. You would also need to have your cart insured and pass other parameters.
These other parameters surrounding having your golf cart street legal in Ohio is the Golf Cart needs to pass as a Low Speed Vehicle and conditions for Ohio Roads.
Here are the guidelines on Required Equipment for operating a golf cart on Ohio Roads:
- Adequate brakes and braking system;
- Equipped with properly working brake lights, head lights, tail lights, and warning devices, also known as turn signals;
- A properly working steering mechanism
- A windshield to prohibit injury from any debris from the roadway
- A rear view mirror to reflect the operator a view of the public street or highway to the rear
- Appropriate tires that are free of major bumps, bulges, breaks, or any condition that would be cause for unsafe conditions
Additional Requirements For Making Your Golf Cart Street Legal In Ohio
Basically, just analyzing the points here, the State of Ohio just wants to make sure your golf cart is safe enough for travel on the road for you and others. We always recommend best practice and upkeep for golf carts as like a car, you do not want a faulty golf cart operating on secondary highways or streets in Ohio.
Here are the guidelines on what makes a golf cart an LSV.
- Headlamps
- Front and rear turn signals
- Taillamps
- Stop lamps
- Reflex reflectors, red – one on each side and one on the rear
- Exterior mirror on the driver side and an interior mirror or exterior mirror on passenger side
- Parking brake
- Windshield
- Reaches speeds of 20 MPH to 25 MPH.
- Has a vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Seatbelt for each designated seat
- Not be operated on any roadway with a speed limit above 35 mph.
To summarize, you need particular golf carts that are going to pass these inspections in high colors, and more in order to operate on streets and secondary highways.
When Can I Drive a Golf Cart In Ohio
It is vitally important to note that in order to operate a golf cart or Low Speed Vehicle in Ohio, you must be the age of 16 or over. Anyone under 16 years of age cannot operate a golf cart or a Low Speed Vehicle on any street or secondary highway in the State of Ohio. If your golf cart is approved by local law enforcement, you are insured with minimum liability, pass the above conditions, and have registration and title provided, you are ready for the road.
Do I Need Insurance For My Street Legal Golf Cart
Yes you do in the State of Ohio. You need at least liability covering your golf cart in order for it to be street legal.
Golf Carts Have Been Recently Added As Street Legal
Did you know the State of Ohio only had eight communities in the entire State allow golf carts to be used on public roads? Fun fact, on January 1, 2017, the State of Ohio passed a law that as long as your golf cart reaches at most 20mph or lower. You can legally drive your golf cart on secondary highways or streets as long as the road’s speed limit is 35mph or less. You also need to pass the same conditions as mentioned above.
Resources For Ohioans
- BMV Golf Cart Approved Jurisdictions (Still Call Your Local Municipality)
- Federal Laws Around Golf Carts
- Application For Certificate to Motor Vehicle in Ohio
- Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) Law in Ohio
- Golf Cart Resource Article: Ohio Golf Cart & Low Speed Vehicle Laws
- Our Article About Ohio Golf Cart & LSV Laws
Conclusion
We hope that this helps answer your question are golf carts street legal. If you have further questions about States other than Ohio, let us know. We are currently working on getting all of the information possible on other states. Hartville Golf Carts is a golf cart dealer in Northeast Ohio providing golf carts for the United States. We offer a wide variety of shipping options for out of state buyers and in state buyers. We are passionate about golf carts and carry a wide variety in different brands at our multiple locations.