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A Beginner's Guide to LSV Golf Carts

Oct. 5 2021 Buying Guide By Quality Golf Carts

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The term "LSV golf cart" means a low-speed vehicle and is another way of saying a street legal golf cart. There are two ways to get an LSV golf cart: purchasing a model designed to be street legal or modifying an existing golf cart. For more information on LSV golf carts, read on! If you have any questions or want to shop golf carts for sale, visit Quality Golf Carts. Our dealership is located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and we also serve those in Charlotte.

Comparing an LSV to a Standard Golf Cart

There are a few key differences between an LSV golf cart and a typical golf cart.

A standard golf cart usually can't go over 20 miles per hour. It's built with a golf course in mind, but owners can modify the vehicle to better navigate places such as residential neighborhoods and beaches.

An LSV, on the other hand, usually has a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. It's built to be street legal and can be legally driven on most roads that have a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. Some golf carts are made to be street legal from the start while others are altered to qualify as an LSV.

Before a vehicle can qualify as an LSV, it needs to meet certain federal safety standards and possibly some state laws too. These standards make LSVs safer than a standard golf cart, but they also increase the cost.

The Requirements for an LSV Classification

An LSV must have: windshield wipers, on-road tires, automotive safety windshield glass, headlights and brake lights, turn signals, a horn, rearview mirrors, parking brakes, seatbelts, and a vehicle identification number.

The Requirements to Drive an LSV

Before someone can legally operate an LSV, they need a learner's permit or driver's license. 

Second, they must also register the LSV and apply for a registration and a title. Many states will require a Certificate of Origin for new golf carts or the previous owner's Certificate of Title.

Third, they will need to get insurance coverage. There will be a minimum amount of insurance coverage required by the state. In general, this involves Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability. There are also additional insurance coverage options to consider.

Finally, the LSV will need to be inspected. Golf carts that use an electrical motor or batteries won't need to go through an emissions test. Golf carts that run off of liquid (such as gas) will need to pass an emissions test.

Ready to shop golf carts for sale? Check out the selection at Quality Golf Carts. Explore the available models online or stop by our dealership in Rock Hill, South Carolina. We also proudly serve Charlotte, North Carolina.