How to Make Your Golf Cart Street-Legal
Golf carts are not just designed for riding around the golf course – you can use them to explore other places and perform a variety of tasks. Some states allow you to modify your golf cart to make it street-legal and use it to run errands around the city. Many aftermarket features can be added to improve visibility and handling so that your vehicle doesn’t pose a risk to other motorists. If you’re interested in taking your golf cart out on the road, we have created this guide to help you make it street-legal.
Add the Right Lights
Your golf cart is smaller and less visible than other commuter vehicles and many don’t have lights added. To be street-legal, golf carts need lights that are good enough to improve your visibility as you drive while also alerting other motorists to your presence. Your vehicle will need to have turn signals, brake lights, headlights, and taillights, so these are some modifications you’ll need to make.
Get a License Plate
You’ll need a license plate on your golf cart in order to make it street-legal. For this, you’ll require a visit to the DMV to properly register your vehicle for road usage. The license plate will need to be mounted to the bumper and illuminated for visibility.
Check the State Laws
Every state has its own laws governing whether or not golf carts may be ridden on public streets. You’ll need to register your vehicle with the state DMV and needless to say, you must have a valid driver’s license. Avoid operating your golf cart in an irresponsible manner, which means that you should always wear the appropriate safety gear, follow posted speed limits, and remain sober. Plus, make sure to look up relevant state laws about low-speed golf carts before you buy and operate one of these vehicles.
Safety First
It’s also important to choose the right riding gear to ensure you’ll be safe. You should always wear durable full-length clothing and a helmet. It's also important to stay aware of your surroundings. An accident in a golf cart can be more fatal because you don't have the same protection from other vehicles as they do from you. That’s why you’ll want to drive defensively and leave plenty of space between you and the other vehicles.
We hope that these tips have been helpful. If you’ve any questions about making a golf cart street-legal, get in touch with us at Quality Golf Carts in Rock Hill, SC. We also have a wide selection of golf carts for sale, so it’ll be easy for you to find a model that meets your needs. We proudly serve all those in Charlotte, NC.