WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GOLF CARTS AND LOW SPEED VEHICLES?

 

Although golf carts may share some characteristics with low-speed vehicles, there are also significant differences between the two. These differences are not just physical but also legal. However, it is possible to convert your golf cart into a low-speed vehicle.

Do you have a golf cart that you want to start driving on public roads? Not so fast. There are certain requirements you have to meet before you can start driving with the big boys.

Continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know when it comes to the differences between golf carts and low-speed vehicles and when you can and can’t drive them on the street.

What is a Low-Speed Vehicle?

The federal government has three criteria that must be met for something to be considered a low-speed vehicle (LSV). First, it must have four wheels. Second, its maximum speed must be between 20 miles per hour and 25 miles per hour. And finally, its GVWR (total weight including cargo, passengers, and the vehicle itself) must not exceed 2,500 pounds.

Typically, low-speed vehicles are used for hunting, meter maids, grounds keeping, yard work, and campus security. Most low-speed vehicles are extremely low weight and can carry up to 6 passengers plus cargo and still be under the weight limit. This affords them excellent mileage.

They are becoming increasingly popular among environmentally conscious drivers who want to have a smaller carbon footprint. Families that had both an LSV and a regular car showed to have a 23% reduction in transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions.

As most LSVs are electric, many can go up to 30 miles on a full charge. This can satisfy the commuting needs of most drivers. Granted that the LSV would need to be driving at a constant speed of 20 miles per hour.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles

A popular type of LSV is the NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle). These are powered by rechargeable batteries and are mainly used by seniors to get around their communities.

Let’s take a look at one example in particular. The Villages is a master-planned age-restricted community in Florida. Here the NEVs and LSVs actually outnumber the amount of regular-sized cars. In fact, they have 87 miles of road specifically designed for low-speed vehicles.

This shows that LSV not only have industrial but also real-world commuter uses as well.

Are Low-Speed Vehicles Safe to Drive?

Legally speaking, yes, low-speed vehicles are safe enough to drive on the street. Unfortunately, low-speed vehicles are not nearly as safe as that full-size car idling right next to you. They may be safer than most golf carts but that fact won’t buy you a lot of protection should you get into a serious accident.

It is important to note that low-speed vehicles do not have to meet the same strict safety requirements that standard passenger cars do. Remember that LSVs don’t have airbags and have very few safety protections overall. If you are driving one on a public road then you need to be extra vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

What is a Golf Cart?

According to the law, a golf cart is a vehicle that is intended to be driven on a golf course and should not exceed a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. Golf carts straight from the factory are often not street legal. They lack the safety components outfitted on low-speed vehicles which make them legal.

If you wanted to drive a golf cart on a public road, you would need to convert it so that it meets the legal requirements. For example, low-speed vehicles have certain safety features such as seat belts, turn signals, headlights, windshield wipers, and things of that nature.

Also, any low-speed vehicle that is driven on the road needs to be registered. The driver needs a valid driver’s license, registration, and vehicle insurance.

Still, a golf cart is a motorized vehicle. Whether or not it is legal to drive on a public street, you can’t drink alcohol and operate one. Believe it or not, you can be charged with having an open container or even a DUI while driving a golf cart.

Are Golf Carts Safe to Drive?

Standard golf carts are even less safe to drive than low-speed vehicles. They should be kept to the golf course or other areas where traditional cars and trucks do not go. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are over 10,000 visits to the emergency room every year due to a golf cart-related accident.

When it comes to insurance, motorcycle insurance will often cover golf carts. However, street legal golf carts, as well as low-speed vehicles, require your standard car insurance.

It is a good idea to speak to your current car insurance company and see what services they provide when it comes to covering golf carts and low-speed vehicles.

How to Make a Golf Cart Street Legal

Golf carts are extremely popular within retirement communities. In fact, there are many communities in the United States that rely heavily on these electric vehicles to get around. Walking can sometimes be difficult for the elderly while driving a regular car can be burdensome and even unsafe.

Driving a street legal golf cart is an excellent way to pick up groceries, go around the neighbourhood, and even find your way around that golf course. To get your cart from being golf course-bound to being street legal, you need to convert it into a low-speed vehicle.

Because most golf carts are slower at maneuvering turns and quick stops, they are much more dangerous to drive on the road when compared with regular-sized cars.

Laws to Abide

Many states have laws on the books that state that street legal golf carts need to avoid major thoroughfares and let regular-sized cars pass them if they are going too slow. In fact, most states require that low-speed vehicles can’t drive on roads that have speed limits higher than 35 miles per hour.

Also, anyone operating a street legal golf cart needs to obey all of the laws of the road. This means using their turn signals, stopping at stop signs, and yielding to pedestrians.

The bare minimum of items you need to have installed on your golf cart to make it legal includes tail lights, blinkers, mirrors, a windshield and windshield wipers, headlights, seat belts, a horn, and reflectors.

As stated earlier, you also need a registration, a driver’s license, and insurance. You will most likely need a license plate as well. It is also important to remember that laws pertaining to driving golf carts vary by state and municipality.

These laws are always changing. Be sure to do specific research for the area in which you live and contact your local DMV if you want to learn more.