Short answer: Golf cart laws in the United States work on three levels. Federal law defines what a street-legal low-speed vehicle (LSV) is and how it must be equipped. State law decides which roads golf carts and LSVs may use and what license, registration and insurance apply. Cities, counties and communities can then designate roads or add stricter rules. This directory links each level to the statute or ordinance it comes from.
Maintained by Low Speed Living / Cart Life TV. Reviewed by Mike Burdman and Joe Magaro (20 years combined golf cart experience). Last updated . General information, not legal advice.
Golf cart vs. LSV: the distinction every law depends on
| Golf cart | Low-speed vehicle (LSV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 20 mph or less | Above 20 mph, not above 25 mph |
| Federal equipment standard | None | FMVSS No. 500 (lights, mirrors, seat belts, windshield, VIN and more) |
| Typical road access | Only roads a local government designates | Most states: roads posted 35 mph or less |
| Typical paperwork | Often none | Title, registration, insurance, driver license |
Some states use different names and thresholds, such as "neighborhood electric vehicle" or "personal transportation vehicle"; each state page uses that state's own terms. Full detail on the federal standard: What makes a golf cart street legal? Federal LSV requirements.
Golf cart and LSV laws by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Laws by city and community
Florida
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How we verify these pages
- Every rule is taken from the statute, regulation, ordinance or government agency publication, and linked.
- Each page shows the date it was last checked.
- Where an agency summary and the statute text differ, or where state law is silent, the page says so.
Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will re-check it.