Arkansas Golf Cart & LSV Laws (2026): What's Street Legal

Short answer: In Arkansas, a golf cart may be driven on city streets only where the city or incorporated town has passed an ordinance allowing it, and never on a street that is also a federal highway, state highway or county road; where an ordinance applies, state law requires no vehicle registration or license (Ark. Code § 14-54-1410). Arkansas statutes define a low-speed vehicle (LSV) in two places, but we found no state statute or Office of Motor Vehicle page that says which roads an LSV may use or how one is registered and insured, so confirm those specifics with the Office of Motor Vehicle before buying.

Last verified against Arkansas Code §§ 14-54-1410, 23-112-103 and 27-14-614 and Arkansas Attorney General Opinion 2013-138: . Reviewed by Mike Burdman and Joe Magaro, Low Speed Living / Cart Life TV (20 years combined golf cart experience). This page is general information, not legal advice; cities, counties and HOAs can add stricter rules.

Golf cart vs. LSV in Arkansas: side-by-side

Arkansas requirements for golf carts and low-speed vehicles
Rule Golf cart Low-speed vehicle (LSV)
Legal definition Not defined in § 14-54-1410 Four-wheeled motor vehicle that can exceed 20 mph but not 25 mph over one mile on a paved, level surface, with a gross vehicle weight under 3,000 lb (Ark. Code § 23-112-103, the motor vehicle dealer law). A separate fee statute, § 27-14-614, uses a 35 mph maximum
Where you can drive City streets in a municipality that has authorized golf carts by ordinance; not on streets that are also federal or state highways or county roads (§ 14-54-1410(a)) Road use, driver license, title, registration, insurance and night driving for LSVs are not set out in the state sources we read. Confirm the specifics with the Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicle and your local government.
Driver The statute says no motor vehicle registration or license is necessary where an ordinance applies (§ 14-54-1410(b)); the city may set a minimum age
Title and registration Not required where an ordinance applies (§ 14-54-1410(b))
Insurance No state requirement; the city may require liability insurance (Attorney General Opinion 2013-138)
Night driving Not specified in state law; check the city ordinance

Where can you drive a golf cart in Arkansas?

Golf cart use on public streets is a local decision under Ark. Code § 14-54-1410:

  • An ordinance is required. A city of the first class, a city of the second class or an incorporated town may pass an ordinance authorizing golf cart owners to drive on its city streets.
  • Highways and county roads are excluded. The ordinance cannot cover city streets that are also designated as federal highways, state highways or county roads.
  • No home-to-course limit. According to Attorney General Opinion 2013-138, Act 170 of 2013 removed an earlier restriction that limited trips to the route between the owner's home and a golf course.
  • Cities can say no. The same opinion concludes that a municipality may decline to pass an ordinance at all.

The statute speaks only to municipalities. We did not find authority for golf carts on county roads outside a city; check with your county.

What equipment does a golf cart need in Arkansas?

Not specified in state law. Section 14-54-1410 lists no equipment, so any requirement for lights, mirrors, flags or similar items comes from the city ordinance. Check with your local government.

How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Arkansas?

State law sets no age. Where a city has authorized golf carts, § 14-54-1410(b) says no motor vehicle registration or license is necessary to operate one on the public street (the statute does not say whether that means a driver license, a vehicle license, or both). Attorney General Opinion 2013-138 notes that no state statute governs golf cart operator age and concludes that a city allowing golf carts may set its own minimum age, so the answer depends on the ordinance.

Do you need registration and insurance in Arkansas?

Golf carts: when operated under a city ordinance and within the terms of § 14-54-1410, no motor vehicle registration or license is required. The state does not require insurance for golf carts, but Attorney General Opinion 2013-138 concludes that a city may require liability insurance as a condition of its ordinance.

LSVs: we found no state statute or Office of Motor Vehicle page setting title, registration or insurance requirements for LSVs, and the Office of Motor Vehicle's forms page listed no LSV-specific form when we checked it on November 12, 2026. One thing the statutes do show: the extra annual fee for electric vehicles ($200) does not apply to golf carts or low-speed vehicles, because § 27-14-614 excludes both from its definition of electric vehicle. Confirm current LSV registration and insurance requirements with the Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicle.

What makes a golf cart street legal (an LSV) in Arkansas?

A golf cart is street legal only on the city streets covered by a local ordinance. For LSVs, Arkansas law gives a definition but, in the sources we read, no operating rules. Ark. Code § 23-112-103, part of the motor vehicle dealer licensing law, defines a low-speed vehicle as a four-wheeled motor vehicle that can go faster than 20 mph but not faster than 25 mph and weighs under 3,000 lb gross, and counts it as a motor vehicle. A separate definition in § 27-14-614, used only for electric vehicle fees, describes an LSV as having a maximum speed capability of 35 mph. The two definitions differ because each applies only within its own law, one on dealer licensing and one on electric vehicle fees, and neither says which roads an LSV may use.

The federal standard for LSVs applies nationwide; see our federal street-legal requirements guide.

Can you convert a golf cart to an LSV in Arkansas?

We found no Arkansas statute or agency procedure for converting a golf cart and registering it as an LSV. Ask the Office of Motor Vehicle before spending money on a conversion.

Sources

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