Short answer: In Michigan, a golf cart may be driven on local streets only where a village, city or township with fewer than 65,000 residents has passed a resolution allowing it. The driver must be at least 16 and licensed, the cart may not exceed 15 mph or use streets posted above 30 mph, and it may not be driven from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunrise (MCL 257.657a). A low-speed vehicle (LSV) may travel at up to 25 mph on streets posted 35 mph or less (MCL 257.660).
Last verified against the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.657a as amended by 2026 PA 73, MCL 257.660 and MCL 257.25b) and Michigan State Police guidance: . 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 Michigan: side-by-side
| Rule | Golf cart | Low-speed vehicle (LSV) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal definition | A vehicle designed for transportation while playing golf (MCL 257.657a(21)); no top-speed figure in the definition | A self-propelled motor vehicle that meets the federal LSV definition (49 CFR 571.3) and the federal LSV standard (49 CFR 571.500) (MCL 257.25b) |
| Where you can drive | Only on streets in a village, city or township under 65,000 population that has allowed golf carts by resolution; not on streets posted above 30 mph or on state trunk lines, except to cross (MCL 257.657a) | Streets and highways posted 35 mph or less; may cross faster roads (MCL 257.660(8)) |
| Maximum speed | 15 mph | 25 mph |
| Driver | At least 16 and licensed to drive a motor vehicle (MCL 257.657a(5)) | Not stated in MCL 257.660; we could not confirm it from a state source |
| Title and registration | The local unit may keep a no-fee list of carts and operators (MCL 257.657a(2)); no state title or plate requirement appears in the section | Not confirmed from the sources we reviewed; check with the Michigan Department of State |
| Insurance | Carts used on local streets under this law need not be registered for purposes of the no-fault insurance law (MCL 257.657a(20)) | Not confirmed from the sources we reviewed; check with the Michigan Department of State |
| Night driving | Not allowed from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunrise (MCL 257.657a(16)) | No night-time restriction is stated in MCL 257.660 |
Where can you drive a golf cart in Michigan?
Only in communities that have opted in. A village or city with fewer than 65,000 residents may allow golf carts on its streets by resolution, and so may a township of that size unless the county board disapproves after a hearing. Even there, golf carts may not exceed 15 mph, may not use streets posted above 30 mph or state trunk line highways except to cross them, and may not use sidewalks (MCL 257.657a).
- Population limit changed in 2026. The threshold was 30,000 until 2026 PA 73 took effect on July 27, 2026. The Michigan State Police traffic-law FAQ still showed the older 30,000 figure when we checked; the statute text on the Legislature's site shows 65,000.
- State trunk lines. A local unit with 30,000 or fewer residents may ask the Michigan Department of Transportation to authorize golf carts on a non-freeway trunk line segment that meets the criteria in the statute (MCL 257.657a(9)-(10)).
- Designated roads and paths. The local unit may designate which roads are open and may require use of a golf cart path where one exists.
- Rules of the road. Keep as far right as practicable, follow turn-signal rules and do not pass between lanes of traffic. Helmets are not required.
- Elsewhere. The Michigan State Police say a cart that is not titled, registered and insured for on-road use can otherwise be on a highway only in very limited circumstances under the off-road vehicle law.
What equipment does a golf cart need in Michigan?
State law does not set a statewide equipment list for golf carts used under a local resolution. Instead, the village, city or township may require carts to meet some or all LSV-style safety standards, such as headlamps, tail, stop and signal lamps, red reflectors, mirrors, brakes, a horn, a windshield, a manufacturer's identification number and safety belts (MCL 257.657a(21)). Check your local resolution or ordinance for the exact list.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Michigan?
You must be at least 16 years old and licensed to operate a motor vehicle to drive a golf cart on a Michigan street (MCL 257.657a(5)).
Do golf carts need to be registered or insured in Michigan?
A golf cart driven on local streets under MCL 257.657a does not have to be registered for purposes of Michigan's no-fault insurance law (MCL 257.657a(20)). The village, city or township may require carts and their operators to be recorded on a local list but may not charge a fee for the listing. Title, plate and insurance rules for LSVs are not set out in the sections we reviewed, so confirm them with the Michigan Department of State.
Can you drive a golf cart at night in Michigan?
No. Golf carts may not be operated on city, village or township streets or state trunk lines from a half hour before sunset to a half hour after sunrise (MCL 257.657a(16)).
What makes a golf cart street legal (an LSV) in Michigan?
Michigan defines a low-speed vehicle as one that meets both the federal LSV definition and the federal LSV equipment standard (MCL 257.25b). An LSV may be driven at up to 25 mph on streets posted 35 mph or less and may cross faster roads; it may not use sidewalks, and the state transportation department can close roads under its jurisdiction to LSVs for safety (MCL 257.660).
See our federal street-legal requirements guide for the national LSV standard.
Converting a golf cart: we could not confirm a Michigan procedure for titling a converted golf cart as an LSV from the statutes or agency pages we reviewed. Contact the Michigan Department of State before converting or buying a converted cart.
Penalties: MCL 257.657a does not state its own penalty.