Short answer: In Montana, a golf cart may be driven on a public street only where the county, city or town has authorized it by ordinance or regulation, the driver needs a valid driver's license, and the cart needs lights, a reflector, a horn and a mirror plus a one-time $25 state decal; it is otherwise exempt from title, registration and mandatory liability insurance. Montana's statutes do not use the term "low-speed vehicle"; they define a "low-speed electric vehicle" (four wheels, electric, certified top speed of 20 to 40 mph) with its own equipment list and a one-time $25 fee.
Last verified against the Montana Code Annotated 2025 (sections 61-1-101, 61-3-321, 61-8-391 and 61-9-432) and the 2023 text of sections 61-5-122 and 61-8-378: . 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. low-speed electric vehicle in Montana: side-by-side
| Rule | Golf cart | Low-speed electric vehicle (LSEV) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal definition | Built for golf course use to carry people and golf equipment, with an average speed under 15 mph (s. 61-1-101) | Four-wheeled electric vehicle with a manufacturer-certified top speed of at least 20 mph and no more than 40 mph, a wheelbase of at least 40 inches, wheels at least 10 inches in diameter and a 17-character VIN (s. 61-1-101) |
| Where you can drive | Only on public streets and highways where the local governing body (county, city or town) has specifically authorized golf carts by ordinance or regulation (s. 61-8-391(1)) | When driven by a holder of a low-speed restricted driver's license: only highways posted 25 mph or less, and no crossing of a highway posted above 45 mph (s. 61-8-378). Other road limits: not specified in the sections we reviewed |
| Driver | Valid driver's license (s. 61-8-391(2)). No minimum age is stated in that section | Section 61-8-378(1) refers to operation by a person holding a low-speed restricted driver's license; confirm with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division how this applies to drivers with a regular license |
| Title and registration | Exempt from title and registration, but a one-time $25 fee is paid for a state decal that must be displayed on the cart (ss. 61-8-391(4), 61-3-321(12)) | One-time $25 fee; a new owner must title and register the vehicle (s. 61-3-321(12), (15)) |
| Insurance | Exempt from mandatory liability insurance under Title 61 (s. 61-8-391(4)) | Not specified in the sections we reviewed; confirm with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division or your insurer |
| Night driving | No hours are stated in s. 61-8-391; lamps are required whenever the cart is on an authorized street. Check your local ordinance | No hours are stated in the sections we reviewed |
Where can you drive a golf cart in Montana?
Only on a public street or highway where the local governing body (the county, city or town with jurisdiction over that road) has specifically authorized golf cart operation by ordinance or regulation (section 61-8-391(1), Montana Code Annotated). Without that local authorization, golf carts may not be driven on public streets.
The rule is in section 61-8-391. It does not set a road speed-limit cap, crossing rules or hours of operation, so those details come from the local ordinance. A separate rule applies to people who hold a low-speed restricted driver's license: they may drive a golf cart or low-speed electric vehicle only on highways posted 25 mph or less and may not cross a highway posted above 45 mph (s. 61-8-378).
What equipment does a golf cart need in Montana?
A golf cart driven on an authorized public street must have at least one and no more than two headlamps, at least one taillamp, at least one reflector, stop lamps, a horn, and a mirror that gives the driver a view of the highway (section 61-8-391(3)). The state decal issued for the one-time $25 fee must be displayed on the cart (section 61-3-321(12)).
Seat belts, turn signals and a windshield are not on the golf cart list in s. 61-8-391. A local ordinance may ask for more.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Montana?
Section 61-8-391(2) requires a valid driver's license to operate a golf cart on an authorized public street; it does not state a separate minimum age. Montana also issues a low-speed restricted driver's license to people whose physical or other impairment prevents safe driving at normal highway speeds, which covers golf carts and low-speed electric vehicles (section 61-5-122).
An applicant for the restricted license must provide a medical evaluation or physician's statement and pass the vision, knowledge and (modified) road tests. A 30-day restricted learner license requires a licensed driver in the next seat (s. 61-5-122).
Do golf carts need registration or insurance in Montana?
Golf carts are exempt from Montana's titling, registration and mandatory liability insurance requirements, except that a one-time $25 fee is paid for a state decal that must be displayed on a cart authorized for street use (sections 61-8-391(4) and 61-3-321(12)). Low-speed electric vehicles also pay a one-time $25 fee, and a new owner must title and register the vehicle (section 61-3-321(12) and (15)).
Insurance rules for low-speed electric vehicles are not stated in the sections we reviewed. Penalties for violating the golf cart rules are also not stated in those sections.
What makes a golf cart street legal in Montana?
Montana has two routes. A golf cart stays a golf cart and becomes legal on specific streets when the local government authorizes it and the cart has the section 61-8-391 equipment and the state decal. Separately, a low-speed electric vehicle is a four-wheeled electric vehicle with a certified top speed of 20 to 40 mph, a 17-character VIN and the equipment listed in section 61-9-432.
Low-speed electric vehicle equipment under s. 61-9-432:
- Headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, taillamps and stop lamps
- Red reflectors on each side toward the rear and on the rear
- A driver-side exterior mirror plus a passenger-side exterior mirror or an interior mirror
- Parking brake
- A windshield meeting 49 CFR 571.205
- Seat belt assemblies meeting 49 CFR 571.209
Note: Montana's 20 to 40 mph definition is wider than the federal low-speed vehicle class, which tops out at 25 mph. See our federal street-legal requirements guide for the national low-speed vehicle standard.
Can you convert a golf cart to a low-speed electric vehicle in Montana?
Not specified in the state law we reviewed. The Montana Code sections above do not describe a conversion or inspection process, and the low-speed electric vehicle definition depends on a manufacturer-certified top speed and a 17-character VIN. Contact the Montana Motor Vehicle Division before buying parts for a conversion.
Sources
- Montana Code Annotated 2025, s. 61-8-391: Operation of golf carts
- Montana Code Annotated 2025, s. 61-1-101: Definitions (Justia copy)
- Montana Code Annotated 2025, s. 61-3-321: Registration fees
- Montana Code Annotated 2025, s. 61-9-432: Low-speed and medium-speed electric vehicles, required equipment
- Montana Code Annotated 2023, s. 61-8-378: Low-speed electric vehicle and golf cart operated with a low-speed restricted license
- Montana Code Annotated 2023, s. 61-5-122: Low-speed restricted driver's license (Justia copy)