Short answer: In South Carolina, a golf cart needs an SCDMV permit decal and registration certificate ($5, with proof of ownership and liability insurance) and a licensed driver at least 16 years old. Unless a city or county ordinance says otherwise, it may be driven only in daylight, on secondary highways posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of the registered address (S.C. Code § 56-2-90). A low-speed vehicle (LSV) must be titled, registered and insured like a passenger car and may use highways posted 35 mph or less; a retrofitted golf cart cannot qualify as an LSV (§§ 56-2-100, 56-2-120).
Last verified against the South Carolina Code of Laws (§§ 56-2-90 to 56-2-120, as amended by 2025 Act No. 64), SCDPS guidance and SCDMV Form GC-2: . 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 South Carolina: side-by-side
| Rule | Golf cart | Low-speed vehicle (LSV) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal definition | Section 56-2-90 refers simply to a vehicle commonly known as a golf cart; no speed threshold is stated there | Must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (49 C.F.R. § 571.500) at all times (§ 56-2-100(C)); we did not confirm the speed wording of the state definition |
| Where you can drive | Default: secondary highways posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of the registered address (or of a gated community entrance); may cross faster highways at intersections. Local ordinances can change hours, methods and locations on roads posted 35 mph or less (§ 56-2-90) | Highways posted 35 mph or less; may cross faster highways at intersections (§ 56-2-100) |
| Driver | At least 16 with a valid driver's license, carrying the license, registration certificate and proof of insurance (§ 56-2-90(B)) | At least 16 with a valid driver's license, carrying the license and registration card (§ 56-2-110) |
| Title and registration | SCDMV permit decal and registration certificate, $5, replaced every five years or on a change of address (§ 56-2-90(A)) | Required: title, registration and a special LSV license plate (§ 56-2-120) |
| Insurance | Proof of liability insurance required (§ 56-2-90); amounts not stated in that section | Same insurance requirements as passenger vehicles (§ 56-2-120(C)); amounts not stated in that section |
| Night driving | Daylight only, unless a local ordinance allows night use for carts with working headlights and taillights (§ 56-2-90) | No night restriction appears in § 56-2-100 |
Where can you drive a golf cart in South Carolina?
South Carolina rewrote its golf cart law in 2025 Act No. 64, effective May 22, 2025. Under S.C. Code § 56-2-90(D), where no local ordinance applies, a permitted golf cart may:
- Daylight. Be driven during daylight hours only.
- Roads. Be driven only on secondary highways posted 35 mph or less.
- Distance. Stay within 4 miles of the address on the registration certificate, or within 4 miles of an entrance or exit of the gated community if the address is inside one.
- Crossings. Cross a highway at an intersection where the speed limit is above 35 mph.
Local ordinances. A municipality, or a county for its unincorporated areas, may by ordinance set the hours, methods and locations of golf cart operation and allow night driving for carts with working headlights and taillights, in both cases only on highways posted 35 mph or less. It may also designate golf cart paths on road shoulders if the path is separated from traffic by a hard concrete curb, parking spaces, or at least 4 feet. A locality may not require proof of property ownership or a long-term rental agreement to get a decal (§ 56-2-90(C)).
What equipment does a golf cart need in South Carolina?
Section 56-2-90 does not set a general equipment list for golf carts. It does require that every passenger under 12 wear a fastened safety belt while the cart is on public streets and highways, and it requires working headlights and taillights for night driving where a local ordinance permits it. SCDMV's permit form notes the seat belt rule does not apply to passengers in a golf course-owned cart being used for golf.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in South Carolina?
The driver must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver's license, and must carry the license, the registration certificate and proof of liability insurance while driving (S.C. Code § 56-2-90(B)).
Do golf carts need registration or insurance in South Carolina?
Yes. To drive on a public highway, the owner must get a permit decal and registration certificate from SCDMV by showing proof of ownership and proof of liability insurance and paying $5. The decal must be replaced every five years or when the owner changes address, whichever comes first (§ 56-2-90(A)). The section refers to liability insurance under § 38-77-140 but does not itself state dollar amounts.
SCDMV's Form GC-2 lists $5 for a first-time decal and registration, $5 for a renewal, $5 for a replacement decal and $1 for a replacement registration. The form also tells sellers to notify SCDMV in writing of the buyer's name, address and sale date and to remove the decal.
Penalty. Chapter 2 has a general penalty section (§ 56-2-4000) making a violation of the chapter a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail unless another penalty applies. We read that as covering the golf cart and LSV sections, but the chapter has no penalty written specifically for them.
What makes a golf cart street legal (an LSV) in South Carolina?
A golf cart is street legal as a golf cart once it has the SCDMV permit and follows the rules above. It cannot become a low-speed vehicle. Under S.C. Code § 56-2-120(A), an LSV's manufacturer's or importer's certificate of origin must identify it as a low-speed vehicle and certify compliance with 49 C.F.R. § 571.500, and the State will not issue VINs to homemade low-speed vehicles, retrofitted golf carts or similar vehicles, which do not qualify as LSVs.
For a true LSV:
- It may be driven only on highways posted 35 mph or less and may cross faster highways at intersections (§ 56-2-100).
- It must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 whenever it is on a highway; meeting that federal standard satisfies the state's equipment requirements (§ 56-2-100(C)).
- The driver must be at least 16 with a valid license and carry the license and registration card (§ 56-2-110).
- It must be titled, is registered and licensed like a passenger vehicle with a special LSV plate, and is subject to the same insurance requirements (§ 56-2-120).
- Local governments may adopt stricter LSV ordinances, and a county, municipality or the Department of Transportation may ban LSVs from a street or highway for safety (§ 56-2-100).
See our federal street-legal requirements guide for the national standard.
Sources
- S.C. Code Title 56, Chapter 2 (2025 Code of Laws): §§ 56-2-90, 56-2-100, 56-2-110, 56-2-120, 56-2-4000
- 2025 Act No. 64 (H.3292): golf cart law, effective May 22, 2025
- South Carolina Department of Public Safety: Golf Cart Law
- SCDMV Form GC-2 (rev. 05/2026): Golf Cart Permit Decal and Registration Application