Short answer: In South Dakota, a golf cart may be driven on a state or county highway only where the posted limit is 25 mph or less, or to cross the highway at a right angle; cities and certain townships can open their own streets to golf carts by ordinance, which must require insurance, a licensed driver and a local permit. A low-speed vehicle (above 20 mph but not above 25 mph) must be titled, registered and plated and may not be driven where the speed limit is over 35 mph. A retrofitted golf cart cannot be made into an LSV in South Dakota.
Last verified against the South Dakota Codified Laws and South Dakota Department of Revenue 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 South Dakota: side-by-side
| Rule | Golf cart | Low-speed vehicle (LSV) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal definition | Four-wheeled vehicle originally and specifically built to carry people and golf clubs for play on a golf course (SDCL 32-14-13). The definition sets no speed threshold | Four-wheeled motor vehicle that can reach more than 20 mph but not more than 25 mph within one mile on a paved, level surface (Department of Revenue); must meet the federal standard at 49 C.F.R. 571.500 (SDCL 32-3-71) |
| Where you can drive | State or county highways posted 25 mph or less (SDCL 32-14-15.1); crossing other state or county highways at a right angle (SDCL 32-14-15); city or township streets opened by ordinance (SDCL 32-14-14) | Not on any highway where the speed limit is more than 35 mph (SDCL 32-25-27) |
| Driver | Driver license required under a local golf cart ordinance (SDCL 32-14-14). SDCL 32-14-15.1 says the driver remains subject to state motor vehicle operation laws | Not addressed on the Department of Revenue LSV page or in the LSV sections we read |
| Title and registration | Local permit under an ordinance; no state title or registration requirement appears in the golf cart sections we read | Title required (SDCL 32-3-71); registration and a low-speed vehicle plate required (SDCL 32-5-152) |
| Insurance | Required under a local golf cart ordinance; no dollar amount stated (SDCL 32-14-14) | Not addressed in the LSV sources we read |
| Night driving | Not specified in state law; check with your local government | Not specifically addressed; headlamps and tail lamps are required equipment |
Where can you drive a golf cart in South Dakota?
State law treats state and county highways differently from local streets:
- State or county highways posted 25 mph or less. Since a 2023 amendment, anyone may drive a golf cart on these stretches, while following the state laws on operating a motor vehicle (SDCL 32-14-15.1).
- Crossing faster state or county highways. Allowed only at a right angle, after stopping and yielding to all approaching traffic, and as close as possible to an intersection or approach (SDCL 32-14-15).
- City and township streets. A municipality, or a township containing an unincorporated town, may pass a traffic ordinance allowing golf carts on highways within its platted boundaries (SDCL 32-14-14). For this purpose "municipality" also covers county improvement districts (SDCL 32-14-16).
Driving a golf cart on a state or county highway in any other way is a Class 2 misdemeanor (SDCL 32-14-15). An LSV may not be driven on any highway where the speed limit is above 35 mph, and local governments may adopt stricter LSV ordinances (SDCL 32-25-27).
What equipment does a golf cart need in South Dakota?
The state golf cart sections we read do not list mandatory equipment. A local ordinance may require a slow-moving vehicle emblem or a white or amber warning light (SDCL 32-14-14). Beyond that: not specified in state law; check with your local government.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in South Dakota?
No minimum age is stated in the golf cart sections. Where a city or township allows golf carts by ordinance, the operator must hold a driver license (SDCL 32-14-14). On state or county highways posted 25 mph or less, the statute says drivers must follow the state laws governing motor vehicle operation (SDCL 32-14-15.1); it does not spell out a license rule in that section, so confirm with local law enforcement.
Do golf carts need registration or insurance in South Dakota?
A local golf cart ordinance must require that the cart be insured and that the operator obtain a permit from the local authority, which may charge a permit fee (SDCL 32-14-14). The statute gives no insurance or fee amounts. LSVs must be issued a certificate of title (SDCL 32-3-71), registered and fitted with a plate identifying them as low-speed vehicles (SDCL 32-5-152). The Department of Revenue asks for Form 1001 (Application for Title and Registration) and Form 1015 (Low Speed and Off-Road Vehicle Affidavit), with fees paid through the county treasurer. Insurance for LSVs is not addressed in the sources we reviewed.
What makes a vehicle street legal as an LSV in South Dakota?
The Department of Revenue lists this equipment for a low-speed plate:
- Headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps and front and rear turn signals
- Red reflex reflectors on each side as far back as practical
- A driver-side exterior mirror plus a passenger-side or interior mirror
- Parking brake
- Windshield meeting the federal glazing standard
- Seat belt assemblies (Type 1 or Type 2)
- A conforming vehicle identification number (VIN)
The manufacturer's certificate of origin or the title must identify the vehicle as a low-speed vehicle (SDCL 32-3-71). See our federal street-legal requirements guide for the national standard.
Can you convert a golf cart to an LSV in South Dakota?
No. Under SDCL 32-3-71, the Department may not assign a VIN to a homemade low-speed vehicle or a retrofitted golf cart, and neither counts as a low-speed vehicle in the state. To get an LSV plate you need a vehicle whose origin paperwork already identifies it as a low-speed vehicle.
Sources
- SDCL chapter 32-14 (index): golf cart sections 32-14-13 to 32-14-16
- SDCL 32-14-15: Golf cart, limited operation crossing highway; misdemeanor
- SDCL 32-14-15.1: Golf cart, limited operation on highway
- SDCL 32-14-13: Golf cart defined (unofficial copy)
- SDCL 32-14-14: Local golf cart ordinances (unofficial copy)
- SDCL 32-14-16: Municipalities and improvement districts (unofficial copy)
- SDCL 32-3-71: Low-speed vehicles, title (unofficial copy)
- SDCL 32-5-152: Low-speed vehicles, registration and plate (unofficial copy)
- SDCL 32-25-27: Low-speed vehicles, 35 mph limit (unofficial copy)
- South Dakota Department of Revenue: Low-Speed Vehicles