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

Short answer: In Tennessee, the Department of Revenue says a golf cart (not capable of exceeding 20 mph) generally cannot be driven on a highway, and an unmodified golf cart cannot be titled or registered for road use. A low-speed vehicle (above 20 mph but not above 25 mph) may be driven on streets posted 35 mph or less by a driver carrying a valid Class D license, and must be titled and registered through the county clerk. Tennessee also has a medium-speed vehicle class (above 30 mph, capped at 35 mph) for streets posted 40 mph or less.

Last verified against the Tennessee Code Annotated and Tennessee 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 Tennessee: side-by-side

Tennessee requirements for golf carts and low-speed vehicles
Rule Golf cart Low-speed vehicle (LSV)
Legal definition Motor vehicle designed and manufactured for golf course use, not capable of exceeding 20 mph; the section also refers to seat belts for the two front seats (T.C.A. 55-1-123) Four-wheeled electric or gasoline vehicle, excluding golf carts, with a top speed above 20 mph but not above 25 mph, meeting 49 C.F.R. 571.500 (T.C.A. 55-1-122)
Where you can drive Generally not on a highway, per the Department of Revenue (citing T.C.A. 55-8-185) Streets posted 35 mph or less; may cross faster roads at intersections (T.C.A. 55-8-191(a))
Driver Not specified in the state sources we reviewed Valid Class D driver license in your possession (T.C.A. 55-8-191(c))
Title and registration An unmodified golf cart cannot be titled or registered for road use (Department of Revenue Notice 08-21) Title and registration through the county clerk, with proof of ownership and a Low-Speed Vehicle Affidavit
Insurance Not specified in the state sources we reviewed Not addressed in the state sources we read; the Kingsport Police summary of state law says LSVs must be insured with proof available
Night driving Not specified Not specifically addressed; headlamps and tail lamps are required equipment

Where can you drive a golf cart in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Department of Revenue's guidance (article VTR-55) states that a golf cart generally cannot be driven on a highway, citing T.C.A. 55-8-185. That section restricts off-highway motor vehicles on highways; the text we read does not mention golf carts by name, so the statement is the agency's reading. We could not confirm from a state source whether cities may open specific streets to unregistered golf carts: not specified in the sources we reviewed; check with your local government.

LSVs may use streets posted 35 mph or less and may cross faster roads at intersections. A county, a municipality or the Department of Transportation may ban LSVs from roads under its jurisdiction for safety (T.C.A. 55-8-191(a)).

Medium-speed vehicles (four-wheeled, golf carts excluded, top speed above 30 mph) may travel at up to 35 mph on streets posted 40 mph or less, with the same crossing rule and the same local power to prohibit (T.C.A. 55-1-125, 55-8-191(b)).

What equipment does a golf cart need in Tennessee?

For an unmodified golf cart: not specified in the state sources we reviewed, because the state does not register them for road use. LSVs and medium-speed vehicles must meet the federal standard at 49 C.F.R. 571.500 (T.C.A. 55-1-122, 55-1-125); the equipment list is below.

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

No golf cart age is stated in the state sources we read. Anyone driving an LSV or medium-speed vehicle must carry a valid Class D driver license (T.C.A. 55-8-191(c)).

Do golf carts need registration or insurance in Tennessee?

An unmodified golf cart cannot be titled or registered for road use (Notice 08-21). LSVs and medium-speed vehicles are titled and registered through the county clerk with proof of ownership and the matching affidavit; the Department of Revenue lists the Low-Speed Vehicle Affidavit as form RV-F16031. Fees are not listed on the pages we read. The Revenue pages we read do not address insurance; the Kingsport Police Department's summary of state law says an LSV or medium-speed vehicle must be insured and proof must be available. Confirm coverage requirements with your county clerk or insurer.

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

Department of Revenue Notice 08-21 lists the 49 C.F.R. 571.500 equipment:

  • Headlamps, stop lamps, tail lamps and front and rear turn signals
  • Red reflectors on each side near the rear and one on the back
  • A driver-side exterior mirror plus a passenger-side or interior mirror
  • Parking brake
  • Windshield meeting 49 C.F.R. 571.205
  • A seat belt at each seating position
  • A vehicle identification number (VIN)

See our federal street-legal requirements guide for the national standard.

How do you convert a golf cart to an LSV in Tennessee?

Notice 08-21 (written for medium-speed vehicles) says a golf cart that is modified to meet every low-speed or medium-speed vehicle requirement no longer fits the golf cart definition, and that a clerk may title and register a modified cart once the owner files the affidavit certifying compliance. The Kingsport Police summary describes the same route for LSVs.

  1. Bring the cart into the required speed range and install all 49 C.F.R. 571.500 equipment, including a VIN.
  2. Complete the Low-Speed Vehicle Affidavit (or the Medium-Speed Vehicle Affidavit).
  3. Apply for title and registration at your county clerk with proof of ownership.

The statutory definitions exclude golf carts (T.C.A. 55-1-122, 55-1-125), so approval depends on the clerk accepting that the vehicle no longer is one. Notice 08-21 dates from 2008; confirm the current process with your county clerk before buying parts.

Sources

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