Short answer: Under federal law, a street-legal golf cart is a low-speed vehicle (LSV): a four-wheeled vehicle with a top speed above 20 mph but not above 25 mph and a gross vehicle weight rating under 3,000 pounds. It must be built with the twelve equipment items listed in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500 (49 CFR 571.500). A golf cart that tops out at 20 mph or less is not covered by the federal standard; its road use is governed entirely by state and local law.
Last verified against 49 CFR 571.500: . Reviewed by Mike Burdman and Joe Magaro, Low Speed Living / Cart Life TV (20 years combined golf cart experience). General information, not legal advice.
What equipment does an LSV need?
FMVSS No. 500, paragraph S5(b), requires every low-speed vehicle to have:
- Headlamps
- Front and rear turn signal lamps
- Taillamps
- Stop lamps
- Red reflex reflectors: one on each side as far to the rear as practicable, and one on the rear
- A driver-side exterior mirror, plus either a passenger-side exterior mirror or an interior mirror
- A parking brake
- A windshield that meets the federal glazing standard (FMVSS No. 205)
- A 17-character VIN that meets 49 CFR Part 565
- A Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt at every designated seating position (FMVSS No. 209)
- Rear visibility that meets FMVSS No. 111, which in practice means a backup camera
- A pedestrian alert sound as required by FMVSS No. 141, which applies to quiet electric vehicles
How fast can an LSV go?
No more than 25 mph. The standard measures the highest speed the vehicle can reach within one mile from a standing start. A vehicle that can exceed 25 mph is no longer an LSV and would have to meet full passenger-car safety standards.
Golf cart vs. LSV: what is the difference?
| Golf cart | Low-speed vehicle (LSV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 20 mph or less | Above 20 mph, not above 25 mph |
| Federal safety standard | None | FMVSS No. 500 |
| VIN | Usually a serial number only | 17-character VIN required |
| Who decides where it can drive | State and local law | State and local law (most states allow roads posted 35 mph or less) |
Does federal law decide where you can drive?
No. The federal standard covers how an LSV must be built. Each state decides which roads LSVs and golf carts may use, and what registration, insurance and licensing apply. Find your state in our golf cart and LSV laws directory.
Can you make a regular golf cart street legal?
It depends on your state. Some states, including Florida, let owners convert a golf cart to an LSV by adding the required equipment and passing a state inspection that assigns a VIN. Other states only register LSVs that were certified by the manufacturer. Check your state's page before buying parts.