Make the most out of your golf car by riding in the streets—legally.

Have you ever seen someone driving a golf cart on the road?

The law requires golf cart drivers to have specific equipment to drive on public roads. Thankfully, ensuring that your golf cart is ready for around-the-town errands isn’t difficult.

Learn more about the equipment you need to make your golf cart legal and the benefits of street legal vehicles below!

Street legal golf cars

What does street legal mean?

Just because something has four tires and an engine doesn’t mean it’s a legal vehicle. That goes for golf carts, too.

Street laws require golf carts to have certain equipment when driving in the streets. Without them, the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers can be put at risk of injury or even fatality.

During inspection, the following equipment must be present and functioning in order to be street legal:

• Seat belts: The driver and passenger must be able to strap themselves and the seat belt must be able to lock in the case of an accident.
• A round steering wheel: Butterfly-shaped steering wheels are illegal.
• A horn: This is necessary to alert other drivers to prevent accidents.
• Bumpers: Every vehicle needs a bumper to limit the damage caused during an accident, and a golf cart is no exception.
• License plates: Just like regular cars, your golf car needs an illuminated license plate so it is visible in the dark.
• A windshield: Windshields keep debris out of the driver’s eyes, which is necessary for safe driving.
• Speedometer: When driving on the road, it’s important to know your speed to stay within the limit.
• A muffler: Mufflers will prevent your golf cart from creating unnecessary noise and smoke in residential areas.
• Functioning brakes and an emergency brake: Stopping your golf cart is just as important as starting it.
• All required lights: Your golf cart should have headlights, brake lights, taillights, and reflectors on all corners of the vehicle to drive on the street.
• Ground clearance: The law requires a specific amount of ground clearance to be street legal.

In addition to the above, street legal golf carts need a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and a registered driver with a driver’s license to ride on the road.

Benefits of street legal vehicles

Communities with speed limits of up to 35 miles per hour will find that golf carts are an inexpensive way to get around town.

Need to get groceries, or pick up the kids from school? Use your street legal golf cart as a leisurely way to run errands without the price tag of an SUV.

Plus, low-speed vehicles such as golf carts have far lower insurance costs than a regular vehicle, which increases your savings over time.

Since golf carts force you to slow down compared to traffic on high-speed roads, you also have less of a risk of getting into an accident.

In fact, studies show that car accidents and fatalities increase in tandem with higher speed limits: increasing the speed limit from 55 to 65 miles per hour resulted in a 3% increase in crashes and a staggering 24% increase in fatal injuries.

Keep your family safe by driving slower with a golf cart and enjoy the views along the way.

How to buy a street legal golf cart

In Ohio, golf carts are street legal as long as they meet the requirements above.

Visit Lake Erie Golf Cars today to purchase your street legal golf cart! We are your number one source for new and used golf carts, offering a variety of models from the brands you trust. 

Ask one of our friendly customer service specialists for our selection of street legal golf carts.

Shop golf cars at LEGC

Lake Erie Golf Cars is the locals’ favorite outlet for buying and renting new and pre-owned golf cars. We carry top name brands and offer repair services to keep your golf car in like-new condition. 

Shop our inventory online or visit our store in Warrensville Heights, OH today.

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