How to Drive a Golf Cart on the Road

Golf carts always seem to bring out a playful side in people since they’re amusing to drive. However, some may get the idea of taking their cart on the open road and testing its value as a full-blown vehicle. Here’s how to drive a golf cart on the road with the proper equipment.

To be able to drive a golf cart on the road, it must adhere to local, state, and federal regulations. For a start, you’ll need the DOT-approved lighting and safety equipment, a VIN, and, potentially, a driving permit (depending on the state). Some states have golf cart communities – that could be excellent places to practice your driving skills.

How to Drive a Golf Cart on the Road

Driving a golf cart on the road is possible if you have a permit and a well-equipped vehicle. They can be legal road-based vehicles only if they’re customized to fit the rules and regulations of federal law.

To drive on the open road, you must have working seatbelts, lights, and windshield wipers. You can’t exceed the speed of 35 mph, but your car can’t go slower than 25 mph. You’ll also likely need a license to drive the vehicle freely, especially on public roads and busy streets.

If You Can Drive It – Should You?

Learning how to drive a golf cart won’t be the biggest issue. There are the accelerator and brake pedals, the lever for directions, a wheel, and ignition – the setup is similar to an automatic car. What you need to know more than how to drive it mechanically is driving with common sense.

People can say they know how to drive, but this skill doesn’t limit itself to just pressing pedals and pulling levers. Common sense plays a big part in acquiring a driving skill, which means it’s vital to know what you’re getting into before venturing into the world with your golf cart.

Ask yourself if going to public areas is wise if you’re not sure how to follow the proper guidelines. For anyone eager to do it, try practicing off-road first and ensure you have the skills and confidence to maneuver this unusual vehicle.

Can You Drive Golf Carts on Roads?

You can rent golf carts on fairways, country clubs, and, very often, on private estates. However, there are golf cart communities across the country that rarely use any other form of transportation. For example, one town in Florida has over 65,000 carts and a purposely developed traffic system for these vehicles.

Despite that, you should ask yourself if driving golf carts on roads is a good idea. These vehicles aren’t as safe as your run-of-the-mill cars and should be operated cautiously. For one, they rarely have doors, which doesn’t help when finding yourself on a road where drivers go at least 35mph.

You can buy enclosures for the carts and make doors yourself, but that’s hardly a type of protection worthy of allowing you to venture out onto public roads. Check local laws and regulations for tips on using your electric vehicle on open streets.

States That Allow Driving Carts on Public Roads

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the following states allow open-road golf cart driving:

• Florida,
• Texas,
• Arizona,
• Georgia,
• California,
• Iowa,
• Illinois,
• Nevada,
• New Mexico,
• Minnesota,
• Wyoming,
• Colorado.

Regulations to Follow When Optimizing Your Golf Cart for the Road

Operating a golf cart on the road in FL requires you to have a VIN, the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO,) and insurance. In Texas, you’ll have to sort your car out to a full extent – every DOT-approved lighting and safety rule needs to be followed.

Getting a VIN might be the most complex but crucial step in registering your vehicle to be fit for the road. Golf carts aren’t manufactured for roads and busy streets, so legally, they don’t need VINs.

While each rule depends on the state, there are some federal regulations that every cart must be in sync with, no matter where it is. Here is a more detailed list of federal-level requirements for golf carts.

• Headlamps, tail and stop lights,
• Parking brake,
• Front and rear turn signals,
• Reflex reflectors,
• Seatbelts for each seat,
• Windshield,
• Mirrors (minimum one on the driver’s side, with the addition of either one on the passenger side or an interior rearview mirror),
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN),
• Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO – not always required but highly recommended).

The Main Driving Components and Parts

If you want to know more about how golf carts actually work, you can take the time to learn about their main components and moving parts.

Thecart components could be familiar to someone good with cars, but even if you’ve never seen a car battery before, this information will do you good.

Here are the main components and their functions.

Component	Function
The battery pack	Wired batteries provide voltage for the cart, in strengths of either 36 or 48 volts.
The solenoid	Regulates the use of the electricity used to drive and maneuver the cart
The speed controller	Similar to a throttle; it functions as an electric current regulator
Throttle	Drives the motor and pushes the accelerator lever to send electricity to the solenoid and speed controller
Electric motor	Works together with the other components to deliver a driving force to the cart
Electrical accessories	All other accessories on the cart are also operated by electricity; they include the horn, wipers, chargers, headlamps, and whatever else is installed

How to Start and Maneuver a Golf Cart

After figuring out what drives your golf cart and how it all works, you must figure out how to turn it on and drive. This part will require practice and patience, but if you’re a skilled driver, you won’t have too much trouble with it.

When you sit in your vehicle, you’ll see the following things in front of you:

• The key slot,
• The forward/reverse/neutral lever,
• The acceleration pedal,
• The brake/parking pedal,
• The seatbelts.

Turn the Key to Start

Before turning the key in the ignition, make sure you’ve fastened your seatbelts and are sitting down properly (no legs hanging out or sitting back into the cart). Find the keyhole to the right and down from the wheel, put the key in the ignition, and turn it; the procedure is the same as with a regular four-wheeler.

Press On the Accelerator

The trick with golf carts is that the engine won’t start purring until you press the gas pedal, so once you’ve turned the key, ensure you hit the accelerator gently yet with enough force to activate the cart. The friction and traction might pull you back a bit, but you’ll be fine.

Ensure you don’t hit the accelerator all the way to the floor; driving too fast makes it more difficult to suddenly brake, if necessary. If you aren’t wearing your seatbelts and are moving too fast, suddenly stopping may cause a lot of harm.

Brake Gently

Just as stepping down on the accelerator pedal isn’t good, doing it with the brake pedal won’t be much better, either. Making sudden movements in the cart (or any car) can result in injuries and accidents.

It’s vital to moderate speed, but if you’re on an open road, make sure it isn’t below 20-25 mph. Vehicles that slow down the traffic aren’t allowed in these parts, so when you rent your golf cart, be aware of the environment and ask about the local rules.

Slow Down In Curves and Turns

Just like with cars, carts require slowing down in turns and road curves. Driving too fast into an angle can cause the cart to tip over, which can almost certainly lead to injuries. Additionally, you must be careful how quickly you turn and generally operate the vehicle because some carts don’t have seatbelts.

Driving Golfing Carts Isn’t Complex, but Roads Can Make It More Challenging

It’s probably for the best to pay for a golf club membership and follow their driving rules and regulations than to buy a cart for personal use and risk your well-being by taking it out on the open road.

However, if you invest in a golf cart and decide to drive it around, make sure you at least optimize it for open-road maneuvering by following the federal and state rules. You’ll need a VIN, a manufacturer’s certification, and some extra

If your state or town allows driving carts on open roads, then simply ensure your electric car is equipped with the right stuff. Make it legal and operable outside private estate bounds, and be careful while driving. Your golf cart may not be a car, but it still works like one.