Loved by many, golf truly is a sport that can be practiced by all ages. However, not every aspect of golf can be enjoyed directly by all ages right away. In fact, young children cannot drive golf carts in the US, generally. With golf carts often reaching above 20 miles an hour, there is valid concern for the minimum age required to drive a golf cart. Look down below at the article to figure out if you or your child can legally drive a golf cart in the US.
How Old Do You Need to Be to Drive a Golf Cart in the US?
In the United States of America, in most states, you need to be at least 14 years old to drive a golf cart on public property, such as a golf course. In other stricter states, the minimum age to drive a golf cart on public property is raised to 16 years old. Finally, some states additionally require a driver’s license and/or insurance to drive a golf cart on public property.
Since the age requirement to drive a golf cart in the US varies from state to state, you will need to look at the table down below to know the requirement in your state. Additionally, you can ask the representatives at your local golf course what the minimum age is in your state.
Furthermore, some states have special rules regarding off course golf cart driving, and more. These special rules are indicated in the 2nd table down below.
NOTE: Regardless of the information in the tables down below, you should verify your local guidelines by getting in touch with your local authorities and lawmakers; these tables are meant only as a quick guide to help you quickly get situated.
Minimum Age, License and Insurance Requirements to Drive a Golf Cart
| State | Minimum Age or Requirement |
| Alabama | 18 or a Driver’s License |
| Alaska | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Arizona | Driver’s License & Liability Insurance |
| Arkansas | 14 |
| California | 14 |
| Colorado | 14 |
| Connecticut | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Delaware | 16 |
| Florida | 14 |
| Georgia | 13 with a licensed adult or Driver’s License |
| Hawaii | 16 |
| Idaho | Driver’s License + License Plate + Vehicle Insurance |
| Illinois | 18 |
| Indiana | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Iowa | 18 |
| Kansas | 14 + Driver’s License |
| Kentucky | 16 + Driver’s License + Liability Insurance |
| Louisiana | 12 + Driver’s License |
| Maine | 14 |
| Maryland | 12 with a licensed adult or Driver’s License |
| Massachusetts | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Michigan | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Minnesota | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Mississippi | 15 + Driver’s License |
| Missouri | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Montana | 14 |
| Nebraska | Driver’s License |
| Nevada | Driver’s License |
| New Hampshire | 14 with a licensed adult or Driver’s License + Liability Insurance |
| New Jersey | 18 or a Driver’s License |
| New Mexico | 15 |
| New York | 14 |
| North Carolina | 16 + Driver’s License |
| North Dakota | 16 |
| Ohio | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Oklahoma | 16 |
| Oregon | 16 + Driver’s License/Golf Cart Permit |
| Pennsylvania | 18 |
| Rhode Island | 13 + Driver’s License |
| South Carolina | 16 + Driver’s License |
| South Dakota | 14 + Driver’s License + Liability Insurance |
| Tennessee | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Texas | 16 |
| Utah | 18 + Driver’s License |
| Vermont | 13 + Driver’s License |
| Virginia | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Washington | 16 + Driver’s License |
| West Virginia | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Wisconsin | 16 + Driver’s License |
| Wyoming | Driver’s License + Liability Insurance |
Special Rules for Driving a Golf Cart in the Different US States
To drive a golf cart on the road, there are certain rules you must abide by and modifications you must do on your golf cart to make it street legal. You can read our guide on golf cart modifications for street legal purposes here.
Down below is a table filled with special rules you must respect in each US State when driving a golf cart on the road.
| State | Special Rules |
| Alabama | Driving golf carts on a public highway without a license and under 18 years old is illegal. It is illegal to drive a golf cart on a public road unless you have a low-speed vehicle upgrade. |
| Alaska | You need a Driver’s License. Alternatively, you can use a learner’s permit, as long as you are accompanied by an adult with a driver’s license. |
| Arizona | You are required to make your golf cart meet road legal requirements if you wish to ride it on public roads. There is no widespread age requirement for driving golf carts on private property. Ask your local authority. |
| Arkansas | No driver’s license is required. In the case of an accident, the parents of a driver under 14 years of age will be held responsible. |
| California | Golf carts cannot carry more than 2 people, including the operator. |
| Colorado | No Driver’s License is required. A slow-moving vehicle sign applied to the back of the golf cart is required. |
| Connecticut | You need to put a flag on your golf cart when driving on public roads. |
| Delaware | Driving a golf cart on public roads is illegal. Only private property golf cart driving is permitted. |
| Florida | The golf cart can be driven on public roads as long as the speed does not exceed 20 miles per hour. |
| Georgia | |
| Hawaii | Golf carts are not road legal. |
| Idaho | A license plate and insurance for the golf cart are required. |
| Illinois | If your local authority allows it, golf carts may potentially be road legal, if the speed remains under 35 miles per hour. |
| Indiana | Golf carts are road legal in the localities that passed laws for that purpose. |
| Iowa | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. You need a slow-moving vehicle sign on your golf cart, along with a safety flag. |
| Kansas | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| Kentucky | Golf carts require a government-issued sticker on the golf carts for them to be road legal, at under 35 miles per hour. |
| Louisiana | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| Maine | Golf carts are road legal in low-speed areas around golf courses. |
| Maryland | Golf carts are not road legal. Golf carts may only be driven on private property. |
| Massachusetts | Your golf cart needs a registered license plate. |
| Michigan | |
| Minnesota | Golf carts may or may not be road legal. Contact your relevant state government officials. |
| Mississippi | You cannot drive golf carts on highways. |
| Missouri | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| Montana | Golf carts can only be driven on small streets; they are not road legal in most areas. |
| Nebraska | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| Nevada | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality; you should contact your local state government officials to figure out the legality. |
| New Hampshire | Golf carts are not road legal. |
| New Jersey | |
| New Mexico | Golf carts are often road legal, but not allowed to be driven on bigger roads like highways. Driving a golf cart during the night is illegal. |
| New York | Golf carts are not road legal. |
| North Carolina | Golf cart speed is limited to no more than 35 miles per hour. |
| North Dakota | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. Golf carts cannot be driven on highways. |
| Ohio | |
| Oklahoma | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. The speed limit for golf carts is 25 miles per hour. |
| Oregon | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Rhode Island | Golf carts are not road legal. |
| South Carolina | Golf carts are only road legal with a permit, and the speed limit is 35 miles per hour. |
| South Dakota | You must have headlights to drive a golf cart at night. |
| Tennessee | Golf carts may be driven on low speed roads, provided they are registered accordingly as a low speed vehicle. Even if you do not wish to drive a golf cart on road, you must register it. |
| Texas | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| Utah | Golf carts are road legal, but need to a VIN and title. Registration is not required. Verify the requirements with your local authority. |
| Vermont | Certain golf carts with speeds under 35 miles per hour can be road legal. |
| Virginia | Golf carts are road legal with speeds no greater than 25 miles per hour. Golf carts cannot be driven at night. |
| Washington | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| West Virginia | Golf carts are road legal if permitted by the locality. |
| Wisconsin | Golf carts are not legal unless they are viewed by the authorities as a low speed vehicle. |
| Wyoming | Golf carts are road legal if they meet the local safety requirements and have a VIN. |
Reminder: Regardless of the information in the tables up above, you should verify your local guidelines by getting in touch with your local authorities and lawmakers; these tables are meant only as a quick guide to help you quickly get an estimate of requirements.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you now have a good estimate at the requirements for driving a golf cart in your state! Remember to verify the laws and requirements to drive a golf cart in your area before attempting anything! Happy golfing! If you still want more information, you can take a look at the 1998 federal document on golf cart regulations.
When did you drive a golf cart for the first time? Let us know down below in the comments!
Note: Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. We recommend you do additional research before letting a minor drive a golf cart, or driving a golf cart on the road.
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