
Street legal golf carts are allowed to be driven on California roads that have a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or slower. You are allowed to cross roads with a higher speed limit, but not allowed to drive on them. Additionally, golf carts are only allowed to operate in the day if they are not equipped with headlights.
Full Answer
Are golf carts street legal in California?
Yes, golf carts are street legal in California. They must be registered and have the proper insurance, must be able to reach 20mph within 1 mile, and are restricted to public streets with a maximum speed limit of 25 mph. You also need a valid driver’s license to operate a golf cart in California.
Can you drive a golf cart on the road?
Golf carts are not street legal and can only be driven on private property. A golf cart can be driven on public roads at a speed of 20 miles per hour with speed limits under 25 miles per hour as long as the driver is at least 14 years old.
How fast can you drive a golf cart in California?
They must be registered and have the proper insurance, must be able to reach 20mph within 1 mile, and are restricted to public streets with a maximum speed limit of 25 mph. You also need a valid driver’s license to operate a golf cart in California.
Are golf carts allowed in Sun City?
Golf Carts are a way of life in areas around Phoenix, especially retirement communities like Sun City. In August 2014, Sun City passed a new law finally making it legal for golf carts to drive on the local streets after years of discrimination.

Where is it legal to drive a golf cart in California?
The California Vehicle Code says golf carts can be operated legally on streets that have a maximum posted speed limit of 25 mph, said Sgt. Matthew Bloch of the Menifee Police Department. If our reader wants to drive on such a street, Bloch said, the golf cart cannot be modified to go faster than 15 mph, as Keyes noted.
Can you legally drive a golf cart on the road in California?
Yes, golf carts are street legal in California – but only when they're properly equipped. A street-legal version of a golf cart is a motor vehicle that is based on the traditional body design made to carry golf equipment but has been modified to meet California's requirements for street driving.
How can I legally use a golf cart in California streets?
According to the California DMV, if you drive a golf cart on the road it must include the following safety modifications: At least one headlamp, tail lamp, and stop lamp. A rear reflector. Front/rear turn signals.
Can I drive a golf cart around my neighborhood?
A golf cart that is not street legal will not be eligible for driving on the neighborhood. And, there are ways to ensure that your golf cart is street legal. One way to do that is by adding the essential components that are found in a car. These elements include safety belts, lights, horns, mirrors, and speed monitors.
Can you drive a golf cart on the sidewalk in California?
Q: Is it permissible to drive a golf cart on the sidewalk? A: A golf cart is a motor vehicle and pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 21663, motor vehicles cannot be operated on sidewalks except to enter and exit adjacent property.
Can you drive a golf cart in Laguna Beach?
Laguna Beach is an ideally suited community for non-polluting electric vehicles like electric golf carts. The vehicle code's 25 MPH (or less) speed zone use restriction placed on “street legal” golf carts and some of the city's 30 MPH speed zones severely restrict their legal use here.
Do golf carts need insurance in California?
California. Your golf cart is exempt from state registration if it carries no more than two people (including the driver), weighs less than 1,300 pounds and does not exceed more than 15 mph. If your golf cart exceeds these limits, you may have to register and insure your golf cart, depending on where you live.
Do you have to register golf carts in California?
Golf Carts (CVC §§345, 4019, 21115) A golf cart operated pursuant to CVC §21115 is exempt from registration. Registration requirements for a golf cart that becomes subject to regular registration are the same as the original or nonresident requirements for other motor vehicles.
Do you have to have a driver's license to drive a golf cart in California?
Golf Cart vs. However, when operating a golf cart on public streets and roadways, the vehicle must comply with all regulations associated with operating a vehicle including possessing a valid license and registration. You must have a valid California driver's license to operate a low-speed vehicle.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart around the neighborhood?
14 years oldThere are rules and regulations regarding the appropriate age to drive a golf cart in the United States. The requirement changes from state to state. The majority of American states require that a child be at least 14 years old to drive a golf cart.
Is driving a golf cart like driving a car?
For the most part, driving a golf cart is very similar to driving a car—it just operates at a legal maximum speed of 25 mph. You'll most likely operate an electric golf cart, although there are gas-powered models too.
How fast do golf carts go?
between 12 and 14 miles per hourWhat is the Average Golf Cart Speed? The average top speed of a typical golf cart without any upgrades is between 12 and 14 miles per hour. Without any sort of modification or upgrade on a golf cart, the top speed that you will be getting on a golf cart is about 14mph.
Do you need to register a golf cart in California?
Golf Carts (CVC §§345, 4019, 21115) A golf cart operated pursuant to CVC §21115 is exempt from registration. Registration requirements for a golf cart that becomes subject to regular registration are the same as the original or nonresident requirements for other motor vehicles.
Do golf carts need insurance in California?
California. Your golf cart is exempt from state registration if it carries no more than two people (including the driver), weighs less than 1,300 pounds and does not exceed more than 15 mph. If your golf cart exceeds these limits, you may have to register and insure your golf cart, depending on where you live.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in California?
13 yearsCalifornia. Legal age of the driver is 13 years. The golf carts must not weigh more than 1,300 pounds, and it should not carry more than two people, including the driver.
Are ATVs street-legal in California?
Can you operate an ATV or UTV on California streets? Generally, ATVs and side by sides are not permitted on California highways, to include streets. The exceptions to this rule are as follows: you may cross a two-lane street at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.