Are golf carts street legal in California? Can you get a ticket for driving one? What law says
If you live near a golf course in California, you may notice people cruising around in open-air electric or gas-powered vehicles.
Occasionally, golf carts crash or get in the way of other vehicles.
In January, a Palm Desert man received fatal injuries after his golf cart collided with a moving car in a Riverside County gated community, the Desert Sun reported.
A woman died near a Sacramento County golf course in early March after crashing her golf cart into a concrete curb and median, according to The Sacramento Bee’s archives.
Are golf carts street legal in the Golden State? Can you get a ticket to driving your Club Car to a nearby restaurant or bar to celebrate your hole-in-one?
Here’s what to know about California’s rules:
What’s considered a golf cart under California law?
California law defines a golf cart as a motor vehicle that has three or more wheels in contact with the ground and weighs less than 1,300 pounds.
Golf carts are designed to carry golf equipment and no more than two people, including the driver, according to California Vehicle Code No. 345.
They should be operated at 15 mph or less, state law says.
Is it legal to drive a golf cart on the road in California?
Under California law, standard golf carts are allowed to operate solely on and around golf courses, according to Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, which has offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
“Golf carts may not be operated on any highway with a posted speed limit of over 25 mph, except by ordinance or resolution by a local authority,” such as a city or county government,” the California Department of Motor Vehicles said on its website.
Low-speed vehicles, on the other hand, can be driven on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less, including residential communities, business areas, school zones and golf cart routes, according to Maison Law, a personal injury law firm headquartered in Glendale.
These vehicles typically weigh more and travel faster than conventional golf carts.
Neighborhoods may opt to make “additional roads legal for low-speed vehicle travel,” the law firm said, although local officials could “change this speed limit requirement if there are certain safety concerns on area roads..”
Can you drive a golf cart on the sidewalk?
In a word, no.
Golf carts and low-speed vehicles are considered motor vehicles under California law, and “cannot be driven on California sidewalks or on bike paths,” Maison Law said.
What about private property?
“Private property owners can essentially do what they want when it comes to allowing individuals to operate golf carts” on their land, the firm Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger said on its website.
How can I make my golf cart street legal in California?
If you want to drive your golf cart off the course and onto the street, you may need to make some modifications, according to State Law Firm of Sherman Oaks.
“Converting your golf cart into a street-legal vehicle involves meeting a set of regulations designed to protect drivers passengers, and pedestrians,” the law firm said on its website.
A golf car must have the following equipment in order to be considered street legal, according to the DMV and Sally Morin Person Injury Lawyers:
- At least one headlamp
- At least one tail lamp
- At least one stop lamp
- Front and rear turn signals
- Front and side reflectors
- A rear reflector
- A rear-view mirror that shows 200 feet to the rear
- A horn
- Fenders
- A windshield made of safety glass
- Windshield wipers
Your golf cart will also need California Department of Transportation-approved tires “designed for street use and capable of supporting safe travel on public roads,” State Law Firm said.
If your golf cart has four wheels, weighs less than 3,000 pounds and can exceed speeds of 20 mph, it’s considered a low-speed vehicle under California law, Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers explained.
Low-speed vehicles, also known as neighborhood electric vehicles, must be registered with the DMV just like cars and trucks.
Do I have to register my golf cart with DMV?
Unregistered golf carts can operate on golf courses or within one mile of the course, according to Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers.
“However, if you want to drive your golf cart anywhere beyond one mile of a golf course, it should be titled and registered with the state of California,” the law firm said on its website.
To register a golf cart for on-road use, you’ll need:
- A completed application for title or registration
- A California certificate of title, manufacturer’s certificate, bill of sale or other document proving ownership
- A verification of vehicle form.
- A statement of facts indicating the vehicle hasn’t been modified and meets the definition of a golf cart
Who is old enough to drive a golf cart?
Anyone 13 years old or older can legally drive a golf cart in California, according to San Francisco law firm Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger.
“Golf cart laws vary from municipality to municipality, and most cities and counties place additional age and licensing requirements in order to operate a golf cart on the roadway,” the law firm said on its website.
For instance, you might need a driver’s license at certain locations.
“Most businesses, including golf facilities, only allow licensed drivers to operate golf carts,” the law firm said.
What’s the age requirement to drive a low-speed vehicle?
To drive a low-speed vehicle in the state of California you must have a valid California driver’s license or learner’s permit, according to Maison Law.
The law firm said that low-speed vehicles are “even less safe than cars and SUVs in a crash.”
“There are no airbags and no walls of metal to protect occupants in a collision,” Maison Law said.
Can I get a ticket for using golf cart on the road?
According to State Law Firm, violations such as driving on restricted roads or failing to meet safety standards can result in:
- Fines up to $250
- Impoundment of your golf cart.
- Increased liability in accidents involving unregistered or unsafe vehicles.
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Are golf carts street legal in California? Can you get a ticket for driving one? What law says."
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