Golf carts are versatile, eco-friendly vehicles that help you traverse the undulations of the golf course. These vehicles have transcended their original use and now it’s not uncommon to find them being driven on public roadways.
Like all states, Texas has the right to establish its own laws regarding how they’re used and where they’re legal to drive. However, strong safety regulations are required because the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports 15,000 injuries involving golf carts each year despite their size and relatively low speeds. If you've been injured in a golf cart accident, consider speaking with an experienced Austin personal injury lawyer.
In this guide, we’ll investigate where Texas stands on golf cart legality, where you can drive them, and what you need to be street legal.
Key Takeaways
- Golf carts are legal to operate on public roads in Texas under specific circumstances.
- Drivers may only operate golf carts on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. Moreover, golf buggies must contain several safety features, including headlights and taillights, to be street legal.
- State law governs the use of golf carts on public roadways in Texas, but counties and municipalities have the right to enact ordinances with extra requirements and restrictions.
- All golf cart operators must register for a license plate with their local county and take out liability insurance that meets the state’s legal minimum.
- If you were injured in an accident involving a golf cart, you have the right to file a personal injury claim and receive damages for medical bills, lost wages, property damages, and pain and suffering.
Is it Legal to Drive a Golf Cart On the Road in Texas?
Golf carts may be driven on public roads in Texas under certain conditions. According to the Texas Transportation Code 551, golf carts are classified as motor vehicles when they’re used on public roadways.
Texas law classifies them as “unique motor vehicles”, meaning they must adhere to restrictions that don’t apply to ordinary vehicles. For example, they may only be driven on streets with a maximum speed limit of 35 mph.
Additionally, municipal law may have stricter regulations on golf carts, which supersede state law.
Can I Drive My Golf Cart Around My Neighborhood?
Golf carts aren’t permitted to be driven in every neighborhood or on every type of road. House Bill 1281 allowed golf carts on some residential streets, but that doesn’t mean they can be used on every type of residential street.
For example, golf carts may be legally driven in a master-planned community with a standard set of restrictive covenants and a plat approved by the county or municipality. Likewise, they may be driven on roads with speed limits of under 35 mph and as long as you’re going no more than two miles from where it’s usually parked.
In other words, it depends on your neighborhood and where you’re based.
What is the Definition of a Golf Cart in Texas Legal Terms?
American Legal Publishing and the Texas Transportation Code 551.0401 defines a golf cart as a motor vehicle designed by the manufacturer for the primary purpose of transporting people to and from a golf course.
It’s not to be confused with a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), which has much in common with a standard golf cart. According to the Texas Municipal League, NEVs are larger than golf carts. They are defined as vehicles capable of achieving 35 mph on a flat paved surface and comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500.
Types of Vehicles: Golf Carts vs. Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs)
Golf carts and low-speed vehicles are similar but are viewed differently from a legal perspective. Most states permit LSVs but they must be registered, inspected, and insured, whereas golf carts have fewer legal requirements.
The extra restrictions on LSVs are because they’re designed for use on a broader selection of public roads. Although they still can’t be driven on all roads, they still have a greater reach than golf carts.
Typically, an LSV is designed to travel faster and has extra safety features you won’t find on a golf cart.
Legal Requirements for Golf Carts on Texas Roads
Golf carts sit in the category of “unique motor vehicles” when driven on public roads. Since they may be driven on public roads, you must adhere to all traffic laws and other restrictions that may or may not apply to other vehicles. Moreover, some municipalities may have stricter golf cart laws than Texas state law.
Since you’re operating a vehicle on public roads, you must possess a valid driver’s license.
Essential Features for Street Legality
Golf carts must have several safety features before they’re permitted to operate on public roadways. Note that these requirements don’t apply to golf carts driven exclusively on private land as part of a legal golf cart operation, like on a country club's course.
The safety features you’ll need to make your golf buggy legal include:
- Headlights
- Taillights
- Reflectors
- Parking breaks
- Mirrors
Traffic officers may pull you over and issue a citation if you either lack these safety features or they’re non-functional.
License Plates and Registration Process
All golf carts must have a license plate before they can be driven on public roads. Unlike ordinary motor vehicles, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles states that it doesn’t register or title golf carts.
Instead, you must apply for a golf cart license plate using Form 130-U Application for Texas Title and/or Registration at your county’s tax assessor collector’s office. The average price of a license plate is about $10. Documents you’ll need include:
- Proof of golf cart ownership.
- Your completed application form.
- Your county’s fee.
Insurance and Liability Conditions
Texas has no specific law mandating golf cart insurance, but Lone Star State’s minimum liability coverage applies to all vehicle types on public roads. In Texas, this is $30,000 in bodily injury coverage for each person with $60,000 per accident and $25,000 in property damage coverage, known as the 30/60/25 model.
Your existing auto insurance policy likely won’t cover your golf cart, as it’s a special vehicle category. However, your insurer may offer add-ons to cover your golf cart. Like all vehicles, you can opt for full coverage to provide coverage beyond liability, including:
- Collision coverage
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Fire
- Severe weather
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Accessory coverage
Where Can You Drive Golf Carts in Texas?
Texas Transportation Code Section 551.403 allows golf carts to be driven on public roadways under certain conditions. These include master-planned communities, some public roads, some intersections, and beaches open to vehicular traffic.
Here’s a breakdown of the conditions of each:
- Master-Planned Communities – Golf carts may be driven if a master-planned community has a uniform covenant and a county or municipality-approved plat.
- Beaches – All public and private beaches permitting vehicular traffic.
- Highways – Public roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less during the daytime and as long as they’re within two miles of their regular parking spot at the golf course.
- Intersections – Golf buggies may cross intersections regardless of the posted speed limits, including if the intersection is part of a highway. Still, buggies are ultimately off highway vehicles.
Permitted Road Types and Local Ordinances
You’re entitled to drive a golf cart on any public road if the posted speed limit is 35 mph or less. Beware that local ordinances may be in force to change where a golf cart can be driven, or they may be prohibited entirely. Check your local area’s position on golf carts and don’t rely solely on state law.
Understanding Designated Golf Cart Communities
Designated golf cart communities allow residents to use their golf carts as a type of local transportation, regardless of whether they’re actually going to or from a golf course. These communities typically have their own rules in place to govern safety and compliance.
Prominent golf cart communities in Texas include Windsong Ranch in Prosper, The Colony, and Flower Mound.
Limits on Highway Use and Restrictions
Golf carts cannot be driven on highways anywhere in Texas. The only exception is crossing a highway using a dedicated intersection or relying on a defined crossing point. However, forget trying to drive from Dallas to Houston in your golf cart without getting pulled over and ticketed!
Operational Safety and Compliance Measures
Golf carts operated exclusively on golf courses have practically no requirements for safety features. However, all vehicles must have several safety features in place while adhering to all local municipality ordinances and Texas traffic laws.
Here’s a breakdown of your safety obligations if you plan to take your golf buggy out for a spin on public roads.
Mandatory Equipment for Safe and Legal Operation
Mandatory equipment includes working headlights and taillights. You must also have reflectors in place to improve visibility from the side and the rear. Additionally, you’ll need side and rearview mirrors, a functional parking brake, and a slow-moving vehicle emblem.
Counties and municipalities are entitled to have even tighter safety requirements, but these are the most common pieces of equipment you’ll need.
Recommended Safety Practices for Golf Cart Drivers
Staying safe is essential as golf carts become more common in neighborhoods. Apply the same principles to driving your cart as you would to driving a vehicle, including defensive driving, wearing safety belts, and not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Unfortunately, an increasing number of golf cart accidents involve children. According to Technology Associates, 40% of all golf cart accidents in the U.S. now involve children under 16.
Legal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Legal consequences for breaking golf cart safety rules revolve around fines, increased liability insurance premiums, and even restrictions on operating your golf cart. Each municipality is entitled to enact ordinances to set its own penalties.
For example, Granbury’s municipal code sets a maximum non-compliance penalty of $200. Although this might not sound like much, your neighborhood might restrict your ability to use your golf cart and traffic violations can result in more expensive liability insurance premiums.
Modifications for Making Golf Carts Street Legal
Golf carts must be converted to adhere to Texas law on road safety for golf carts. Standard golf carts may not have the appropriate safety features, meaning you must upgrade them. Thankfully, the modifications are relatively simple, and some may choose to perform the upgrades themselves.
Modifications for Making Golf Carts Street Legal
All golf carts need functioning headlights, taillights, a parking brake, reflectors, and mirrors as a minimum to reach the required legal threshold. However, there are other modifications that aren’t legally required but strongly recommended for safety reasons.
Some of the additional modifications you may want to consider include:
- Seat belts
- Windshield
- Turn signals
- Department of Transportation-approved tires.
- Speed modifier
- Horn
- LED light bars
- Rearview camera
- Dashcam
- Weather enclosures
These enhancements improve safety, allowing them to be operated safely alongside other types of traffic you might encounter. Although they aren’t legally mandated, they’re still recommended to protect yourself and your passengers.
Importance of Regular Inspections
Commit to regular inspections of your vehicle. Street legal golf buggies are still vehicles and should receive the same care and attention as a car, truck, or motorcycle.
Routine checks ensure that everything functions correctly, so that if you get pulled over, you’re not risking a fine. Conducting regular inspections ensures compliance but it also guarantees longevity. Identifying potential issues early preserves your cart and ensures it continues operating for years to come.
How Much Does It Cost to Convert a Golf Cart to Street Legal?
How much you spend on making your golf cart ready for public roads depends on the current condition of your cart and whether you’re aiming to reach the legal minimum or exceed it.
Assuming you have a standard cart with no extra features, you may spend up to a thousand dollars on the necessary parts. Likewise, you’ll have to budget more if you’ll be taking your cart to a garage for the upgrades.
Generally, it depends where you live, the availability of parts, and your starting point. Naturally, outfitting your golf cart for the road can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
The Role of Local Authorities in Golf Cart Legislation
Golf cart legislation is governed primarily by state law, but this only tells part of the story. Local authorities are permitted to set their own rules, including placing extra restrictions on golf cart use in their jurisdictions.
For example, dedicated golf communities have taken a far more liberal view on golf carts. In contrast, Lakeview has placed additional restrictions, including placing a total ban on golf carts at night and banning their use on certain streets as part of their city code.
It underpins the importance of consulting the local regulations where you live. Assuming that state law applies everywhere is a mistake that could result in unpleasant encounters with local traffic police.
Golf Cart Accidents and Legal Liability in Texas
Golf carts must carry the state’s minimum amount of liability insurance like any other vehicle operating on public roads. That means you can claim compensation if you’re injured by somebody else. Likewise, if you cause an accident, other drivers may claim against your liability insurance.
Who is Liable in a Golf Cart Accident?
Texas is an at-fault state, so the driver who’s to blame for an accident is responsible for damages. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence rules, blame may be shared based on each party’s contribution to the accident. Any party considered 51% or more responsible for an accident cannot receive financial compensation under the 51% bar rule.
Does Auto Insurance Cover Golf Cart Accidents?
Auto insurers make a distinction between golf carts and ordinary vehicles because of their lack of safety features and the restrictions on where they can be legally operated. This fact means that your standard auto insurance policy probably doesn’t cover golf cart accidents.
Golf cart operators must either obtain a dedicated golf cart insurance policy or their insurer may offer it as an add-on to their existing policy.
How Can an Attorney Prove Negligence in a Texas Golf Cart Accident?
Hiring an experienced car accident attorney is crucial after an accident involving a golf cart. Your attorney isn’t just there to file legal paperwork. They gather evidence, build your case, and demolish insurer arguments to prove that the other party was at fault.
With that in mind, ensure that you lawyer up with the support of DJC Law. To file your claim and hold guilty parties to account, contact us to schedule your free consultation.
