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How to Make Your LSV Golf Cart Street Legal

Jun. 20 2024 Ownership Tips By Gulf Custom Golf Carts

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Certain golf carts are classified as low-speed vehicles or LSVs. LSVs are defined in the US as vehicles that have four wheels, a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 lbs, and a top speed between 20-25 MPH. They face greater safety restrictions than normal golf carts, though still much lower than that of traditional passenger cars. If you’re interested in how you can make your golf cart into a street-legal LSV, check out this guide from Gulf Coast Golf Carts. 

Check Local Ordinances

First off, check local and state regulations. There’s no point in modifying your golf cart into an LSV if low-speed vehicles aren’t even allowed in your local area. Laws vary a lot from place to place, so do your research. 

Meet Safety Requirements

An LSV golf cart that can’t go at least 20 MPH wouldn’t be safe to use on the streets. Though modifying an LSV to go faster than that is fairly easy, any vehicle that can go at least 25 MPH would be subject to more stringent safety standards. That’s why LSV needs to have a top speed of between 20 and 35 MPH. Of course, that’s far from the only safety standard you’ll need to meet. Though different areas will have different requirements, in most places your LSV golf cart will have to have working seat belts, headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and side mirrors to be street-legal. Windshields, car horns, visible license plates, and an insurance policy may also be required depending on the specific local ordinances. 

Getting an Inspection 

Once you’ve performed all necessary modifications to your LSV golf cart, you’ll need to get it inspected. Luckily, many different service centers and dealerships can perform the inspection. How often the inspection is required varies, though most states require yearly inspections. Once your LSV golf cart passes its inspection, you’ll receive a license plate and be able to drive the LSV on local streets and roads without issue. 

Shop LSV golf carts at Gulf Coast Custom Carts in Apalachicola, Florida. We also offer parts, servicing, financing, and cart customization. We’re proud to serve Florida’s Forgotten Coast region, including nearby communities like Panama City and Tallahassee, Florida.