Is a License Required to Drive a Golf Cart in Georgia?

Golf cart laws in Georgia can be confusing because they are largely left up to their own municipalities to regulate. If you have been in an accident with a golf cart, you may feel as if you have a poor understanding of who is responsible or what the expectations are. If this describes you, you need an experienced Atlanta golf cart accident lawyer to help. 

John Foy & Associates has over two decades of experience fighting for injury victims and their families. We understand this can be a stressful and vulnerable time. While golf cart accidents may be seen as less dangerous than other vehicle accidents, we know the injuries they cause can be life-altering. 

Golf Cart vs. Low-Speed Vehicle

The specific requirements for golf carts and low-speed vehicles may vary greatly from city to city. Similarly, the requirements for operating a golf cart and a low-speed vehicle can vary. Understanding how your vehicle is classified by the Department of Public Safety is crucial to determining licensing requirements and ensuring a safe environment for everyone.

Golf Cart

Golf carts have become a general term for an open motorized cart that can hold a few people and does not go very fast. While this is generally true, the Department of Public Safety has some more specific guidelines to distinguish proper golf carts from other low-speed vehicles. The DPS resource referenced above cites the Georgia code stating that a golf cart was created for the explicit use of transporting people and equipment for the purpose of playing golf but should also meet the below expectations:

• Average speed less than 15 mph
• Weigh less than 1300 lbs unloaded
• A braking system that can break effectively with passengers
• Audible horn
• Brake lights
• Headlights

Low-Speed Vehicle 

What we consider a golf cart may often qualify as a low-speed vehicle. 

While a golf cart has a speed maximum of 14 miles per hour and is meant for golf, a low-speed vehicle has similar but distinct traits. Some things you may see differently regarding an LSV are:

• Must be capable of reaching speeds between 20 and 25 miles per hour
• Must have turn indicators
• Seatbelts for all seats
• Must have a driver and passenger mirror
• Headlamps
• Vehicle Identification Number 

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Licensing Requirements

Each municipality is allowed to determine its specific licensing requirements regarding golf carts and LSVs. You should always check with them before operating either of these vehicles. However, the general standard for a golf cart is as follows:

• 12 years old- drive with a licensed adult
• 15 years old- drive alone with a valid permit
• 16 years old- driver with a license 
• DUI – ineligible

You may drive a golf cart without a license if a licensed driver is in the front seat. However, the licensed driver may be held liable for any accident caused under their supervision. This allowance excludes those who have had their license suspended from a DUI. 

Low-Speed Vehicle Licensing Requirements

The low-speed vehicle requirements align with those of a personal vehicle. That is to say that any driver must have a license on their person which they can present to an officer if required. They must also be registered in the state and carry the appropriate liability insurance.  

Golf Carts on the Street

If the driver has a license to drive a car, many people may wonder if their golf cart is allowed on the street. Like most legal answers, this one is not black and white. A golf cart may be street legal in Georgia if it is on designated roads with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or below. 

Golf carts and LSVs are not allowed on public roadways. If you are found driving a non-street legal vehicle on an unapproved road, it could affect your current driver’s license or your ability to get one if you don’t already have one. A suspended license from a DUI also renders the license holder ineligible to drive a golf cart. 

Many cities in Georgia, like Peachtree City, Georgia, have created their own multi-use paths, and golf carts can be used on them.  In areas like this, you may have to register your golf cart, provide proof of insurance, or meet other requirements. Violating guidelines on these paths may result in fines and de-registration of your golf cart.

Preventing Georgia Golf Cart Accidents

While golf cart accidents may typically be at lower speeds, that doesn’t mean they can’t result in significant injury and property damage. There are many things you can do to prevent a collision or accident. A significant part of this prevention is abiding by speed limits, but also:

• Cultivating a culture of respect on the roads
• Be mindful of other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists
• Use turn signals and follow traffic signals every time
• Stay off the roads that are not approved for golf carts

Georgia Golf Cart and Insurance & Liability

While not all municipalities require liability insurance for a golf cart, it may be a smart move. If an uninsured golf cart is involved in an accident, particularly if the other person secures an Atlanta car accident lawyer with John Foy & Associates, you could be liable for all damages in civil court. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may also face criminal charges. 

Contact a Golf Cart Accident Attorney Today

You may be eligible for compensation if you have been involved in an accident with an inadequately licensed golf cart driver. Contact John Foy & Associates for a free case consultation. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay us until we recover compensation for you. 

Understanding the requirements of the vehicle you are operating is imperative to maintaining a safe and efficient environment on the road. When that doesn’t happen, people get hurt, but you don’t have to manage the fallout of an accident without support from an experienced attorney. Call us today for your complimentary case consultation.