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Golf cart lawsFloridaLast checked

Are golf carts street legal in Florida?

Only on some roads. A standard golf cart can drive on public roads in Florida only where a county or city has designated the road for golf carts and posted signs, and only from sunrise to sunset unless local rules allow night driving and the cart has lights, turn signals and a windshield (F.S. 316.212).

To drive anywhere with a posted limit of 35 mph or less, the cart must be converted to a low-speed vehicle (LSV): it needs a VIN, title, registration, a plate, $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage insurance, and a licensed driver (F.S. 316.2122).

Golf cart Low-speed vehicle (LSV)
Top speed 20 mph or less Over 20, up to 25 mph
Where it can drive Designated, signed local roads only Any street posted 35 mph or less
Hours Sunrise to sunset (night only if local rules allow and the cart is equipped) Any time
Driver Under 18: learner’s license or driver license. 18+: government photo ID Valid driver license
Title, plate, insurance Not required by state law Required

Last checked: November 12, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Cities and counties can set stricter rules, so check your local ordinance before you drive.

Driving a regular golf cart on Florida roads

State law bans golf carts from public roads except in the cases F.S. 316.212 lists. In practice that means a local road your county or city has designated and signed for carts.

Where you can drive

What the cart must have (316.212(6))

At night, add headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield, and only where the local government has approved night driving (316.212(5)).

Who can drive (316.212(7)). Since October 1, 2023, drivers under 18 need a learner’s license or driver license, and drivers 18 and older need a government-issued photo ID (HB 949 summary). Older guides that say 14-year-olds can drive are out of date.

Penalties. Breaking these rules is a noncriminal traffic infraction. Road, crossing and hours violations count as moving violations; equipment and driver violations are nonmoving (316.212(9)).

You convert it to a low-speed vehicle, then have FLHSMV inspect it and assign a Florida VIN (it starts with “FLA”). The cart must already be fully street legal when you apply (FLHSMV). An LSV must also reach a top speed over 20 mph and no more than 25 mph.

1. Add the required equipment. Florida’s list comes from F.S. 316.2122(1)(b) and FLHSMV’s checklist.

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2. Keep every receipt. FLHSMV wants the original bills of sale for all conversion parts, plus sales tax paid on them (FLHSMV).

3. Fill out the forms. Form HSMV 84490 (Statement of Builder), HSMV 86064 (Affidavit for Golf Cart Modified to a Low Speed Vehicle) and HSMV 82040 (Application for Title), from flhsmv.gov/forms.

4. Get insurance and a weight slip. Buy $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability, and get a certified weight slip.

5. Send photos and book the inspection. Submit four photos (front, back, both sides) to a Motorist Services Regional Office (locations). In Miami-Dade, the packet goes by mail to the Bureau of Dealer Services and FLHSMV calls to schedule (Miami-Dade Tax Collector). You’ll usually need to trailer the cart there.

6. Title and register it. Once it passes, you get an FLA VIN, then title, plate and registration. Keep the insurance in force.

What it costs

Expect about $370 to $380 in state fees to put a converted cart on the road for the first time, plus annual registration, insurance and parts.

Item Cost Source
LSV inspection $40, nonrefundable Miami-Dade Tax Collector
Original title (electronic) $77.25 new, $85.25 used; add $2.50 for a paper title FLHSMV fees
License plate $28 FLHSMV fees
Initial registration fee $225, only if you have no Florida plate to transfer FLHSMV fees
Annual registration Varies by vehicle weight FLHSMV
Sales tax on parts 6% plus any county surtax, if not already paid Clay County Tax Collector
Insurance $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability, minimum FLHSMV

Parts depend on your cart. A basic street-legal light and mirror bundle sells for about $170; a windshield and seat belts cost extra.

A golf cart used only on designated roads needs no title, plate or state insurance, though your city may charge its own fee (see below).

Open question: whether FLHSMV charges the “new” or “used” title rate for a converted cart. Confirm with your county tax collector.

Where your city or county may differ

In Florida the local rules decide where a golf cart can go. State law lets counties and cities designate roads, set stricter equipment and operating rules, allow sidewalks, and ban LSVs from roads they control for safety (316.212(1) and (8); 316.2122(3)).

Two examples of how far local rules can go:

Before you drive: look for golf cart signs on your street, search your city or county code for “golf cart”, or call the non-emergency line of your sheriff or police department.

City pages for Florida’s busiest golf cart towns are planned; get an email when yours is published.

Official sources

Last checked November 12, 2026. We re-check these sources and update this page when the law changes.

Affiliate disclosure. Some links on this page are affiliate links, marked “(affiliate)” and tagged rel=“sponsored”. If you buy through them, Cartlanes may earn a commission at no cost to you. Commissions never change what the law requires or what we list.

Not legal advice. Cartlanes summarizes public laws and agency guidance for general information. Laws change and local rules vary. For your situation, check with your county tax collector, FLHSMV or a Florida attorney.