Georgia Golf Cart & Low Speed Vehicle Laws

PLEASE NOTE: Golf Cart Laws may vary from City to City, so please be sure to check with your local municipality in regards to the laws in your area. We are in the process of gathering laws by municipality for you, however, this is a huge undertaking and does take time. Thank you.

This is an in-depth guide to Georgia Golf Cart & Low-Speed Vehicle Laws. We’ve created this guide to help you, the consumer, in determining Georgia’s laws.

Is this state Medium Speed Vehicle friendly? No State Law is Currently in Place.

Is License and Registration a Requirement? For both LSVs and Golf Carts, Yes. You must be 18 years of age or older to register.

General Federal Law for Golf Carts:

Under current NHTSA interpretations and regulations, so long as golf cars and other similar vehicles are incapable of exceeding 20 miles per hour, they are subject to only state and local requirements regarding safety equipment. However, if these vehicles are originally manufactured so that they can go faster than 20 miles per hour, they are treated as motor vehicles under Federal law.

The standard requires low-speed vehicles to be equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and vehicle identification numbers.

Find out more information on federal laws pertaining to golf carts and low speed vehicles here.

Georgia Golf Cart & Low Speed Vehicle Laws

Guidelines for Golf Carts and PTVs (Personal Transportation Vehicles)

Only those who have a valid driver’s license are allowed to drive a golf cart ALONE. If, however, the driver is at least 12 years of age and accompanied by a licensed adult age 18 or older, they may operate the golf cart. EXCEPTION: If the driver is 15 and holds a permit, he/she may operate the golf cart alone.

Golf carts may only operate on streets with posted speed limits of 35 MPH and under. This does not prohibit golf carts or low-speed motor vehicles from crossing any road or street at properly marked crossings.

Required Golf Cart Equipment

All golf carts must have braking systems, a reverse warning device, tail lamps, a horn and hip restraints and must weigh less than 1,300 lbs and not top speeds of 20mph.

Golf carts that are operated between sunrise and sunset must be equipped with headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and a windshield. Golf carts that do not meet these additional standards shall only be operated during the hours between sunrise and sunset.

Additional Golf Cart Related Information

Golf carts may be operated on sidewalks only if the driver yields the right-of-way to all pedestrians, bicycle riders or others not using a golf cart.

The following roads are off-limits for both golf carts AND low speed vehicles:

• Palmetto Road
• Tyrone Road
• Dogwood Trail
• Jenkins Road
• Sandy Creek Road
• Peggy Lane

Guidelines for LSV (Low Speed Vehicle)

• Reaches speeds of 20 MPH to 25 MPH.
• Has a vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Headlamps
• Front and rear turn signals
• Taillamps
• Stop lamps
• Reflex reflectors, red – one on each side and one on the rear
• Exterior mirror on the driver side and an interior mirror or exterior mirror on passenger side
• Parking brake
• Windshield
• Seatbelt for each designated seat
• Not be operated on any roadway with a speed limit above 35 mph.

Any person operating a low-speed vehicle (LSV) must have in their possession a valid driver license. An LSV must also be registered and insured with Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability.

The following roads are off-limits for both golf carts AND low speed vehicles:

• Palmetto Road
• Tyrone Road
• Dogwood Trail
• Jenkins Road
• Sandy Creek Road
• Peggy Lane

HELPFUL LINKS

www.dps.georgia.gov
www.municode.com
www.one.nhtsa.gov

Disclaimer
Although each of these state guides gives a thorough approach to the golf cart laws in your state, it is recommended that you perform the research on your own and reach out to your local municipality.