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

Is this state Medium Speed Vehicle friendly? Yes. They may operate on roads on which the vehicle’s speed capability exceeds the posted speed limit by at least 5 mph.

Is License and Registration a Requirement? For LSVs, yes. You will also need a valid driver’s license, Title, and Insurance. For Golf Carts, no registration is required (please see below).

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.

Maryland Golf Cart & Low Speed Vehicle Laws

Guidelines for Golf Carts and PTVs (Personal Transportation Vehicles)

According to Maryland’s DMV, golf carts are prohibited from operating on public roadways. The only time a golf cart may operate on a public street is if the cart is crossing the street for continuation of a golf course (i.e. a golf course is divided by a road).

UPDATE (04/10/18): The city of Crisfield, MD has passed a law that will allow golf carts on city streets (both state and county roads). If you live in this city, please reach out to your local municipality for more information.

Guidelines for LSV (Low Speed Vehicle)

• Has four wheels.
• Within one mile can reach a speed of more than 20 miles per hour (mph) but not more than 25 mph on a paved level surface.
• Has a 17-digit conforming vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 3,000 pounds.
• Must be certified to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to be registered and operated on public streets, roads, or highways.
• Not be operated on any roadway with a speed limit above 30 mph.
• Cross state highways only at controlled intersections. Crossing at uncontrolled intersections is permitted with approval of the local authority governing that intersection.

LSVs are treated just like an automobile and require a title, registration, and insurance.

HELPFUL LINKS

mva.maryland.gov
http://www.dmv.org/

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.