Street Legal

Q: Can Ace of Carts help me make my golf cart Street Legal?

A: Yes, we can!

Q: What if I didn't buy my cart from ACE. Can you still help me?

A: Yes, as long as you have your original bill of sale and your cart meets specific requirements, including minimum speed requirements of 20 mph and a maximum speed of 25 mph

Q: What do people mean when they say a cart is Street Ready?

A: Street Ready is a term used by some golf cart dealers when a cart has "most" of the equipment required to register a cart; however, genuine street legal carts are registered with the DMV and are fully insured

Q: What will it cost to have Ace of Carts help me with the street legal process for my cart?

A: Approximate costs range from $1500 - $2000

Q: Can I make my golf cart street-legal by myself?

A: Absolutely. See what is required below

Q: What is the approximate cost if I do the process myself?

A: Costs can range from $350 - $500 depending upon how much equipment you may need to add to your existing golf cart as well as DMV fees (for example: do you have an existing tag to transfer to your golf cart, or will a new tag be required)

Low-Speed Vehicles

Section 320.01(41), Florida Statutes, defines LSVs as "any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour." LSVs must be registered, titled, and insured with personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance. Any person operating an LSV must have a valid driver's license in their immediate possession.

LSVs may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 MPH or less and must be equipped with the following safety equipment:

Headlamps;
Front and rear turn signals;
Stop lamps;
Tail lamps;
Reflex reflectors, red - one on each side and one on the rear;
Exterior mirror on the driver's side and an interior rear-view mirror or exterior mirror on the passenger side;
Parking brake;
Windshield;
Seat belt for each designated seat and a
Vehicle identification number (VIN).

To title and register an LSV, take the following documents to a Motor Vehicle Service Center:

Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin;
Form HSMV 82040 (Application for Title);
Proof of Florida insurance (minimum $10,000 PDL and $10, 000 PIP);
Identification - driver's license, ID card, or passport; and
Applicable fees
- Title fee
- Plate fee
- Initial registration fee, if applicable
- Registration fee (varies by weight of vehicle)

Golf Carts

Golf carts are defined in section 320.01(22), Florida Statutes, as "a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes, and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour." Golf carts may be operated on roadways designated for golf carts with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less. Golf carts may also cross a portion of a county road that intersects a roadway approved for golf carts or intersects a golf course or mobile home park. In both examples, the roadway should have signs that golf carts share the roadway. The operation of golf carts on roads must comply with any more restrictive ordinances enacted by local government and should be verified before operating these vehicles.

Golf carts are not required to be titled or registered and, therefore, are not required to be insured with PIP and PDL insurance coverage. Golf cart operators are not required to have a driver's license; however, to operate a golf cart on designated public roadways, a person must be 14 years or older.

Converted Golf Carts

Golf carts can be converted to LSVs (see LSV safety equipment requirements above). Buyers should be aware that if a golf cart has been modified to an LSV, the registration and title date do not reflect the manufacture date (age of the vehicle). Instead, it indicates the year it was registered and titled. This means the vehicle could be older than the date listed on the title.

Titling and Registering a Converted Golf Cart

Before titling and registering a converted golf cart, it must be inspected and assigned a VIN at a Motorist Services Regional Office. The converted golf cart must also be street-legal before applying for title and registration.

Trailer the converted golf cart to a Motorist Services Regional Office and present the following documents and fees for an inspection, VIN assignment, title, and registration:

Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin or a bill of sale for the golf cart Form HSMV 84490 (Statement of Builder) completed by customer and Compliance Examiner/Inspector;
Form HSMV 86064 (Affidavit for Golf Cart Modified to a Low-Speed Vehicle);
Original bill(s) of sale or receipt(s) for all parts used to convert the golf cart to a low-speed vehicle;
Certified weight slip for the converted golf cart;
Form HSMSV 82040 (Application for Title);
Proof of Florida insurance (minimum $10,000 PDL and $10,000 PIP);
Sales tax or sales tax exemption information for all parts;
Identification - driver's license, ID card, or passport; and
Applicable fees
- Inspection fee
- Title fee
- Plate fee
- Initial registration fee, if applicable
- Registration fee (varies by weight of vehicle)