There are age requirements for golf carts, LSVs and legal NEVs for the road. Any vehicle considered legal on the road can only be driven by drivers with a driving license and must be insured and registered with the DMV. Therefore, in California, the minimum age to use neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) or low-speed vehicles (LSVs) is 16 years old. A District Electric Vehicle (NEV) is an American designation for battery electric vehicles that are typically built for a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour and a maximum charge weight of 3,000 lbs. According to the respective state laws, they are legally limited to roads with speed limits of 45 miles per hour or less. NEVs fall under the U.S. Department of Transportation`s classification for low-speed vehicles. This designation means that users of golf carts in these locations are not required to use or follow any federal laws or regulations. Why this growing interest in electric vehicles such as golf carts and LSVs? Because the state of California has promised to move away from fossil vehicles in favor of zero-emission alternatives like VEN. The state plans to eliminate the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2035. All new car sales in 2035 must be emission-free and comply with government requirements.
These regulations are designed to ensure that golf carts are not driven quickly for safety reasons. Again, golf carts and other low-speed vehicles would have about 17 digital ID numbers, commonly known as VIN. However, if you`re not careful, you can get a ticket for violating California`s vehicle code. So, before using a golf cart or other slow electric vehicle, make sure you know the laws in the area. A little research can help you avoid an expensive ticket to California. Keep in mind that some golf carts are technically considered low-speed vehicles under California law instead of golf carts. If your vehicle has four wheels and weighs less than 3,000 pounds, but can exceed 20 mph, it is considered a low-speed vehicle (LSV), also known as a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV), and must be registered. LSVs may look like a golf cart to the casual observer, but they`re actually a motor vehicle that requires a valid California driver`s license, registration, and insurance. You don`t need to have a valid California driver`s license or use a golf cart on private property. The same goes for registering a golf cart with the California Department of Motor Vehicles – it`s not necessary on private property. However, when driving a golf cart on public roads, the vehicle must comply with all regulations associated with driving a vehicle, including possession of a valid license and registration. Also, according to California DMV, the following rules apply to NEVs/LSVs: The short answer is that a golf cart can be considered legal on the road if it has been built or modified to comply with federal and state law.
Some of these vehicles can never be eligible or cannot qualify without being modified. Anyone who assumes that golf carts are not motor vehicles is mistaken. Several parts of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) consider golf carts to be motor vehicles, including CVC 345, CVC 4019, and CVC 21115. The answer to this question is “yes,” but here`s what you need to know when it comes to driving a golf cart on the road in California. Another thing to keep in mind here is that while communities are allowed to self-label, driving a golf cart on California roads requires that the speed not exceed 25 miles per hour. A title and registration is also a great way to make sure you own a safe and legitimate golf cart. Here in California, golf cart theft is on the rise and you don`t want to accidentally buy or drive a stolen vehicle. If you have a low-speed vehicle, you should be very careful when driving the vehicle on California roads and roads. In addition to the HVAC section above, you will also need to check with local governments and other agencies with authority over local roads to determine if a transportation plan for electric vehicles has been adopted in the neighborhood. Since all golf carts are balanced for four wheels and ride poorly, even if only one is missing, this rule should not be difficult to follow.
CVC 345 21115, 21115.1 and 21716 How Golf Carts Work There is a lot of confusion around the laws on electric golf carts. One of the most common questions we receive in our rocklin Electric Golf Cart showroom is, “Are electric golf carts legal in California?” What they naturally wonder is whether their new or used electric golf cart is “legal on the road” here in California. In this article, we`re going to go over some of california`s laws for electric golf carts. However, if trusted manufacturers first manufacture your golf cart, it will be treated as a vehicle rather than a golf cart and will be allowed to travel faster than 20 miles per hour. This means that it is used by California federal laws as a standard motor vehicle. State and federal roads are also not passable for these cars and should be avoided. However, golf carts used in designated municipal areas still need to be upgraded to ensure they can be safely used on the roads. Golf carts that have been modified and no longer meet the legal definition of a golf cart may not be registered for on-road use and can only be registered for off-road use, Keyes said. An example of an illegal modification would be to increase the speed so that the car could go faster than 15 mph.
Here are the most important things you need to know if golf carts are legal on the road in California and how to comply with the law. A: Registering a golf cart for use on the road is optional and the use of golf carts on the roads is subject to local regulations, DMV spokeswoman Kimberly Keyes said. A golf cart is strictly defined in the vehicle code as a “motor vehicle with at least three wheels coming into contact with the ground,” weighs less than 1,300 pounds if it does not carry a load, is designed to operate at 15 mph or less, and is “designed to carry golf equipment and no more than two people, including the driver,” Keyes said. Please note that the following topic is for informational purposes only and is not a legal matter currently being handled by our firm. If you need additional help on this particular topic, you can contact your local bar for a referral to a lawyer who may be able to handle your application in more detail. The California Vehicle Code states that golf carts can legally travel on roads that have a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour, said Sgt. Matthew Bloch of the Menifee Police Department. If our reader wants to drive on such a road, Bloch said, the golf cart can`t be modified to travel faster than 15 miles per hour, as Keyes noted.
The law of the State of California is clear; A golf cart or similar vehicle that meets government requirements can be used as a vehicle approved for the road. But this license doesn`t automatically mean under state law that you can drive a legal low-speed electric vehicle on the road anywhere in the state of your choice. Some cities and counties have their own requirements that meet or exceed California`s DMV regulations. A “traditional” golf cart is defined by state law as “a motor vehicle designed to carry golf equipment and no more than two people, including the driver” and must have at least three wheels. These vehicles typically have to operate at 15 mph or slower and are exempt from California state registration requirements at the time of going to press, according to California DMV`s Official Website. Golf carts can be electric or gasoline and are used to transport golfers and their equipment safely and pleasantly through country clubs and golf courses. Their center of gravity is low on the ground, so it`s well suited for driving on rough terrain, and instead of a horn that would be in the middle of a car`s steering wheel, there`s a suspended clipboard to hold the score during a game. Best of all, when you buy a new or used electric golf cart or LSV from the Electric Golf Car Company in Rocklin, we make sure you understand exactly what you`re getting. If necessary, we will even help you with DMV registration! Standard golf carts operated exclusively on golf courses are generally not titled.