Are golf carts street legal across SC? Here’s what to know
Golf carts are an easy way to cruise between holes. But what about using one to zip to the nearby service station for a snack?
Odds are you can pull it off. Doing it legally is another matter.
Golf carts can be driven on South Carolina roads, but only under narrowly defined rules. Here are guidelines laid out by South Carolina law that must be followed before taking a golf cart out for a drive in the Palmetto State, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
- The golf cart must remain within 4 miles of your home or business, where it is legal to drive.
- The golf car may only be operated on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.
- The golf cart must be insured, permitted and registered with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
- The golf cart can only be operated during daylight hours.
- The driver must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
To get a golf cart permit from the SCDMV, you must do all of the following:
- Complete the Golf Cart Permit Registration (SCDMV Form GC-2)
- Provide proof of insurance for the golf cart
- Provide your valid driver’s license number
- Pay $5
Once the golf cart permit and registration document have been issued, you must place the permit decal on the golf cart, and carry the registration document in the golf cart at all times.
To find a SCDMV office nearest you, click here.
