Once you’ve picked out your ideal golf cart and paid for it, you need to think beyond the fun you’re going to have with it.
For most golf cart owners, the first thing they wonder about is whether or not they should officially register their cart like they do with their regular vehicles.
This brings us to today’s question: do golf carts have titles?
A golf cart doesn’t require a title as long as you’re using it on a golf course or off of public roads. However, you can still get a title for your golf cart if you want to officially register your ownership of it anyway. If you modify your golf cart to become a low-speed vehicle that can be used on highways, freeways, and other public roads, then you must obtain a title for it.
As such, getting a golf cart registered ultimately comes down to how you intend to use it. Keep reading to find out more about the conditions of registration and the steps of the process.
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Do Golf Carts Have Titles?
No, golf carts don’t have titles. These vehicles don’t need a title because they’re intended for use on golf courses, private properties, and off of public roads.
Golf carts that haven’t been modified don’t fall under the category of road vehicles. Consequently, they don’t require official registration unlike cars, motorcycles, and trucks do.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t get a title for your golf cart if you want to. Titles for golf carts are available, but they aren’t necessary.
That said, if you make adjustments to your golf cart so it meets the standards of a low-speed vehicle, it becomes a must that you register and title it.
This is because the cart’s intended and possible use changes due to the new modifications.
The golf cart becomes eligible for driving on freeways, highways, national roads, and public roads. Additionally, it becomes subject to the same road regulations, laws, and rules as any other regular vehicle.
To sum it up, a golf cart doesn’t have or require a title, but you can obtain one anyway if you want. However, you’re obligated to register your golf cart and get a certificate of title if you modify it to become a low-speed vehicle.
Should You Leave Your Golf Cart Without a Title?
As mentioned above, a golf cart doesn’t need a title if you plan on just using it on golf courses and private properties. As long as you keep your golf car off of public roads, you don’t have to register it.
But should you leave your golf cart without a title? Well, most golf cart owners don’t register or obtain titles for their vehicles because of the following advantages:
- Having no title to deal with makes the process of transferring ownership of the golf cart from one person to another upon purchasing or selling the vehicle a lot faster and smoother.
All you need to do is pay or receive money for the vehicle and the ownership is immediately transferred once a bill of sale is obtained by the buying party.
You don’t need to get any additional licenses, change paperwork, or be bothered with the technicalities of maintaining a correct title.
- Other than the cost of the golf cart, there are no extra fees. You don’t have to pay for the registration process if it’s not required anyway.
- You don’t need to wait for the licensing and registration processes to finish before driving the golf cart. You can start using it right after charging its battery.
- Anyone can drive the golf cart if it’s not registered, including older kids and teens.
Should You Get Your Golf Cart Titled Anyway?
The pros of leaving your golf cart without a title can be pretty tempting, but many owners still register their vehicles anyway to avoid the following disadvantages:
- Without a title to prove your ownership of the golf cart, taking legal action against someone who stole it becomes problematic.
In this case, the thief can claim that you sold them the golf cart but didn’t provide them with a bill of sale/transfer. Of course, you could present your own bill of sale that shows you bought the cart, but it still wouldn’t resolve the issue or help refute the thief’s word.
- If you can’t find your golf cart, tracking down its location becomes almost impossible without a title and license.
- Without a title, you’re not allowed to drive your golf cart on public roads.
When Is a Title Required for a Golf Cart?
A golf cart is defined as such if it’s meant to carry a maximum of 4 people and operates at a maximum speed of 15 (sometimes 20) mph.
If you decide to tweak your golf cart and modify it to become a low-speed vehicle so you can use it on public roads, then you must obtain a title for it.
To convert your golf cart into a low-speed vehicle, it should have a maximum speed of 25 – 30 mph and weigh no more than 3,000 pounds. It should contain safety features such as belts, headlights, blinkers, mirrors, tail lights, a horn, a windshield, and reflectors.
How to Get a Title for a Golf Cart?
Modified or not, getting a title for your golf cart requires visiting your local motorist services (a DMV or a DMS) and applying for a cart or low-speed vehicle title.
After filling out the necessary paperwork, providing the necessary documents, and paying registration fees, you should receive a title within a few days.
Wrap Up
So, do golf carts have titles? The answer is mostly no, but it ultimately depends on your intended use and whether or not the cart was modified.
A golf cart doesn’t require a title as long as you’re using it on a golf course, a private property, or off of public roads. But, you can get a title for your golf cart anyway if you want to officially register your ownership of it.
If you modify your golf cart to become a low-speed vehicle that can be used on highways, freeways, and other public roads, then you must obtain a certificate of title for it.
