One of the best parts about being on a golf course is getting to ride around in a golf cart. So, it makes perfect sense why you’d want to recreate this experience at home.
Still, when you check golf cart prices, you’ll find that they’re through the roof. This begs the question: why are golf carts so expensive?
There are a few reasons golf carts are so expensive. Many factors go into deciding cart price. These include the cost of parts and upgrades, as well as the safety factor. However, the main reason golf carts are so expensive is the short supply and high demand.
Let’s look at these factors and how they affect the price of golf carts.
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Top 5 Reasons Golf Carts Are So Expensive
A lot of thought and design goes into making a golf cart. Naturally, this will mark up the value of the cart quite a bit. Here are some of the reasons why golf carts are so expensive.
1. Small Number of Golf Cart Manufacturers
One of the biggest deciding factors of golf cart price is supply and demand. If the supply of an item doesn’t match its demand, the price of the item usually goes up.
When it comes to golf carts, there are only three major manufacturers worldwide.
There are other companies that make golf carts. However, none can match the quality or quantity of those three companies.
Because of this, supply is always less than demand, which leads to higher prices.
Moreover, with little competition, manufacturers don’t need to lower their prices to attract customers. With this monopoly, manufacturers can price golf carts as high as they like.
2. High-Quality Components
Golf carts spend a good portion of their lives outdoors. That’s why they have to withstand the full force of the sun and move around on bumpy terrain.
To make sure that the carts can withstand these conditions, manufacturers use high-quality materials when building golf carts.
These materials include steel and other strong metals that can be quite expensive. As a result, using these materials can increase the cost of golf carts significantly.
You also have to make considerations for all of the different parts of a golf cart. These include the headlights, taillights, seat belts, and seat covers.
Moreover, even though golf carts move relatively slowly, they need a powerful motor. With motors, you have to take into consideration filters, oil chambers, and other components.
This only goes for gasoline motors. If you opt for a battery-powered golf cart, you also have the added cost of battery arrays.
3. High Safety Factor
When you think of the safest mode of transportation, a golf cart is pretty low on the list. The carts are generally slow, but you’re exposed from every direction.
Aside from the windshield, golf carts don’t usually have any windows. For this reason, manufacturers need to make many safety considerations. This is especially true if you use the cart around children.
For example, the golf cart needs to have a low center of gravity to ensure that it doesn’t tip over a steep slope. You also need rudders and safety brakes for a more secure ride. Each one of those elements will come at an extra cost.
Thankfully, many of the safety features are customizable. This means that you should be able to find a compromise that keeps you safe without breaking the bank.
4. Features & Upgrades
One of the reasons golf carts are so popular is that they’re customizable. There’s an incredible amount of features that you can add to your cart. Moreover, the features are constantly updated and improved.
Some of these features include:
- GPS
- A more powerful motor
- Stereo
- Bluetooth capabilities
- Lift kitsfor your golf clubs
- Off-road wheels
- Extra seats
It should come as no surprise that the more features you add, the more expensive the golf cart will be. Each one of the features or upgrades comes with a huge price tag. That’s why just adding one or two features can drive the price of the cart through the roof.
What’s more, it can be a little difficult to pick and choose between all of these features.
5. Elite Clientele
Golf carts are a luxury mode of transportation. Their main purpose is to take you on a calm ride around an open field. While manufacturers make golf carts for personal use, it’s not their goal. Personal purchases only make up a small percentage of total golf cart sales.
As you can guess, golf courses acquire the largest number of golf carts a year. Since golf players rely on carts to move around the massive course, golf courses always need a fresh supply of them.
Other corporations like hotels, hospitals, and theme parks sometimes also use golf carts.
Golf courses and large corporations can usually afford the high markup of the carts. For this reason, manufacturers don’t need to lower prices to make a sale.
In fact, some manufacturers bump up their prices to give their customers a sense of elitism.
Finding the Best Golf Cart For You
After finding out some of the factors that go into pricing golf carts, shopping for one should be easier.
The first thing you want to do is find out exactly what you need. Depending on how you plan on using the golf cart, you can let go of some features.
If you want a golf cart for short trips around your property, investing in a powerful motor may not be the best idea. Moreover, you won’t need GPS or lift kits.
Limiting the features to the ones you absolutely need will help keep the price of the golf cart down.
Still, if you want a more affordable golf cart, try looking at second-hand carts. There are a few stores that sell used golf carts at a huge markdown. You can check out websites like Golf Cart Resource to find good deals.
Wrapping Up
Why are golf carts so expensive? To answer this question, you should consider a few factors regarding golf carts. These factors include the cost of components, short supply, high demand, and extra features.
A combination of all these factors can drive up the prices of golf carts. Luckily, there are some ways you can bring down the price of golf carts, such as limiting the added features or buying second-hand.
