If you want to drive a golf cart on public roads, you need to make sure that your vehicle meets all of the low and medium speed vehicle regulations. Golf carts are four-wheeled, electric vehicles that have a top speed of between 20 mph and 25 mph, so they are categorized as low-speed vehicles.
In this article, I'm going to introduce you to the four best golf carts that will be road legal in 2023. These vehicles are not only suitable for use on the golf course, but they can also be an environmentally friendly and economical option for getting around your community. These vehicles come in both electric and gasoline types, and I'm going to rate them based on their range, top speed, comfort and safety features. If you just need a vehicle for use on the golf course, you can read our review of the best golf carts for 2023.
Here are a few factors you need to consider before choosing a golf cart that's legal for the road:
- Budget: a golf cart is not a cheap purchase, especially if it is road legal. However, if you have the need for one, you probably already have enough money to buy one. The EZ GO, for example, starts at $7,699 for a 2-seat vehicle, while a 4-seat luxury model can cost over $15,000.A more affordable option is to look for used deals in your area. You can ask your local golf cart retailer to see if anyone has one for sale. The risk of buying a used golf cart is that you don't know how well the battery or vehicle has been maintained.
- Power delivery: you need to decide if you want an electric or gasoline vehicle. Electric vehicles are better from an environmental standpoint. However, they usually offer a shorter range than gasoline vehicles. The fastest electric golf carts perform best over shorter distances. However, as the battery is depleted, the speed and power of an electric vehicle decreases until the battery needs to be recharged. And, of course, electric vehicles are road legal. For more information, read: are golf carts road legal? [^1^][1]
- Seating: Golf carts come in different seating arrangements.2 seater is the smallest option, then 4 seater, 6 seater or even 8 seater. You need to consider your family and how many seats you need to accommodate them.
- Maximum Speed: Golf carts that are legally on the road are designed to be driven on public roads where the speed limit is 35 mph. However, these vehicles have a top speed of between 19 mph and 25 mph. Contrary to stories online, electric golf carts have higher top speeds than gasoline vehicles. However, electric vehicles slow down when their batteries run down, while gasoline vehicles maintain their speed and power for a longer period of time. Therefore, a gasoline vehicle is faster than an electric vehicle over a longer distance.
- Lights: Your vehicle needs to have hazard lights, brake lights and turn signals to be a fully road legal golf cart. While most road-legal vehicles include these features, you can purchase kits to modify them to your liking.
Here are four of the best road legal golf carts for 2023:
- Polaris Gem E2 - The best road-legal electric golf carts
- Club Car Villager 2+2 - The best 4-seater electric golf carts
- Yamaha Drive 2 Quietech EFI - Best Gasoline Golf Carts
- E-Z-GO Express S6 - Best 6-Passenger Golf Carts
