What Is the Legal Difference Between a Golf Cart and an LSV?
Florida defines the two by design and top speed, not by how they look. FLHSMV quotes Florida Statutes 320.01(22): a golf cart is "a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour." It quotes 320.01(41) for an LSV: "any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour" (FLHSMV, F.S. 320.01).
So a cart that has lights and a windshield is still a golf cart unless it has been converted, inspected, and titled as an LSV.
Side by Side
| Topic | Golf cart | Low-speed vehicle (LSV) |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed (definition) | Not capable of more than 20 mph | More than 20 mph, up to 25 mph |
| Where it may drive | Only roads a county, city, or water control district has designated and signed for carts, plus limited approved crossings (F.S. 316.212(1) to (4)) | Streets posted 35 mph or less; may cross faster roads at an intersection (F.S. 316.2122(1)(a)) |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset, unless the local government allows night use and the cart has headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and a windshield (F.S. 316.212(5)) | No state daylight limit in 316.2122 |
| Driver | Under 18: learner's license or driver license. 18 and older: government-issued photo ID (F.S. 316.212(7)) | Valid driver license in possession (F.S. 316.2122(1)(d)) |
| Title, tag, insurance | Not titled or registered as a road vehicle | Must be registered, insured, and titled (F.S. 316.2122(1)(c)); FLHSMV lists minimum $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL |
| Required equipment | Efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rearview mirror, and red reflectorized warning devices front and rear (F.S. 316.212(6)) | Headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and a VIN (F.S. 316.2122(1)(b)) |
Where Can Each One Drive?
A golf cart needs a designated road; an LSV needs a low posted speed. State law prohibits golf carts on public roads except as the statute allows, mainly on county roads, city streets, and water control district roads that the responsible government has designated and signed for carts (F.S. 316.212). An LSV may use any street posted 35 mph or less (F.S. 316.2122). Cities and counties can add rules, so check the local code and look for signs. Our Florida golf cart rules guide links the Lake, Sumter, and Marion County codes.
How Does a Golf Cart Become a Street Legal LSV?
FLHSMV allows golf carts to be converted to LSVs, but the vehicle must be street legal before you apply. FLHSMV lists these items for a converted cart: four photos of the vehicle, a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin or bill of sale, Form HSMV 84490 (Statement of Builder), Form HSMV 86064 (Affidavit for Golf Cart Modified to a Low Speed Vehicle), receipts for conversion parts, a certified weight slip, Form HSMV 82040 (Application for Title), proof of Florida insurance, sales tax information for parts, and ID, plus inspection, title, plate, and registration fees (FLHSMV).
FLHSMV also warns buyers that on a converted cart, the title and registration year shows when it was titled, not when it was built, so the vehicle may be older than the title suggests.
What Should You Check Before Buying Either One?
- Ask which it is legally. Is there a Florida title showing an LSV and a VIN, or is it a golf cart?
- Match it to your roads. List the routes you would drive and check whether they are cart designated or posted 35 mph or less.
- Check local rules. Your city or county may have stricter rules for carts.
- Ask your insurer. An LSV needs PIP and PDL. For a golf cart, ask what coverage your agent suggests. See our insurance and registration guide.
- Check community rules. An HOA or community may set its own rules for its private paths and streets.