What Are the Alabama Golf Cart Laws?
Because golf carts don’t have the necessary safety features to make them street legal, they cannot be driven on public roadways in Alabama. It is also illegal to drive golf carts on sidewalks. If a person is caught driving on an Alabama roadway in a golf cart that has not been modified to include the necessary safety features, and if it is not registered, the driver can be fined up to $700.
Although golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSV) look similar, they are different. Unmodified golf carts can reach speeds of 15 to 20 MPH, while low-speed vehicles can reach speeds of 20 to 25 MPH. Also, low-speed vehicles have safety features that golf carts do not have.
These include:
- Headlights
- Brake lights
- Turn signals
- Seat belts
- Rear and side view mirrors
- Advanced braking system
It is these safety features that make low-speed vehicles DOT and DMV approved, and the lack of them causing golf carts to not be approved.
Low-speed vehicles can be driven on designated roadways in Alabama as long as the driver meets certain requirements (be at least 16 years old) and the vehicle is registered with the DMV. If an underage child or an unlicensed driver is caught driving an LSV on the road, the owner can be fined.
Golf carts are only legal when driven on a golf course or on private property.
Learn more about Alabama Golf Cart and LSV Laws online.
