How to Insure Your Golf Cart in Florida (2026): A Step-by-Step Guide
Key Takeaways
- Traditional golf carts, capped at 20 mph and used mainly on golf courses or designated local roads, are not required to carry insurance in Florida, and they don’t need to be titled or registered.
- Low-speed vehicles, or LSVs, are a separate legal category for carts modified to travel 20 to 25 mph. LSVs must be titled, registered, and insured with at least $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability.
- Owning a cart that goes faster than 20 mph without converting it to a properly titled LSV can put you outside the law even if insurance isn’t the primary issue.
- Standard auto insurance policies typically don’t extend to golf carts. Coverage usually comes from a standalone golf cart policy, an LSV policy, or in some cases an endorsement added to a homeowners policy.
- Even where insurance isn’t legally required, an uninsured golf cart accident leaves the owner personally responsible for injuries and property damage, which is why many insurers and golf communities recommend coverage regardless of the legal minimum.
Golf carts are everywhere in Florida, cruising through retirement communities, coastal towns, and neighborhoods with dedicated cart paths. If you’re a Florida golf cart owner, what you actually need to do about insurance depends entirely on how fast the cart can go. Whether you just bought a golf cart, inherited one, or found out your cart’s been modified to go faster than you realized, there’s a relatively straightforward process for figuring out what’s required and getting it squared away.
Under Florida Statute 320.01, a golf cart is defined as a vehicle designed for use on a golf course, with a top speed under 20 mph. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles treats low-speed vehicles as a distinct category: four-wheeled vehicles with a top speed greater than 20 mph but not exceeding 25 mph. That speed threshold is the entire legal dividing line, and it determines every step of the insurance process.
| Vehicle type | Top speed | Titled and registered? | Insurance required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional golf cart | Under 20 mph | No | No, though recommended |
| Low-speed vehicle (LSV) | 20 to 25 mph | Yes | Yes, minimum $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL |
Sample summary only; local ordinances may add further restrictions on where carts can be driven. Sources: Florida Statute 320.01, FLHSMV, Progressive.
How to figure out what your golf cart needs and get it insured
Step 1: Determine your cart’s actual top speed
Everything to do with insuring a golf cart is determined by the vehicle’s top speed. If your cart tops out under 20 mph and hasn’t been modified, it legally qualifies as a golf cart, not an LSV, and you can skip to Step 3. If it’s been modified in any way, aftermarket motor, controller, or gearing changes, or if it came from the factory rated above 20 mph, treat it as an LSV and continue to Step 2.
When in doubt, confirming the actual top speed with the manufacturer or a qualified shop is worth doing before assuming either way. Owning a cart that exceeds 20 mph without going through the LSV process puts you out of compliance regardless of whether you realized the threshold had been crossed.
Step 2: If it’s an LSV, complete the titling, registration, and conversion process
LSVs must be titled and registered with the Florida DHSMV and carry a 17-digit VIN, the same baseline requirement as a standard car. If you’re converting an existing golf cart into a street-legal LSV rather than buying one new, that requires a formal process: a VIN inspection and assignment at a Motorist Services Regional Office, a completed HSMV 86064 form, an Affidavit for Golf Cart Modified to a Low-Speed Vehicle, a Statement of Builder form, the original bill of sale, and receipts for the parts used in the conversion. LSVs also need specific equipment installed before they’ll pass: headlights, turn signals, mirrors, a windshield, and seat belts. Once titled, registered, and equipped, the vehicle can move to insurance.
Step 3: Decide on your coverage level, even if it isn’t required
If your cart stayed under 20 mph, insurance isn’t legally required, but skipping this step still leaves you personally responsible for medical bills and property damage if the cart causes an accident. This is a real exposure given how often carts now share roads with pedestrians, bicycles, and cars in busy Florida communities.
Decide between basic liability insurance, which covers injuries and damage you cause to others, and full coverage, which adds collision coverage and comprehensive protection for the cart itself. Collision coverage pairs well with medical payments coverage if you want medical expenses for you and your passengers addressed too, since liability coverage alone only pays for the other party. LSVs don’t get a choice here: at minimum, $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability is mandatory, matching Florida’s standard auto insurance liability coverage limits.
Step 4: Shop carriers and ask about bundling
Most major carriers writing auto insurance in Florida, including Allstate, Progressive, Nationwide, and GEICO, also offer golf cart coverage, along with specialty insurers like Foremost, which is part of the Farmers Insurance Group. Some Florida homeowners insurers have started bundling limited golf cart coverage into homeowners policies at no additional cost, though the scope of that coverage varies significantly by carrier and shouldn’t be assumed without checking directly. Bundling with an existing home or auto policy from the same carrier is one of the more reliable ways to bring the cost down, and it’s worth asking about specifically since it isn’t always offered by default.
Step 5: Confirm where you’re actually allowed to drive it
Insurance and registration solve the coverage question, but road access is a separate issue governed largely by local ordinance rather than state statute. Beyond golf courses, Florida Statute 316.212 allows golf cart use on county roads, municipal streets, or two-lane county roads within a municipality’s jurisdiction, but only where the local government has specifically designated the road for golf cart use and posted signage.
LSVs face a different, broader rule, generally permitted on streets with posted speed limits of 35 mph or lower, regardless of local golf cart designations. Check with your county or city before assuming a route is legal, since this varies block by block in some communities.
Do you need insurance for a golf cart in Florida?
Not for a standard, unmodified golf cart used on a golf course or on roads specifically designated for golf cart use by a local government. Florida law does not require insurance, titling, or registration for these vehicles. Boginmunns notes that a golf cart used solely on a golf course doesn’t require insurance or registration at all.
Golf cart insurance required status changes the moment your cart’s top speed crosses the 20 mph threshold, as covered in Step 1 above, at which point it becomes mandatory rather than optional. That said, insurance isn’t required doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea, as covered in Step 3 above.
What does golf cart insurance actually cover?
Whether required or not, golf cart policies typically offer bodily injury liability and property damage liability, similar in structure to standard auto insurance coverage, along with optional add-ons like collision, comprehensive, medical payments coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage. GEICO and Allstate both describe golf cart coverage as protection against accidents, theft, and liability exposure, and note that standard auto insurance policies generally don’t extend to golf carts automatically, so a separate policy or endorsement is usually necessary.
How much does golf cart insurance cost in Florida?
Golf cart insurance costs vary widely based on how the cart is used, its value, and how much coverage you choose. Some communities, like The Villages, recommend but don’t require coverage for cart use within community roads, while crossing county or state roads typically triggers a stricter requirement.
| Coverage level | Typical annual premium | Common providers |
|---|---|---|
| Basic liability, standard golf cart | Approximately $80 to $200 | GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, Nationwide |
| Full coverage (liability plus comprehensive/collision), standard golf cart | Approximately $200 to $400 | Foremost, Progressive, Nationwide |
| LSV or street-legal cart, full state-required coverage | Approximately $200 to $500 | Progressive, State Farm, Nationwide, Foremost, National General |
Sample ranges only; actual premiums depend on cart value, coverage level, driving record, and whether the cart is driven on public roads. Sources: Insurance.com, Golf Cart Search, Coverage Criteria.
The bottom line
Golf cart insurance in Florida comes down almost entirely to speed. Work through the five steps above, confirm your cart’s real top speed, handle titling and conversion if it’s an LSV, decide on coverage even if it’s optional, shop and bundle, then confirm where you can legally drive it, and you’ll have a complete answer rather than a partial one. An LSV is treated like any other registered motor vehicle, insurance included, with no exceptions, while a true golf cart gives you more flexibility but not zero risk.
If you’re unsure which category your cart falls into, particularly if it’s been modified in any way, confirming its actual top speed and legal classification with FLHSMV before assuming it’s exempt from insurance requirements is worth the time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to have insurance on my golf cart in Florida?
Not for a standard golf cart capped at 20 mph used on a golf course or designated local roads. Golf cart insurance required status begins once the cart is classified as a low-speed vehicle capable of 20 to 25 mph.
How much does it cost to insure a golf cart in Florida?
Costs vary by carrier, coverage level, and whether the cart is a standard golf cart or an LSV. LSVs require the same PIP and property damage liability minimums as a standard car, which typically costs more than optional coverage on a standard golf cart.
Do LSVs need to be registered in Florida?
Yes. LSVs must be titled and registered with the Florida DHSMV and carry a 17-digit VIN, unlike standard golf carts, which are exempt from titling and registration.
Does homeowners or auto insurance cover golf carts?
Not automatically. Standard auto insurance generally doesn’t extend to golf carts, and homeowners policies vary, with some Florida insurers now bundling limited golf cart coverage at no extra cost, though this should be confirmed directly with the carrier.
How do I make my golf cart street legal in Florida?
Converting a golf cart to a street-legal LSV requires a VIN inspection, specific equipment like headlights and seat belts, and completed conversion paperwork filed with FLHSMV, after which it can be titled, registered, and insured.
What’s the difference between liability coverage and medical payments coverage on a golf cart policy?
Liability coverage pays for injuries and property damage you cause to someone else. Medical payments coverage, by contrast, covers medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of who was at fault, and it’s typically an optional add-on rather than something included automatically.
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