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Golf Cart Rules

Posted on: March 1, 2022 - 4:20pm
golf cart

Recent changes in Texas law now allow golf carts and most off-highway vehicles to be operated on public roadways. However, their operation is restricted to certain conditions, and there are certain stipulations that have to be met in order to legally do so. For the purposes of this advisory, an “off-highway vehicle” includes ATVs, ROVs, UTV‘s, and sand rails. The following are the conditions where golf carts and off-highway vehicles may be operated, and their requirements.

CONDITIONS

A person may operate a golf cart or off-highway vehicle in:

A county or municipality approved master plan community containing a set of HOA/POA rules or restrictive covenant‘s; or

A public or private beach approved for vehicle or travel; or

A roadway for which the posted speed limit is not more than 35 mph, and the vehicle is operated during daytime hours in an area not more than 2 miles from the location where the vehicle is usually parked and used for transportation to and from a golf course.

REQUIREMENTS

Golf carts and off-highway vehicles must display the appropriate license plate to legally operate on the roadway. 

Golf carts and off highway vehicles traveling at the speed of not more than 25 mph are also required to display slow moving vehicle emblem.

All traffic laws pertaining to the movement and operation of regular motor vehicles apply, and must be obeyed while operating a golf cart or off-highway vehicle in a public roadway.

The Texas Attorney General’s office has stated (No. KP-0364) that the requirement to possess a valid driver’s license to operate a vehicle on a public roadway applies to the operation of golf carts and off-highway vehicles while on a public road. Yes, an operator of a golf cart or off-highway vehicle must possess a valid driver’s license (or learners permit with adult present) to drive on a public roadway.

Golf Carts must have the following minimum equipment:

  • Headlamps
  • Tail lamps
  • Reflectors
  • Parking brake
  • Mirrors

Additional Important information is added below.  Please read to familiarize yourself with the state laws.

https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/unique-vehicles

https://trackbill.com/bill/texas-house-bill-1281-relating-to-the-operati...

https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB1281/id/2253731

 

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles does not register golf carts, but a “golf cart” license plate can be obtained from the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector office.

To obtain a golf cart license:

  • Complete Form 130-U.
  • On the application, mark the non-title registration box on the top of the application.
  • Pay a $14.75 fee for the plate.  
  • Mail-in the form or schedule an appointment for an in-person visit at www.hctax.net.

The golf cart license plate does not change where and when golf carts are allowed to operate on public roads.