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Posted on September 5, 2023 in Personal Injury
State law in South Carolina allows qualified drivers to operate golf carts on public roads and streets under certain circumstances and with limitations. These legal requirements and restrictions are known as the conditions for operating golf carts on public roads, including registration, permits, speed limits, operating hours, driver age, and safety equipment. Drivers must meet specific requirements to drive golf carts in public. Before you take your golf cart onto a public street or road, you should review the golf cart rules in South Carolina.
Under South Carolina’s golf cart law, a golf cart may only be operated on public roads by someone who is at least 16 years old and holds a valid driver’s license.
Under South Carolina law, an operator may drive their golf cart within a limited area—specifically, within four miles of the address on the golf cart’s registration or within four miles of the ingress/egress to a gated community—and only on secondary highways or streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less.
There are several restrictions on golf cart operation. Operators may drive their golf carts only during daylight hours. Golf carts may only cross a highway at an intersection if the highway has a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. Operators may also drive golf carts on secondary roads or streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less on an island not accessible by a bridge designed for automobiles.
Other restrictions may apply, such as special rules for gated communities, islands, and night operation, which are set by local ordinances to ensure comprehensive regulation.
Counties and municipalities in South Carolina have the authority to pass ordinances reducing the allowed distance for golf cart travel from four miles to two miles within the cart’s registered address or the egress/ingress of a gated community. Communities may also establish separate golf cart paths on the shoulders of any primary or secondary highway, road, or street, further regulating the travel routes available to golf carts.
In counties with 150,000 to 250,000 residents, municipalities with jurisdiction over barrier islands may enact ordinances allowing golf cart operators to drive on designated portions of barrier islands at night if their golf cart has working headlights and rear lights. These ordinances may specify the times or time periods during which night operation is permitted, as well as the number of miles or hours (times) within which certain regulations apply.
The law requires golf cart owners wishing to drive on public roads and streets to obtain a golf cart permit from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). A permit application carries a $5 fee, and applicants must also present proof of ownership and proof that the golf cart is insured with liability coverage. Golf cart owners must renew their permits every five years or when the owner changes addresses.
A golf cart driver operating a cart on a public road must have the cart’s registration certificate, proof of liability insurance, and a valid driver’s license.
If you suffered injuries in a traffic accident involving a golf cart, you may have the right to pursue compensation from the party at fault for the crash. Contact us online or call The Melonakos Law Firm today for a free no-obligation consultation with a golf cart accident lawyer to learn more.
Michael Melonakos is a Greenville-based personal injury attorney known for his experience representing both accident victims and major insurers. After years with top Atlanta defense firms, he now uses his insider knowledge to help Upstate clients maximize their injury claims. Michael is committed to compassionate service and is actively involved in the Greenville community.
