Golf Carts and Low Speed Vehicles

Golf Carts: In accordance with South Carolina state law section 56-3-115, golf cart owners who have a valid driver's license, a permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles and proof of insurance may operate the golf cart on a secondary highway or street within two miles of his or her residence or place of business during daylight hours only.  Additionally, golf carts may cross a primary highway or street (such as Palm Boulevard from 41st Avenue to Breach Inlet) but cannot travel along primary highways or streets.  Golf carts may not be parked on beach access paths unless signs exist indicating that golf cart parking is permissable.  The law prohibits golf carts from being upgraded by adding equipment to convert the cart to a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV).  A golf cart can never be legally operated after dark.















                                    Golf Cart

LSVs - Low Speed Vehicles:  In accordance with South Carolina code of law 56-2-100, a Low Speed Vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) and not more than twenty-five miles per hour (25 mph).  Like a golf cart, an LSV may cross a primary highway or street (such as Palm Boulevard from 41st Avenue to Breach Inlet) but cannot travel along primary highways or streets.  Like a golf cart, an LSV can only be operated by a person with a valid driver's license, a permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles and proof of insurance.  The state will not title or register homemade Low Speed Vehicles.  An LSV can only be operated on roads having speed limits of thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph) or less.  An LSV is factory equipped with windshield wipers, rear-view and side-view mirrors, speedometer, turn signals, horn, DOT headlights, taillights, and seatbelts.  An LSV may be operated after dark. 

                                 Low Speed Vehicle