From Pass-a-Grille to Treasure Island, carts have become a favorite way to get around Pinellas County’s beach towns. Florida law, though, draws a clear line between golf carts and low-speed vehicles, often called LSVs. That line affects where you can drive and what insurance applies.<\/p>\n
| Feature<\/th>\n | Golf Cart<\/th>\n | Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed<\/td>\n | Not capable of exceeding 20 mph<\/td>\n | Between 20 and 25 mph<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Registration<\/td>\n | Not titled or registered<\/td>\n | Must be titled and registered<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Insurance<\/td>\n | Not required by state law<\/td>\n | Must carry PIP and property damage liability<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Where it can go<\/td>\n | Only roads designated by local government<\/td>\n | Roads with a posted limit of 35 mph or less<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Who can drive<\/td>\n | Under 18 needs a learner’s permit or license; adults need photo ID<\/td>\n | Valid driver’s license required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Local rules can add requirements, so check with your city before driving on public streets.<\/p>\n Why “Not Required” Doesn’t Mean “Not Needed”<\/h2>\nA golf cart isn’t generally treated as a motor vehicle under Florida’s no-fault law, so PIP usually doesn’t apply after a cart crash. Most homeowners policies also limit or exclude coverage for carts used away from home. Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine can make an owner responsible when someone else drives their vehicle, and courts have applied that idea to golf carts. A dedicated golf cart policy can add liability, medical payments, and physical damage coverage.<\/p>\n For LSV Owners<\/h3>\nMeeting Florida’s minimum PIP and property damage requirements keeps an LSV street legal, but those minimums may not go far after a serious crash. Bodily injury liability and uninsured motorist coverage are worth discussing.<\/p>\n Before Your Next Beach Ride<\/h2>\nMangrove Property and Casualty Group in St. Petersburg, FL can review coverage for your cart alongside your auto insurance<\/a>. Policy terms vary. Residents across St. Petersburg, FL and the Pinellas beaches can reach out to Mangrove Property and Casualty Group<\/a> anytime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From Pass-a-Grille to Treasure Island, carts have become a favorite way to get around Pinellas County’s beach towns. Florida law, though, draws a clear line between golf carts and low-speed vehicles, often called LSVs. That line affects where you can drive and what insurance applies. Golf Cart vs. LSV in Florida Feature Golf Cart Low-Speed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9,5,8],"class_list":["post-68","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-auto-insurance","tag-auto-insurance","tag-mangrove-property-and-casualty-group","tag-st-petersburg"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t |