Golf carts are usually small vehicles that were designed to make moving around on a golf course easier.
Golfers use golf carts on a golf course because, most times, golf courses have very large land masses, and walking around would be very tasking and time-consuming.
Considering the weight of golf clubs also, the golf cart makes it a lot easier to move their golf clubs around with them on the golf course saving them a lot of time and energy whilst providing ease and comfort.
However, the question is, how old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Florida?
You need to be 14 years or older to drive a golf cart in Florida. Irrespective of how safe the environment is, it is illegal for anyone below the age of 14 to drive a golf cart in Florida.
It is against the rules of the state and you should not allow younger children to drive golf carts.
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Can You Drive a Gold Cart in Florida?
In Florida, people are allowed to drive golf carts on highways, but only if the highway is dividing a golf course, a trailer park, or a subdivision.
It is important to remember that while you’re driving a golf cart, you are still bound by the rules of the road so you have to abide by those rules.
Golf carts can also be driven in residential areas, it is the only place that golf carts should be seen apart from golf courses and highways that divides a golf course, subdivision, or a trailer park.
Golf carts can be driven on public roads where the posted speed limit is below 25mph, but you must have to make the golf cart road worthy before driving it on any of these roads.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive a Golf Cart in Florida?
In Florida, the legal age for any golf cart driver is 14. This is one of the reasons why a golf cart cannot be driven on public roads at a speed limit of more than 20-25 miles per hour.
This is done to avoid accidents that occur because the young person that may be driving is unprofessional at their young age and may not be able to contain certain situations.
A golf cart can only be driven for over 20 miles per hour if the driver or owner has acquired a special license that enables him to drive a golf cart at that speed.
Requirements to Drive a Golf Cart in Florida
- The only major requirement to drive a golf cart in Florida is that you’re not below the age of 14 and at a speed of not more than 20 miles per hour.
- Any golf cart that is to be driven must have been checked and confirmed that it is in a good condition.
- There should be good tires, a functioning brake, and side mirrors, and if the golf cart would be driven after the sun sets, the should be functioning headlights, brake lights, windshield, and turning lights also.
Most golf carts are manufactured so that they’re not capable of going beyond the speed limit.
Any golf cart that goes beyond 20 miles per hour, is considered an LSV(Low-Speed Vehicle) and an LSV has an entirely different set of rules from golf carts.
Are Minors Allowed to Drive a Golf Cart in Florida?
Minors below the age of 14 are not allowed to drive a golf cart in Florida.
As reiterated earlier, the only acceptable age for anyone that should drive a golf cart is 14 and above. It is illegal to allow a child that is not up to 14 years of age to drive a golf cart.
Can You Drive a Golf Cart in Florida Without a License?
In Florida, you don’t need a valid driver’s license to drive a golf cart
A driver’s license is not needed because the age requirement of golf cart drivers differs from the age requirement before you can have a driver’s license.
Golf carts are also not required to be registered, titled, or even insured.
Can You Drive a Golf Cart on a Sidewalk in Florida?
Driving a golf cart on a sidewalk is unacceptable in Florida. Golf carts can only be used on roads that have been designated for cart use by the government.
Golf carts can only be driven on sidewalks if the local governing body seems fit that under certain conditions carts and bicycles may safely share the sidewalks with pedestrians.
Signposts would also be posted to make residents aware of such ordinances.
If any road is designated for golf cart use, the county or body in charge of making the rule would make posting signs that indicate the road being available for golf cart use.
Golf cart drivers can also be driven on sidewalks if the driver can yield to pedestrians and also the sidewalk must be at least 5 feet wide.
When state laws are violated by golf cart drivers, they are considered non-criminal traffic violations.
Are Golf Carts Allowed in Florida State Parks?
Florida state parks allow golf carts to be driven inside the premises as long as they have functional brakes and a good steering wheel.
The golf cart must be operated by a licensed driver and must also have good side or rear view mirrors. They can only be driven in places where vehicles are normally allowed.
Golf carts are only allowed to be driven during daylight hours and the driver must follow all the rules of the road.
Conclusion
Generally, Golf carts are not vehicles that are made to be driven at a high speed. In case you have to drive your golf cart across a highway that divides a golf course, it might be unsafe to allow a person under the age of 18 to drive the golf cart across the highway because of how busy highways can be and how fast cars drive on highways.
Whenever a golf cart is to be driven by an unlicensed young person, there should be someone else in the golf cart to supervise and monitor the driving so that he/she doesn’t get injured or have an accident while driving.