Alaska Golf Cart Laws (2025)
Where and how golf carts are street-legal in Alaska, including 25 mph speed limits, 16 with driver's license, and neighborhood electric vehicle (nev/lsv) classification.
Key Facts
Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV/LSV)
Alaska Golf Cart Law Map
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Overview
Alaska allows low-speed vehicles (LSVs) on public roadways, but not ordinary unmodified golf carts. Under Alaska law, an LSV (often referred to as a neighborhood electric vehicle) can be driven on roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or below. The operator must follow all the same rules as any other vehicle driver – meaning the LSV must be registered, insured, and the driver must be licensed. A golf cart that has been upgraded to LSV standards (with lights, seat belts, windshield, etc.) and registered as an LSV would be street-legal within those 35-mph zones. However, a typical golf cart that doesn’t meet those requirements cannot be driven on public streets in Alaska. Local governments in Alaska are permitted to impose additional restrictions on LSV use for safety, and in certain small isolated communities, they can even allow LSVs on slightly faster roads (up to 45 mph) by local ordinance.
County & Local Rules
- Local Variations: Generally, any public road in Alaska with a speed limit of 35 mph or less is open to LSVs statewide. However, municipalities may choose to further prohibit or restrict LSV/golf cart traffic on particular roads if they feel it’s unsafe. For example, a city could ban LSVs on a certain downtown street even if the speed limit is 25 mph. Always check local city ordinances for any such restrictions.
- Remote Communities: In some smaller Alaskan communities not connected by the road system to Anchorage or Fairbanks, local authorities have the power to allow LSV operation on roads with speed limits up to 45 mph. This is an exception aimed at remote areas where LSVs might be useful for short trips. In these cases, a local ordinance is required to permit the broader use. Outside of those scenarios, the default maximum road speed for LSV usage remains 35 mph.
- Registration: Alaska DMV treats LSVs as a distinct vehicle class. For instance, the City of Anchorage notes that any LSV must be titled and registered before hitting the road, just like a car. You’ll get a license plate for your LSV upon registration. There’s no special city permitting system – you simply register through the state DMV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about golf cart laws and regulations in Alaska.
Are golf carts street legal in Alaska?
Only if they qualify as a Low-Speed Vehicle. Alaska does not allow a regular golf cart (which usually tops out around 15 mph and lacks required safety features) on public roads. However, if the golf cart is modified or manufactured as an LSV – capable of 20–25 mph and meeting federal safety standards – then yes, it can be street legal on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or below. In summary: a street-legal golf cart in Alaska = an LSV. Traditional golf carts without those upgrades are not street legal.
Do you need an Alaska driver's license to drive a golf cart?
Yes, if you’re driving it on public roads. Alaska law subjects LSV drivers to all the same requirements as any other motorist. That means you must have a valid driver’s license to operate an LSV (or street-legal golf cart) on the street. (If you’re just driving a golf cart off-road or on private property, a license isn’t legally required, but on public streets it absolutely is.)
Do you need insurance for a street legal golf cart in Alaska?
Yes. Alaska requires motor vehicle insurance for any vehicle driven on public roads, and a registered low-speed vehicle is no exception. Once your golf cart is registered as an LSV and has a license plate, you must carry liability insurance on it (just as you would for a car). Operating an LSV without insurance would violate Alaska’s mandatory insurance laws. (If the golf cart isn’t street-legal/registered, you wouldn’t be able to get it insured for roadway use in the first place.)
Are seat belts required in golf carts in Alaska?
For any street-legal cart, yes – seat belts are required. An LSV in Alaska has to meet federal safety standards (49 CFR 571.500), which include seat belts for each seating position. So if you’re driving an LSV/golf cart on the road, it should have seat belts and you should wear them. Regular golf carts (the kind used on golf courses) typically don’t have seat belts and aren’t allowed on the road at all. In short, if it’s on the road in Alaska, it needs seat belts.
How fast can a street legal golf cart go in Alaska?
25 mph is the top speed by design. Low-speed vehicles are defined by having a top speed not greater than 25 miles per hour. In Alaska, LSVs are only permitted on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or lower, and they themselves generally can’t go above 25 mph. Most street-legal golf carts/LSVs will hit around 20–25 mph at maximum. Anything faster would no longer be classified as an LSV.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Alaska?
You must be old enough to have a driver’s license – so basically 16 years old in Alaska (which is the typical licensing age). There’s no special exemption for younger drivers when it comes to on-road operation. Because Alaska treats an LSV like a car, the driver needs to be a licensed driver. So a 14- or 15-year-old cannot legally drive a golf cart on public streets in Alaska. (They can, of course, drive one on private property or other off-road areas with the owner’s permission, but not on public roads.)
How to register a golf cart in Alaska?
To register a golf cart for street use in Alaska, it must meet the requirements to be an LSV. You would need to obtain a title (or manufacturer’s certificate of origin) that identifies the vehicle as a low-speed vehicle. With that, you go to the DMV and apply for registration just like registering a car. You’ll need to provide proof of ownership, pay registration fees, and show proof of insurance. Once registered, the DMV will issue Alaska license plates for the LSV. Remember, only carts that have the proper safety equipment and fall into the LSV category can be registered – normal golf carts can’t be registered for on-road use in Alaska.
What are the requirements for a street legal golf cart in Alaska?
It must meet the definition of a “low-speed vehicle.” Practically, this means the cart needs: four wheels, a top speed of 20–25 mph, and it must comply with all federal motor vehicle safety standards for LSVs (which include having headlights, brake lights, turn signals, reflectors, windshield, parking brake, rearview mirror, and seat belts). The golf cart/LSV also needs a unique 17-digit VIN and to be certified by the manufacturer or converter as a Low-Speed Vehicle. Once it has all that, you have to register it with the Alaska DMV and get a license plate. Only when all these boxes are checked can it legally operate on public roads (and even then, only on ≤35 mph roads, unless a very specific local exception allows otherwise). If a golf cart can’t meet these requirements, it cannot be made street legal in Alaska.
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