Montana Golf Cart Laws (2025)

Only if a local city or town makes it legal. Montana state law (61-8-391) says a golf cart can’t be driven on public streets unless a local governing body (city or county) specifically authorizes it by ordinance. In short, it’s up to the local government. There’s no general statewide allowance for golf carts on roads.

Yes – if you’re driving it on public roads under an ordinance. Montana law requires that “a person operating a golf cart under this section must have a valid driver’s license”. So only licensed drivers (typically 16 and up) can legally drive a golf cart on streets open to the public. (On private property, no license is needed, but that’s not “street” driving.)

Montana’s statute explicitly exempts golf carts from the vehicle registration and mandatory insurance requirements when they are allowed on streets by local ordinance. That means you don’t have to carry the state-minimum auto liability insurance purely because of state law. However, a local ordinance could potentially require insurance as a condition, and regardless of legal requirement, having insurance is a good idea. If you cause damage or injury with your golf cart on a road, you would be personally liable, so many drivers do insure their carts even if not mandated.

No, Montana does not require seat belts on golf carts. The law lists the safety equipment a golf cart must have to be operated under local ordinance, and that list is basic: at least one or two headlamps, a taillight, a reflector, stop lamps, a horn, and a mirror. Seat belts and other car-type safety features are not required for golf carts under Montana law. In fact, golf cart drivers and passengers are specifically not required to wear helmets, for example, unlike on motorcycles. Of course, a city could impose extra requirements, but generally seat belts aren’t found on standard golf carts.

Montana’s law doesn’t set a specific speed cap in the golf cart section, but since golf carts are defined by their design purpose (golf course use), they typically top out around 15–20 mph. Additionally, local ordinances often restrict golf carts to streets with low speed limits (e.g., 25 mph zones) and require they be driven at reasonable, safe speeds. If a golf cart goes much faster than 20 mph, it probably should be reclassified as a different vehicle (like a low-speed vehicle) and meet higher standards. In practice, expect 20 mph or below.

At least 16 with a driver’s license. The law says the operator must have a valid driver’s license, which in Montana means the driver is at least 16 (or 15 with a permit, but a permit wouldn’t count as fully licensed). So effectively 16 years old and licensed is the minimum for driving a golf cart on public streets.

You don’t need to register a golf cart with the MVD for on-road use in Montana – the state exempts them from title, registration, and insurance if they’re just being used under a local ordinance. There’s no state license plate for a golf cart. However, if your city requires a local permit or sticker, you’d go through the city for that. For instance, some towns might have you sign up at city hall and show your driver’s license and proof of the cart’s safety equipment to get a permit to drive it around town. But no state DMV involvement is necessary unless you were converting the cart into a fully street-legal low-speed vehicle (in which case it’s no longer treated as a “golf cart”).

First, a local government has to allow it by ordinance. Then, Montana Code 61-8-391 requires: the driver must be licensed; the golf cart must have at least one headlamp (and usually two), one tail lamp, a rear reflector, stop/brake lights, a horn, and a mirror. Essentially, basic lighting and safety signaling equipment are needed so that the cart is visible and can indicate turns/braking. The cart is also required to have good brakes (implied by general vehicle safety, though not separately listed in the excerpt we have). If the ordinance demands it, you might also need a slow-moving vehicle triangle or flag. The cart doesn’t need a windshield, seat belts, or to be registered/insured under state law. It’s meant for short trips around town. Always check your local ordinance for any additional rules (some towns might restrict hours of operation or require a safety inspection before issuing a local permit).