Oklahoma Golf Cart Laws (2025)
Where and how golf carts are street-legal in Oklahoma, including 25 mph speed limits, 16 (12–15 allowed with safety course certificate), and golf cart (not exceeding 20 mph) and low-speed vehicle (lsv, 20–25 mph) classification.
Key Facts
Golf Cart (not exceeding 20 mph) and Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV, 20–25 mph)
Oklahoma Golf Cart Law Map
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Overview
Oklahoma law tightly restricts golf carts on public roads. Generally, an unmodified golf cart (top speed ≤20 mph) is not street legal unless a municipality has passed an ordinance allowing it on specific local streets. Even then, operation is typically limited to roads with speed limits of 25 mph or less and only during daylight hours. To be fully street-legal statewide, a cart must be upgraded to a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) (capable of 20–25 mph with required safety features) and registered as such; LSVs are treated like regular vehicles and may be driven on roads with speed limits up to 35 mph.
County & Local Rules
- Many Oklahoma cities and counties can adopt local ordinances to allow golf carts or utility vehicles on their roads. These local laws often require the cart to be insured, the driver to be licensed, and the road to have a speed limit of 25 mph or below. Some cities also mandate a slow-moving vehicle emblem or a special permit. Outside of such local provisions, using a standard golf cart on public streets is illegal statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about golf cart laws and regulations in Oklahoma.
Are golf carts street legal in Oklahoma?
Not by default. In Oklahoma, a traditional golf cart (top speed 20 mph) is generally not street legal on public highways. The only exceptions are if a municipal ordinance allows cart use on certain low-speed city streets, or if the cart is upgraded, registered, and tagged as a Low-Speed Vehicle (which allows it to be treated as a regular vehicle on roads ≤35 mph).
Do you need a Oklahoma driver's license to drive a golf cart?
Yes. If a golf cart is being operated on public roads (where permitted), the driver must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver’s license. (Oklahoma even allows 12- to 15-year-olds to drive a cart only if they’ve completed a state-approved golf cart safety course and carry the completion certificate, but this applies only in areas where local law permits cart use.)
Do you need insurance for a street legal golf cart in Oklahoma?
For an LSV (street-legal low-speed vehicle) that is registered like a car, yes – Oklahoma requires insurance just as for any other motor vehicle. For a golf cart operating under a local ordinance (with a special permit), liability insurance is typically required by that ordinance (most cities mandate proof of insurance when issuing permits, consistent with state guidelines). It’s unsafe and unlawful to drive any motorized vehicle on public roads without the proper insurance.
Are seat belts required in golf carts in Oklahoma?
If the golf cart is classified and registered as an LSV, it must have seat belts for each seat (federal LSV standards require it). Standard golf carts operating under local permission are not explicitly required by state law to have seat belts, but many local ordinances highly recommend or require them for safety. In practice, any cart that’s been modified to LSV status will have seat belts installed as part of the required safety equipment.
How fast can a street legal golf cart go in Oklahoma?
A standard golf cart in Oklahoma is designed to go no more than 20 mph. If it’s converted to an LSV, it will have a top speed of 25 mph (as required by federal definition). Regardless, Oklahoma law limits carts/LSVs to roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or below, and they cannot legally exceed 25 mph even on those roads.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Oklahoma?
At least 16 with a valid driver’s license to drive on public roads. However, Oklahoma uniquely allows younger teens (12 to 15) to drive a golf cart if they have completed a state-approved golf cart safety course and are under direct adult supervision when crossing a highway. This is a special provision – without that certification (or outside a permitted area), drivers must be 16 or older.
How to register a golf cart in Oklahoma?
Most true golf carts cannot be registered through the DMV unless they are upgraded to meet LSV requirements. To make a golf cart street-legal in Oklahoma, it must be equipped to qualify as an LSV (20–25 mph capability, VIN, lights, signals, windshield, mirrors, seat belts, etc.). You would then title and tag it as an LSV at the tag agency. Otherwise, if you’re using a golf cart under a local ordinance (for example, your town allows carts on certain streets), you typically must obtain a local permit or decal from the city rather than register the cart with the state.
What are the requirements for a street legal golf cart in Oklahoma?
To be street-legal statewide, it must be turned into a Low-Speed Vehicle. That involves ensuring it can go 20–25 mph and equipping it with all federally required safety features – headlights, tail/brake lights, turn signals, reflectors, horn, windshield, mirrors, parking brake, seat belts, and a VIN. It then needs to be titled and registered through the Oklahoma Tax Commission. For local-use golf carts (not full LSVs) allowed by city ordinance, requirements usually include a city inspection or permit, a valid driver’s license, liability insurance, and often the display of a safety flag or slow-moving vehicle emblem.
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