Rhode Island Golf Cart Laws (2026)

Standard golf carts are not street legal in Rhode Island. You cannot drive an unmodified golf cart on public roads or register it with the DMV. However, Rhode Island now allows low-speed vehicles (LSVs) – which are similar to golf carts but equipped for road use – on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or below. In practice, this means only an LSV (with lights, seat belts, VIN, etc.) can be legally driven on the street, whereas a regular golf cart cannot.

Yes, to drive an LSV on public roads you must have a valid driver’s license (LSVs are treated as motor vehicles under the new law). Traditional golf carts aren’t permitted on roads at all, but if you were operating one in a private setting, there’s no state licensing requirement. Essentially, any road-legal operation (i.e. driving an LSV) requires a licensed driver at least 16 years old.

Yes – if it’s an LSV that’s registered for road use. Rhode Island’s new law requires LSVs to be titled, registered, and insured just like any other vehicle. So you’ll need liability insurance coverage on an LSV. There’s no way to insure a regular golf cart for road use since it’s not legal on public roads.

For an LSV, absolutely yes. Rhode Island’s definition of an LSV includes compliance with federal safety standards, which mandate seat belts (among many other features). A cart that’s been made street-legal as an LSV will have seat belts for each seating position. Regular golf carts (non-LSV) aren’t allowed on roads, so seat belts on them aren’t legally required – but if you plan to convert a cart to LSV status, installing seat belts is part of the process.

By law, a Low-Speed Vehicle in Rhode Island can travel at speeds of 20 to 25 mph (that’s the federally defined range for LSVs). They are restricted to streets with speed limits of 35 mph or below. A typical unmodified golf cart goes around 15 mph and is not permitted on public roads at all.

At least 16 with a driver’s license if you’re driving on public roads (in an LSV). The new Rhode Island law requires LSV operators to have a valid driver’s license, so that effectively sets the minimum age at 16. There’s no specific age limit for driving a golf cart on private property (that’s up to the owner or facility), but any public-road usage demands a licensed driver.

You can’t register a normal golf cart in Rhode Island. What you can do is register a Low-Speed Vehicle. If you have a cart that has been manufactured or modified to meet LSV specifications (with a certification label, VIN, and all required equipment), you would submit its title or Certificate of Origin to the DMV, just like registering a car. The DMV will issue a plate for the LSV. But if it’s just a regular golf cart, the DMV will not register it – you’d need to upgrade it to LSV status first. Many people instead purchase purpose-built LSVs which come with the proper documentation for registration.

It essentially must be an LSV. Rhode Island’s current sources define and regulate low-speed vehicles by reference to the federally compliant LSV category. That means the vehicle needs the required safety equipment, manufacturer certification/VIN path, registration, inspection, and slow-moving emblem. Once it qualifies and is registered, it can be driven on roads posted 35 mph or less unless a municipality has prohibited LSVs on that road.