South Dakota Golf Cart Laws (2025)

Not by default. South Dakota state law prohibits golf carts on public highways except for crossing the road. The only way to legally drive a golf cart on streets is if a municipality enacts a local ordinance allowing it on certain town roads. So in some small towns golf carts are street-legal on designated streets (under local rules), but elsewhere in the state they are not. Additionally, a golf cart that’s converted and registered as a Low-Speed Vehicle can be driven on appropriate roads statewide.

Yes, if you’re driving it on public streets. Any local ordinance allowing golf carts must require the driver to hold a valid driver’s license. So you need to be 16 and licensed to operate a cart on the road in South Dakota. (On private property or off-road, a license isn’t legally required, but on public roads it is.)

Yes – insurance is required under any local ordinance that permits golf carts. South Dakota’s statutes mandate that a municipal golf cart ordinance include an insurance requirement. Also, if the cart is registered as a Low-Speed Vehicle, it’s treated like a car and needs liability insurance. Essentially, wherever a golf cart is allowed on-road in SD, it must be insured.

Seat belts aren’t explicitly required for a standard golf cart operating under a local ordinance (state law doesn’t mention belts for carts). However, if you’ve classified your cart as a Low-Speed Vehicle, then by federal standards it would need seat belts (among other safety features). Many local rules focus more on slow-moving vehicle signs or lights rather than retrofitting carts with seat belts. Always follow any equipment requirements spelled out by the local city – for example, some towns might require a safety flag or triangle on the cart.

Under South Dakota law, a golf cart’s attainable speed is typically 20 mph or less. Carts are intended for low speeds and local use. If it’s an actual Low-Speed Vehicle, by definition it won’t exceed 25 mph. Also, even when allowed, golf carts can only be operated on streets with low posted speed limits (usually 25 mph or so, as set by local ordinance) – they’re definitely not meant for high-speed roads.

At least 16 with a driver’s license to drive on public roads. Any city that lets golf carts on its streets must restrict drivers to licensed individuals, which means the driver has met the state’s minimum driving age (16) and testing requirements. If someone is under 16, they legally can’t operate a cart on public streets. (If a 12- or 14-year-old is driving a cart, it should be on private property or off-road, not on a public street.)

In South Dakota you don’t register a regular golf cart with the state DMV – instead, you get a local permit if your town requires one. For example, a city ordinance may require you to obtain a municipal golf cart permit or sticker by showing proof of insurance and paying a small fee. There is no state license plate for golf carts. However, if you modify a cart to meet all Low-Speed Vehicle requirements (lights, windshield, seat belts, etc.) and it can go 20–25 mph, you might be able to title and register it as an LSV with the state. Outside of that, normal golf carts aren’t state-registered – they’re just locally permitted.

If a town allows golf carts, the typical requirements are: the cart must be insured, the driver must be licensed, and the cart often needs a safety flag or slow-moving vehicle emblem and possibly lights if driven at dawn/dusk. The town will likely issue you a permit sticker after you provide proof of insurance and driver’s license. Also, you can only drive it on streets specified by the ordinance (generally those with ≤25 mph limits). To be truly street-legal anywhere (not just in one town), the “golf cart” would need to actually be a Low-Speed Vehicle – meaning it has a 17-digit VIN and all the mandated equipment and is registered with the DMV.