Virginia Golf Cart Laws (2025)

Not by default. Virginia state law does not allow golf carts on public roads unless a local government has passed an ordinance to permit it. In other words, golf carts can only be street legal in specific cities or towns that have opted in. Even then, they’re restricted to roads with 25 mph or lower speed limits and must meet the local safety requirements. Outside of those designated areas, driving a golf cart on a public street is illegal in Virginia.

Yes. Virginia law requires that any person driving a golf cart on public roads must have a valid driver’s license. The code explicitly states that no one may operate a golf cart on the highway without a driver’s license in possession. So you must be a licensed driver (usually this means at least 16 years old with a valid Virginia driver’s license) to legally drive a golf cart on street in Virginia.

State law doesn’t specifically mandate insurance for golf carts operated under local ordinances (since they aren’t registered vehicles). However, many localities that allow golf carts do require owners to carry liability insurance. Even if not explicitly required, it’s highly recommended to insure your golf cart – you could be held liable for any damage or injuries from an accident. If the golf cart is converted and registered as a motor vehicle (LSV), Virginia’s standard insurance requirements would apply. Always check the local ordinance; it may require proof of insurance to get a local cart permit.

Virginia’s golf cart ordinance rules do not require seat belts on a typical golf cart. Most golf carts in approved communities are not retrofitted with seat belts. The legal requirements for carts focus on lights (if used at night), reflectors, and the slow-moving vehicle triangle. That said, if you’ve registered your cart as an LSV (low-speed vehicle) with DMV, it would need to have seat belts and other safety features to meet federal standards. But for local-ordinance golf carts, seat belts are not mandated by state law.

By law, golf carts can only be operated on roads with speed limits of 25 mph or lower. So essentially, you’ll be driving at 25 mph or less. Most golf carts themselves have a top speed around 15–20 mph unless modified. Virginia code also allows crossing certain 35 mph roads at intersections with a light, but you can’t actually drive along roads above 25 mph. If a cart is modified to go above 20–25 mph, it wouldn’t be considered a golf cart anymore – it would fall under the definition of a motor vehicle/LSV and need to meet higher standards.

You must be old enough to hold a valid driver’s license (so generally 16 years old). The law requires a licensed driver behind the wheel. There’s no separate minimum age beyond that; it’s basically the driving age. Local ordinances don’t override that – they also require the driver to be licensed. So effectively, 16 with a driver’s license is the minimum to drive a golf cart on public roads in Virginia.

In Virginia, you typically do not register a golf cart through the DMV if it’s being used under a local ordinance. Golf carts operating on public roads via local permission are not titled or plated as motor vehicles. Instead, you should check if the locality requires a golf cart permit or registration. Many towns ask owners to file an application with the town (sometimes including an inspection and a fee) and then issue a sticker or decal that you stick on the cart. This decal is proof you’re allowed on those streets. If you have substantially modified your cart to meet all vehicle standards (making it an LSV), you could go to the DMV and attempt to title and register it as a low-speed vehicle – but this is uncommon. The vast majority of street-driven carts in Virginia are simply town-permitted, not state-registered.

The core requirements in Virginia are set by both state law and any local ordinance. Under state code: (1) The cart can only be driven on 25 mph or lower roads; (2) The driver must have a valid license; (3) The cart must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem (the orange triangle) on the rear; (4) It can only be driven between sunrise and sunset, unless it’s equipped with full headlights, taillights, and turn signals per vehicle lighting standards. Locally, there may be more rules: for example, some towns require a safety inspection (brakes, steering) or additional markings (reflective tape or a flashing amber light). Always refer to the local ordinance for any extra equipment rules or permit processes. There’s no requirement for things like windshields or seat belts on golf carts in Virginia’s ordinances – those are only required if you register the vehicle as an LSV.