Wisconsin Golf Cart Laws (2025)

Only if your local government says so. Wisconsin state law itself doesn’t make golf carts street legal generally; it leaves it up to municipalities or counties. If your city/village/town passes an ordinance allowing golf carts on certain 25-mph roads, then it’s legal within that area under those conditions. Absent a local ordinance, driving a golf cart on public streets is illegal in Wisconsin. So you need to check local laws. Additionally, Wisconsin does allow fully equipped low-speed vehicles (NEVs) on roads ≤35 mph, but those are different from a basic golf cart.

If required by local ordinance, yes (and most do require it). The state law authorizing golf cart use didn’t explicitly mention licensing, leaving it to local authorities. Almost all municipalities that permit golf carts require the operator to be a licensed driver (minimum age 16). This is for liability and safety. So while a few places might allow an older teen with just a learner’s permit, the safe assumption is that you need a valid driver’s license to drive a golf cart on public roads in Wisconsin.

State law doesn’t mandate insurance specifically for a golf cart because it’s not a registered motor vehicle. However, many municipalities will require you to carry liability insurance as part of their ordinance or permitting process. Even if not required, it’s prudent to have insurance. If you’re in an accident, you could be held personally liable. Also, if you’ve modified your golf cart into a low-speed vehicle and somehow got it registered (which is rare in WI since golf carts aren’t classified as LSVs), then it would require insurance like any car. Check the local rules – they might ask for proof of insurance when you register your cart locally.

For typical golf carts under local ordinances, usually not. Wisconsin does not impose a seat belt requirement on golf carts used in golf cart zones (and most golf carts don’t have belts installed). Local laws I’ve seen focus on lights, reflectors, and such, rather than retrofitting seat belts. If you convert a cart to an LSV and register it with the DMV (again, Wisconsin generally doesn’t recognize golf carts as LSVs unless they meet all federal standards), that LSV would need seat belts by federal rule. But for an ordinary ordinance-approved golf cart, seat belts are not generally required.

If it’s under a local ordinance, you’re limited to roads of 25 mph or less, and the cart itself typically goes around 20 mph. Most golf carts aren’t capable of more than about 20 mph without modification. By Wisconsin’s definition, a golf cart isn’t an LSV, so it’s not expected to hit 25 mph on its own. So expect roughly 15–20 mph as a comfortable top speed. If someone did modify a cart to go faster and tried to call it an LSV, it would need to be capped at 25 mph and meet all equipment rules – but generally, golf carts on Wisconsin roads will be putting along at about 20 mph.

That’s determined by the local ordinance. Most places require the driver to have a valid driver’s license, which implies 16 years old. Some communities might specify 18 to be extra cautious, but 16 (licensed) is the common rule. Wisconsin’s state statutes didn’t set a specific age in the golf cart provision, but since localities nearly always tie it to being a licensed driver, you’re looking at 16 as the minimum.

You don’t register a golf cart with the Wisconsin DMV – instead, you register it with your local municipality if they allow golf carts. If your city/village permits golf carts on the road, they usually require you to fill out a form and get a local permit or decal. You might need to show proof of insurance and that the cart has required safety features (like reflectors or an SMV triangle), then you’ll receive a sticker to affix to the cart. This sticker is what local police will look for; it signifies you’re authorized. There is no state license plate for a golf cart (again, because Wisconsin doesn’t treat it as a motor vehicle unless it’s an LSV, and golf carts typically can’t be titled as LSVs). So, focus on the local city hall, not the DMV, for any golf cart registration.

Requirements depend on your local ordinance, but common ones include: operating only on 25 mph or lower roads; driving only during daylight (unless the cart has lights); having a slow-moving vehicle triangle or a fluorescent flag on the cart for visibility; and the driver must have a valid driver’s license. The cart might need basic safety features like good brakes and a horn. Wisconsin state law allows local governments to require reflective devices on carts and to mandate stops at all roadway crossings. Also, the cart cannot be driven on state or county highways except to cross at designated points. Finally, you’ll likely need to obtain a local permit sticker by showing compliance with these rules. Always check the specific ordinance for your town, because they will list exactly what equipment (lights, mirrors, etc.) they expect – some are stricter than others.