Are golf carts street legal in South Carolina?

Statute definition.

"Low speed vehicle" or "LSV" means a four-wheeled motor vehicle, other than an all terrain vehicle, whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles an hour and not more than twenty-five miles an hour on a paved level surface, and whose gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is less than three thousand pounds.

Farm vehicles carved out of the LSV article.

A farm vehicle, as defined in Section 56-1-2070(C)(2), is not a low speed vehicle for the purposes of this article.

A low speed vehicle may be operated only on a highway for which the posted speed limit is thirty-five miles an hour or less.

A low speed vehicle may cross a highway at an intersection where the highway has a posted speed limit of more than thirty-five miles an hour.

Nothing in this section prevents local governments from adopting more stringent local ordinances governing low speed vehicle operation.

County or municipal safety ban.

A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of low speed vehicles on any street or highway if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.

SCDOT safety ban.

The Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of low speed vehicles on any street or highway if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.

A low speed vehicle must be titled as specified in this title. The manufacturer's or importer's certificate of origin must identify clearly the vehicle as a low speed vehicle and must certify that the vehicle was manufactured in compliance with the equipment requirements for low speed vehicles in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500.

A low speed vehicle must be registered and licensed in the same fashion as passenger vehicles pursuant to this title and is subject to the same insurance requirements applicable to other motor vehicles under this title.

Special LSV plate class.

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall establish a special size and class of license plate for low speed vehicles that clearly identifies the vehicle as a low speed vehicle.

SCDMV's instructions for Form 400, under Special Vehicle Type.

Low Speed Vehicle – To register a Low-Speed Vehicle.

is subject to the same insurance requirements applicable to other motor vehicles under this title.

(1) twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to one person in any one accident and, subject to the limit for one person; (2) fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to two or more persons in any one accident; and (3) twenty-five thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

A person operating a low speed vehicle must be at least sixteen years of age and shall hold a valid driver's license. The operator of a low speed vehicle being operated on a highway must have in his possession: (1) the registration card issued by the department or the registration card issued by the state in which the low speed vehicle is registered; and (2) his driver's license.

A low speed vehicle must meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (Part 49 Section 571.500 of the Code of Federal Regulations) at all times when operated on any highway. A low speed vehicle that complies with the equipment requirements in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500 complies with all equipment requirements of this title.

The State shall not issue vehicle identification numbers to homemade low speed vehicles, retrofitted golf carts, or any other similar vehicles, and these vehicles shall not qualify as low speed vehicles in this State.

To operate a vehicle commonly known as a golf cart on a public highway, the owner must obtain a permit decal and registration certificate from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Proof of ownership, proof of liability insurance, and payment of a five-dollar fee must be provided. The permit decal must be replaced every five years, or at the time the owner changes his address, whichever is sooner.

The default limits, where no local ordinance applies.

In the absence of an ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection (C), a permitted golf cart may: (1) be operated only during daylight hours; (2) be operated only on a secondary highway where the speed limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less; (3) be operated only within four miles of the address on the registration certificate, or only within four miles of a point of ingress and egress of a gated community if the address is within a gated community; and (4) cross a highway at an intersection where the speed limit is more than thirty-five miles an hour.

Same age and license rule as an LSV.

A person operating a golf cart on a public highway must be at least sixteen years of age, hold a valid driver's license, and have in his possession:

What a city or county may set.

by ordinance stipulate the hours, methods, and locations of golf cart operations, provided that golf carts may be operated only on a highway where the speed limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less;

Each golf cart passenger that is under the age of twelve years old, when it is being operated on the public streets and highways of this State, must wear a fastened safety belt.

What happens at a sale, on SCDMV's permit and registration form.

Upon sale of the golf cart, immediately notify the Department of Motor Vehicles in writing giving the name and address of the new owner, with date of sale. Seller must remove the assigned permit decal from the golf cart upon sale.

SCDMV has a golf cart page and form GC-2, and no LSV page.

If you have a valid driver's license and golf cart permit, you may drive the golf cart during the day within four miles of your home or business and on secondary highways.

the registration card issued by the department or the registration card issued by the state in which the low speed vehicle is registered;

Nonresident subject to SC title must supply extra application data.

If the vehicle is owned by a nonresident, but is subject to issuance of a certificate of title in this State, the application must also contain his: