Golf Carts at Night: A Safety Guide

Until recently, operating a golf cart at night in South Carolina was illegal, but the law has now changed for most individuals. The South Carolina legislature passed a measure allowing golf carts to be driven at night as long as specific stipulations are followed. Interested in learning more? Let us walk you through what you’ll need to do to get your golf cart road legal after dark.

Check Your Local Ordinances

The measure stipulates that driving at night is only legal if local municipalities also allow it. Don’t hop in your cart after the sun goes down without checking whether or not your city or town allows it first. As long as your local area says it’s okay, you should be good to go!

We’ve researched and found that Beaufort County allows people on Daufuskie Island to drive golf carts at night. You can read the entire ordinance here.

South Carolina Golf Cart Laws

If you are unsure of your local ordinances, you should follow state law. Below are the rules for South Carolina. For more detailed information about golf cart laws in South Carolina, check out the South Carolina Code of Laws for Low-Speed Vehicles. 

• The golf cart must be insured, permitted, and registered with SCDMV.
• The golf cart must remain within 4 miles of your home, where it is legal to drive.
• The golf cart may be operated on roads with posted speeds of 35 mph or less.
• The golf cart may be operated during daylight hours only.
• The driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license

Make Sure Your Cart is Properly Equipped

The other stipulation in the law is that any golf cart taken out at night must be properly outfitted with road-legal headlights and rear lights. While many golf carts from E-Z-Go, Bad Boy, and Cushman come with a basic light system, many of them are not considered road legal. Headlights are easy to pick up as part of a customization package or on their own. We’d be happy to install them whether you’re buying your golf cart that day or have owned it for years!

Safety Tips for Driving a Golf Cart at Night

First off, you’ll need lights! To ensure you’re safe on the road, have a light kit installed that includes headlights, brake lights, and turn signals.

Automotive-quality windshields provide essential protection.They keep you dry during unexpected rainstorms and block dirt, gravel, and other debris kicked up by wind or passing vehicles.

Finally, a seat belt is an absolute must-have. Keep your friends and loved ones safe and secure by adding seat belts as part of your “street legal” customization package for your golf cart.

Looking to Take Your Cart Out at Night? We’re Happy to Help.

Since opening our first location in 1992, Go With Garrett’s Golf Cars has been dedicated to providing exceptional service and high-quality golf carts – whether new or pre-owned – to customers throughout South Carolina and beyond.

To learn more about our options, check out our inventory by clicking the button below.

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