ALABAMA
GOLF CART
LAWS
L
ike all states in the nation,
Alabama has a multitude
of regulations that control
when golf carts can be driven
on public roads and what kind
of roads on which they can
drive.
Golf cart owners interested
in taking their carts on public
roads must follow these rules to
ensure that they don’t run into
legal troubles.
Most of these laws are fairly
easy to understand but do take
a little understanding of legal
differentiation between various
vehicles and road types to en-
sure a full understanding.
Alabama Does Not Allow Golf
Cart Access on Public Roads
Currently, Alabama – like most
other states – do not allow golf
carts on public roads.
This limitation is necessary be-
cause golf carts do not possess
safety protection or engines
powerful enough to meet most
minimum driving speeds on
most roads.
Keeping standard golf carts off
of the road helps to keep the
Alabama Golf Cart Laws
& Regulations
(What You Need To Know)
drivers safe from injury and
avoids other issues that may
develop as a result.
However, golf carts may be
taken on some public roads if
their owners upgrade them into
low-speed vehicles.
Legal Definition of a Cart
According to laws set down by
many Alabama cities, carts are
defined in many different ways.
For example, a resolution by the
city of Golf Shores in Alabama
defined golf carts as a vehicle
equipped with seat belts for
each rider, headlights, brake
lights, turn signals, a wind-
shield, a rearview mirror, strong
breaks, reliable steering, safe
tires, and red reflector warning
devices.
This resolution was designed
to allow properly-equipped golf
carts access to certain public
roads on or near golf courses.
It was drafted after those res-
idents who lived in such areas
in the city wanted the ability to
drive carts in such a way.
These changes do not go
against state law which, as pre-
viously mentioned, did not allow
the use of golf carts on public
roads.
In fact, the resolution goes out
of its way to state that it does
not endorse the use of golf carts
in such a way.
However, such law changes are
regulated by regulations for
what are known as low-speed
vehicles.
These vehicles differ from golf
carts in a handful of ways.
However, a golf cart can be-
come a low-speed vehicle with
some minor to major alterations
of its design and style.
Anyone who wants to consider
driving a golf cart on any road
needs to understand these
upgrades.
Rules Regarding Driving on
Public Roads
Further extensions of these
rules stated that nobody who
was less than 18 years old and
without a license could drive a
golf cart on a public road.
FEBRUARY 2020
31