Arkansas Guidelines for Golf
Cart and Transportation Vehi-
cles
Arkansas’ rules and regulations
for golf carts are designed to
cover a broad array of different
vehicles.
These personal transportation
vehicles include any vehicle de-
signed to transport at least one
person but which is not classi-
fied as a medium- or high-speed
vehicle.
Golf carts fall under the heading
of low-speed vehicles, as they
will never have the power to
travel much faster than 25 miles
per hour.
You also cannot drink and drive
golf carts or you run the risk of
prosecution.
Most municipalities restrict golf
carts to speeds of 25 miles per
hour or lower.
They also limit carts to roads
that have maximum speed
limits of no more than 35 miles
per hour.
The Definition of a Cart
Upgrades that make them
faster are often illegal in most
states and can be quite danger-
ous as well. When a golf cart is upgraded
to a low-speed vehicle, it is
designed to meet a variety of
standards that make it ready for
the road.
Interestingly, Arkansas’ state
government has given author-
ity to cities regarding the use
of golf carts and other types of
personal transportation vehicles
(PTVs) or low-speed vehicles. For example, all low-speed
vehicles need headlamps, stop
lamps, turn signals, tail lamps,
rearview mirrors, seat belts for
each rider on the cart, and a
Vehicle Identification Number.
This ruling allows cities to dic-
tate if golf carts can ride on pub-
lic streets and what streets on
which they can or cannot ride. A VIN can be obtained at the
local DMV or from other state
officials in your city.
However, state and federal
highways and roads are strictly
forbidden for golf carts.
As a result, golf carts can ride
only on local or city roads. Make
sure to check a road’s designa-
tion before riding.
If a city allows a golf cart to ride
on their roads, you must make
sure that it is road ready and ca-
pable of hitting certain speeds.
26
You must also follow all state
and federal restrictions when
riding. As a result, you cannot
ride faster than a road’s speed
limit allows.
WWW.GOLFCAROPTIONS.COM
And carts are defined, by Arkan-
sas law, as having: four wheels;
the ability to hit more than 20
miles per hour within one mile;
inability to reach speeds over
25 miles per hour; registration
from state officials as a motor
vehicle; insurance coverage pro-
tecting the driver and the cart;
an appropriate driver’s license
for any driver; and other legal
specifications that help to make
the cart safe and appropriate
for the road.
All of these upgrades must be
done either by the cart owner
or by professionals who can
handle them appropriately.
Any changes must be approved
by the local DMV officials to en-
sure that they pass state laws.
Take your cart to a nearby DMV
office and showcase your up-
graded cart to them.
If they approve it, you can get a
VIN and registration for driving
it.
If they do not approve it, you
must perform any upgrades
that help to make it road-ready
and safe for drivers like you.
Helpful Links
www.arkleg.state.ar.us
www.arkleg.state.ar.us
www.iihs.org
ABOUT
ARKANSAS
The state flag has 25 stars
on it to symbolize
Arkansas becoming the
25th state.
Arkansas is the only
US State that produces
diamonds.
The state is known for its
beautiful lakes, rivers, and
hot springs.
The Arkansas state musi-
cal instrument is the fiddle.