Golf Cart vs. Low Speed Vehicle: What Grand Strand Buyers Should Know

A golf cart is designed for golf course use and limited to about 20-25 mph; South Carolina permits it on certain public roads with a DMV permit decal. A low-speed vehicle (LSV) is built to a federal safety standard with seat belts, headlights, turn signals, a windshield, and a 17-character VIN, more like a small car than a cart.

Only an LSV can legally be driven after dark in North Myrtle Beach. A permitted golf cart cannot, regardless of lighting added to it. LSVs also carry annual property tax and need auto-style liability insurance; golf carts need a golf cart liability policy and a $5, five-year permit decal.

Many dealers sell street-ready vehicles that are actually LSVs, titled and registered like a car. A used golf cart with added lights and mirrors is still a golf cart; only manufacturer certification determines LSV status, and that can't be retrofitted after the fact.

Confirm whether it's registered as a golf cart or an LSV before closing, and check your neighborhood's HOA rules alongside the SC DMV rules. Local to Coastal Realty flags exactly this kind of detail for buyers settling into golf-cart neighborhoods around North Myrtle Beach. Get in touch with any question about a specific neighborhood's rules.