How to sell a golf cart privately
A standard golf cart is usually sold with a personal property bill of sale, because some states, including Texas, do not title golf carts. A cart built or converted for street use is handled more like a car. Florida requires a title for a low-speed vehicle (LSV), and Texas titles neighborhood electric vehicles, so the seller of one of those signs over a title.
Is a golf cart the same as a low-speed vehicle?
No. The difference comes down to speed and safety equipment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines an LSV in 49 CFR 571.3 as a four-wheeled motor vehicle whose top speed in one mile is more than 20 miles per hour and not more than 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface, with a gross vehicle weight rating under 3,000 pounds.
An LSV must also meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500, found at 49 CFR 571.500. That standard requires headlamps, front and rear turn signals, taillamps, stop lamps, red reflex reflectors, an exterior mirror on the driver's side plus a second mirror, a parking brake, a windshield, a VIN that meets federal rules, and a seat belt at each designated seating position.
Florida draws its golf cart line at speed. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) quotes Section 320.01(22), Florida Statutes, which describes a golf cart as a vehicle designed for golf course use that is "not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour."
Does a golf cart need a title to be sold?
A standard golf cart that is not street-legal often has no title, so the bill of sale and any original purchase receipt serve as the ownership record. A street-legal LSV or neighborhood electric vehicle with a title transfers like a car, with the seller signing the title and the buyer applying for a new one.
If you still have the original dealer invoice or the manufacturer's paperwork, hand it over with the cart. Those papers show the serial number, the purchase date, and whether the cart left the factory as a golf cart or as an LSV, which helps the buyer if they later want to plate or register it.
The answer turns on two questions: what your state titles, and what your cart actually is. The three state examples below show how much the rules can differ.
How do Florida, Texas, and Michigan treat golf carts?
In Florida, FLHSMV says LSVs must be registered, titled, and insured with personal injury protection and property damage liability coverage. Its golf cart section covers where carts may be driven: on roads designated for golf carts with a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less, subject to any stricter local ordinances.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) says it does not title and register golf carts. A golf cart can get a golf cart license plate from the county tax assessor-collector's office, which requires Form 130-U. A neighborhood electric vehicle is different. TxDMV titles and registers NEVs and accepts a manufacturer's certificate of origin or a title as evidence of ownership.
In Michigan, the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) says golf carts cannot be registered as on-road vehicles. If the vehicle's manufacturer's certificate of origin shows that it meets federal rules for on-road use, it may be titled as a low-speed vehicle and registered with a passenger plate.
What changes when a golf cart has been converted to street use?
Converted carts carry more paperwork. FLHSMV says a golf cart can be converted to an LSV, and the owner then applies for an inspection, VIN assignment, title, and registration. The list includes a manufacturer's certificate of origin or a bill of sale for the golf cart, Form HSMV 84490 (Statement of Builder), Form HSMV 86064 (Affidavit for Golf Cart Modified to a Low Speed Vehicle), receipts for the conversion parts, a certified weight slip, and Form HSMV 82040 (Application for Title).
FLHSMV also warns buyers about age. On a converted cart, the title date shows the year the cart was first registered and titled, not the year it was built, so the vehicle could be older than the title suggests. If you sell a converted cart, say so in the listing and the bill of sale, and give the original build year if you know it.
What should a golf cart bill of sale include?
Write down enough detail that the buyer could later prove which cart they bought. Start with the make, model, and model year, and the serial number from the plate or sticker on the frame. Say whether the cart is gas or electric.
For an electric cart, list the battery type, the battery age or install date, and whether the charger is included. Note the top speed and any changes, such as a lift kit, larger tires, or a speed upgrade. List accessories that come with the cart, such as a rear seat, an enclosure, or a cover. If a trailer is part of the deal, describe it as a separate item with its own serial number or VIN, because states such as Texas register or title trailers on their own.
Finish with the price, the date, both parties' names and addresses, and signatures. Add a clear as-is statement if you are not offering a warranty, such as a line saying the cart is sold as is with no warranty on condition or battery life. Battery packs are costly to replace, so putting their age in writing heads off arguments later.
What should a buyer check before paying?
Match the serial number on the cart to the number on the bill of sale and any original receipt. Drive the cart up a slope, test the brakes and lights, and charge it overnight if you can. For an electric cart, look for date codes on the batteries and compare them to what the seller wrote down. Ask for any service records and the date of the last battery replacement.
For a titled LSV or NEV, check that the name on the title matches the seller's ID and that no lienholder is listed without a release. Use a vehicle bill of sale with the signed title, since the buyer will need both to register the vehicle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a title to sell a golf cart?
Often not for a standard golf cart. Texas does not title or register golf carts, so a bill of sale records the sale. A cart that qualifies as a low-speed vehicle is different, since Florida requires LSVs to be titled, registered, and insured.
What is the difference between a golf cart and a low-speed vehicle?
Federal rules define a low-speed vehicle as four-wheeled, with a top speed above 20 and up to 25 miles per hour and a weight rating under 3,000 pounds. LSVs must have lights, mirrors, seat belts, a windshield, and a VIN.
What should a golf cart bill of sale include?
List the make, model, year, serial number, and whether the cart is gas or electric. For an electric cart, add the battery type and age and whether the charger is included. Finish with the price, date, as-is terms, names, and signatures.
Jill Stradley writes about private sales, title transfers, and the paperwork that trips people up when buying or selling cars, boats, and everything in between. She got interested in the topic after a used car sale gone wrong taught her more about DMV requirements than she ever wanted to know. Now she breaks down what each state actually requires so other people don't have to learn the hard way.
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