Sooo…..You purchased a gas powered “golf cart” that you want to use on the streets in your neighborhood and to take with you on vacation in the Keys. What kind of insurance do I need to purchase? Do I buy car insurance or what? What if my Homeowners Association requires insurance? Did you hear the one about the grand parent who ran over someone with a golf cart in the street and they died?

Does your new vehicle qualify as a Golf Cart or a Low Speed Vehicle? Be careful. If the vehicle is to be used on the street and is registered, then it will most likely have to be insured as an LSV on an Auto Policy with at least Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability. 

If it is a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV), it must meet all of the following Qualifications: 

• Registered for street use.
• Can travel in excess of 20 mph, but no more than 25 mph.
• Has all of the following:

• Headlights
• Front & rear turn signals
• Tail lights
• Stop lights
• Reflex reflectors (reflectors on sides of the vehicle)
• Exterior mirrors mounted on driver’s & passenger’s side of the car or an interior mirror
• Parking brake
• Windshield
• Seat belts
• 17 Digit VIN – Exception: Not all golf carts/low speed vehicles have a VIN, if that is the case enter all X’s in the VIN field.

If the vehicle is a golf cart that has been converted to an LSV, the Florida title will have a department assigned identification number starting with “FLA”.

 If the vehicle or golf cart qualifies as an LSV, the vehicle must be insured under an “auto” policy that includes PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and PD (Property Damage Liability) at a minimum. Typically there must be an auto policy in force that the LSV will be added to. Progressive Insurance has a program to cover the Golf Cart, the LSV, the Motorcycle, the ATV and other motorized vehicles. If the golf cart does not qualify as an LSV, the vehicle needs to be written in a Motorcycle program. Golf carts that are not registered for street use and are capable of speeds less than 20 mph are acceptable in the MC program. The Motorcycle program does not offer PIP coverage and will not satisfy the statutory requirement of an LSV registered for street use.

Exception for Florida: Progressive Insurance accepts Low Speed Vehicles converted to golf carts in the Motorcycle program if it travels at a speed not to exceed 20 miles per hour. Rates as an off-road use to comply with golf cart; however, may be driven on roads on private property, within gated communities, etc. Please review this brochure from the Florida DMV for more information. Not having the proper coverage can get your drivers license suspended.  

 If you have any questions, contact SWFL Insurance Agency for a review of your vehicle and how to insure it.

SWFL Insurance Agency        239-265-9577             www-SWFLAgency.com          joshw@swflagency.com