What Does Golf Cart Insurance Cover

Each U.S. state has its own laws regarding golf carts, including: 

• Who can legally drive them?
• Where they can legally be driven?
• When they can legally be driven?
• What insurance, if any, is required or recommended?

Senior Transport

Golf carts aren't just for use on the golf course.  They can often be seen buzzing around gated communities and are especially favored by seniors for traveling short distances in lieu of walking, particularly when transporting various items.  They can be seen at swap meets where there may be lots of ground to cover or on large properties where distances between buildings may be too great for easy walking for some.

Golf carts may be driven on public roads in North Carolina provided applicable laws are followed.  These include the following:

• Driver must be at least 16 years of age and licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the state.
• A golf cart may only be operated during daylight hours unless fitted with two headlights and two tail lights, in which case it may be driven during any hours.
• Golf carts may only be driven on public secondary roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.
• Golf carts on public roads must be registered with the NC DMV and drivers must have proof of ownership.
• A minimum amount of golf cart insurance (liability coverage) is required and proof of this insurance needs to be carried when you're operating your cart.

NC Golf Cart Insurance 

Golf carts driven on public roads in North Carolina are required by state law to be covered by at least a minimum amount of insurance in the form of liability coverage.  Like requirements for other motor vehicles driven on North Carolina's public roads, minimum golf cart insurance requirements include:

1. Bodily injury liability coverage amounting to $30,000 for one person per accident and $60,000 for all persons per accident
2. Damaged property liability coverage of $25,000 per accident

As with your standard automobile insurance, golf cart coverage is available with a number of options beyond the required liability protection.  These options include:

• Collision - pays toward the cost of repairing your cart if it's damaged in an accident
• Comprehensive - pays toward repairing or replacing your cart if damaged or destroyed in a non-collision loss such as fire, theft or vandalism
• Medical Payments - pays toward medical expenses if you or your passengers are hurt in an accident