Do You Need Special Insurance for a Golf Cart?
Last Updated on May 7, 2020
Should you insure your golf cart? Do you need special insurance for a golf cart? Does car or home insurance extend to cover your golf cart?
If you own a golf cart, then you may need golf cart insurance. Your state or homeowner association (HOA) may require golf cart insurance, for example.
Whether or not you need golf car insurance depends on where you ride it, how you use it, and other factors.
You can buy golf cart insurance by adding a golf cart endorsement to your homeowners insurance policy. Or, you can buy specialized golf cart insurance. If you use your golf cart for basic purposes (like riding around your property or a golf course), then your homeowners insurance may already cover it – just like it would cover a riding mower.
Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about buying special insurance for your golf cart.
What is Golf Cart Insurance?
Golf cart insurance works similarly to car insurance: it covers your liability (say, if you hit other people or property). It also covers the value of your golf cart (if stolen, vandalized, or damaged in a collision).
If you only drive your golf cart on your own property or the golf course, then you’re considered a basic golf cart user. Your homeowners insurance should cover your golf cart liability, although you may need to add a golf cart endorsement.
However, if you’re driving a speed-modified golf cart (capable of driving up to 25mph) on neighborhood streets, then you may need to buy a specific golf cart policy. Many insurers sell auto insurance for golf carts and other low-speed vehicles (LSVs), for example.
Do I Need Golf Cart Insurance?
Some homeowner associations (HOAs) require all residents’ golf carts to have insurance. If you live in a golf community, for example, then you may need to purchase specific golf cart insurance. Some HOAs also require you to name the HOA as an additional insured.
Some states or cities may require golf cart insurance – especially if you’re riding on city streets or other public roads. Most states and cities, however, do not require golf cart insurance.
If you have a higher-end golf cart, then you may require an auto insurance policy for that golf cart – especially if driving on city streets. Some golf carts drive up to 25 mph, for example, and are designed for neighborhood streets. They include features like seatbelts and are insured like other low-speed vehicles (LSVs) through your insurance policy.
How Homeowners Insurance Covers Golf Carts
Many homeowners insurance policies cover golf carts. If you have homeowners insurance, then you may not need to buy an additional golf cart insurance policy: you may already be covered.
A typical homeowners insurance policy will cover your liability when driving a golf cart for standard use. If you drive a basic golf cart on your property or at a golf course, for example, then your homeowners insurance policy should cover your liability.
If you hit someone while driving your golf cart on the golf course, for example, and that person requires medical treatment, then your homeowners insurance policy may cover your liability. Similarly, if you smash your neighbor’s fence while driving a golf cart on your own property, then homeowners insurance may cover this liability.
In some cases, homeowners insurance covers golf carts automatically.
In other cases, you need to add a golf cart endorsement to your insurance policy. Contact your insurer to verify whether you need an endorsement.
When Do I Need Special Golf Cart Insurance?
If your homeowners insurance doesn’t cover golf carts, then you may need to buy special golf cart insurance.
You may need special golf cart insurance if:
- Your golf cart is speed modified up to 25 mph
- You drive on neighborhood or city streets
- Your golf cart has features like seatbelts
- Your golf cart is more of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
- Your HOA, city, or state requires golf cart insurance
- You ride your golf cart outside of your own property or a golf course
How Much Does Golf Cart Insurance Cost?
Golf cart insurance tends to be cheap. Golf cart incidents are rare, and insurers rarely have to pay for golf cart-related claims.
Expect to pay $50 to $150 per year for golf cart insurance on a standard golf cart.
The cheapest golf cart insurance is an endorsement for your homeowners insurance policy. Alternatively, a standalone golf cart policy costs around $10 to $15 per month if you’re driving it to and from the golf course or in a golf course/retirement community.
If you have a speed-modified golf cart that requires a special golf cart or auto insurance policy, you may need to pay $400 to $1,000 per year. The insurer will also check your driving history and other factors to assess your premiums.
What Does Golf Cart Insurance Cover?
Golf cart insurance coverage varies by policy, but it can cover:
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
- Theft and vandalism
- Collision damage and other physical damage
Most homeowners insurance policies cover liability, although they may not cover theft, damage, and vandalism without a special endorsement.
Golf Cart Insurance Exclusions
If you have golf cart insurance, then your golf cart should be covered. However, insurers can deny golf cart insurance claims for certain reasons, including:
- Using the golf cart for business purposes, like transporting people for money
- Driving the golf cart in a rice
- Renting the golf cart to somewhere else
- Driving the golf cart outside the boundaries of a recognized retirement community or golf course
- An unlicensed driver operating the golf cart
There are certain exclusions to these exclusions. Most golf cart policies let you drive the golf cart to and from a golf course, for example.
Most golf cart policies will not provide coverage if an unlicensed child is driving – even if it’s legal for that child to operate the golf cart.
Final Word
Yes, there is special golf cart insurance. You may need special golf cart insurance if required by your state, city, or HOA.
However, if you are using your golf cart for normal purposes (on your own property or at a golf course), then your homeowners insurance should cover your liability. You may need to add an endorsement to your homeowners insurance policy. Contact your insurer to verify golf cart insurance coverage.
