With large-scale golf cart communities throughout Florida - including Nocatee, Babcock Ranch, and the Villages - residents need to understand our local golf cart laws.
Florida Golf Cart Laws
1. Age & ID
Under 18 → Must Have a Learner’s Permit or Driver’s License
As of October 1, 2023, Florida statute 316.212 was amended to include a requirement that a person under 18 operating a golf cart on public roads or streets must hold a valid learner’s driver license or valid driver license. Prior to the change, 14-year-olds could legally drive golf carts on designated roads. That is no longer the case unless the teen holds at least a learner’s permit.
18 & Older → Must Carry a Government-Issued ID
Under the same amendment, for drivers 18 years of age or older, the statute now requires possession of a valid form of government-issued photo ID to operate a golf cart on public roads or streets
* These age and ID requirements only apply when operating a golf cart on public roads or streets (or roads designated for golf cart use). It does not necessarily apply to private property or within gated communities.
As of October 1, 2023, Florida statute 316.212 was amended to include a requirement that a person under 18 operating a golf cart on public roads or streets must hold a valid learner’s driver license or valid driver license. Prior to the change, 14-year-olds could legally drive golf carts on designated roads. That is no longer the case unless the teen holds at least a learner’s permit.
18 & Older → Must Carry a Government-Issued ID
Under the same amendment, for drivers 18 years of age or older, the statute now requires possession of a valid form of government-issued photo ID to operate a golf cart on public roads or streets
* These age and ID requirements only apply when operating a golf cart on public roads or streets (or roads designated for golf cart use). It does not necessarily apply to private property or within gated communities.
Over 30% of golf cart injuries are children 16 and under.
Florida Golf Cart Laws
2. Insurance
Insurance is not required for standard golf carts (those under 20 mph). That means if you are in a crash, you may not be covered by any insurance policy. If your cart goes 20-25 MPH, it is considered a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV), which must be titled, registered, insured, and equipped with seatbelts.
The Gonzalez v. Chiong Case
In Gonzalez v. Chiong, a tragic golf cart accident in Miami-Dade County became a cautionary tale for Florida golf cart owners. On July 4, 2016, sixteen-year-old Zabryna Acuna was driving a golf cart owned by her step-uncle, Luis Chiong, with several children riding along, including twelve-year-old Devin Bennar. When Acuna ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle, the cart flipped and Bennar suffered devastating brain injuries. The lawsuit that followed named both Acuna and Chiong, arguing not only that Acuna was negligent but also that Chiong was liable for allowing an inexperienced minor to operate the cart.
The court agreed. Relying on Florida’s “dangerous instrumentality doctrine” - a rule that holds vehicle owners vicariously responsible for anyone they permit to drive - the judge found Chiong liable, even though he wasn’t behind the wheel. The plaintiffs also brought a negligent entrustment claim, contending that giving a teenager control of a golf cart on public roads was reckless. The verdict was staggering: more than $46 million awarded to the injured child and around $4 million to his parents, underscoring how golf cart crashes can carry the same, if not greater, financial consequences as car accidents.
The Gonzalez case illustrates the enormous liability risks golf cart owners face in Florida. Even though state law doesn’t require insurance for carts under 20 mph, courts may still treat them like any other motor vehicle when it comes to responsibility for injuries. For owners, the lesson is clear: permitting others - especially minors - to operate a golf cart on public roads without proper safeguards can have life-altering financial consequences.
The Gonzalez v. Chiong Case
In Gonzalez v. Chiong, a tragic golf cart accident in Miami-Dade County became a cautionary tale for Florida golf cart owners. On July 4, 2016, sixteen-year-old Zabryna Acuna was driving a golf cart owned by her step-uncle, Luis Chiong, with several children riding along, including twelve-year-old Devin Bennar. When Acuna ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle, the cart flipped and Bennar suffered devastating brain injuries. The lawsuit that followed named both Acuna and Chiong, arguing not only that Acuna was negligent but also that Chiong was liable for allowing an inexperienced minor to operate the cart.
The court agreed. Relying on Florida’s “dangerous instrumentality doctrine” - a rule that holds vehicle owners vicariously responsible for anyone they permit to drive - the judge found Chiong liable, even though he wasn’t behind the wheel. The plaintiffs also brought a negligent entrustment claim, contending that giving a teenager control of a golf cart on public roads was reckless. The verdict was staggering: more than $46 million awarded to the injured child and around $4 million to his parents, underscoring how golf cart crashes can carry the same, if not greater, financial consequences as car accidents.
The Gonzalez case illustrates the enormous liability risks golf cart owners face in Florida. Even though state law doesn’t require insurance for carts under 20 mph, courts may still treat them like any other motor vehicle when it comes to responsibility for injuries. For owners, the lesson is clear: permitting others - especially minors - to operate a golf cart on public roads without proper safeguards can have life-altering financial consequences.
Florida Golf Cart Laws
3. Passengers
The Gonzalez v. Chiong case also provides a stark illustration of why passenger rules in golf carts matter, not just as “advice” but as potential lines of legal exposure. Under Florida law, while there is no blanket requirement that every golf cart carry seatbelts (unless it qualifies as a low-speed vehicle), the rules about passenger behavior are strict.
In a litigation setting, any misuse by a passenger can be used by defendants to argue comparative fault or reduce their responsibility (i.e. “well, the person shouldn’t have been standing or riding on a lap”).
More importantly, if an accident happens and a passenger is injured while disobeying seating rules, liability will likely increase, and insurance coverage (if any) may be challenged.
- Passengers must remain seated in designated seats at all times.
- Kids riding on laps, standing on the back, or hanging off the side is illegal and dangerous and can result in citations and liability if there’s an accident.
In a litigation setting, any misuse by a passenger can be used by defendants to argue comparative fault or reduce their responsibility (i.e. “well, the person shouldn’t have been standing or riding on a lap”).
More importantly, if an accident happens and a passenger is injured while disobeying seating rules, liability will likely increase, and insurance coverage (if any) may be challenged.
Every year, over 130,000 people go to the ER for golf cart injuries.
Florida Golf Cart Laws
4. DUI
In Florida, a golf cart is still a “vehicle” for purposes of the state’s DUI statute. Statute 316.193 makes it illegal to drive “any vehicle within this state” while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the law does not carve out an exception for golf carts. That means if you’re over the 0.08 BAC limit - or even if you’re under the limit but your normal faculties are impaired - you can be arrested for DUI while driving a cart. This applies on public roads, in gated neighborhoods where the roads are open to the public, and even on designated multi-use paths.
Law enforcement in Florida has enforced this aggressively. There have been multiple news stories of people arrested for DUI after operating golf carts in “off-road” contexts, like driving between bars in The Villages or along residential community streets in coastal towns. Courts have upheld that neighborhood or subdivision roads still fall within the scope of “within this state,” meaning that the DUI statute applies even outside major highways.
Penalties
The penalties mirror those of a standard DUI: fines, driver’s license suspension, probation, community service, and even potential jail time. Insurance consequences also follow, and if the cart is classified as a Low-Speed Vehicle, DUI convictions may affect its required insurance as well.
Law enforcement in Florida has enforced this aggressively. There have been multiple news stories of people arrested for DUI after operating golf carts in “off-road” contexts, like driving between bars in The Villages or along residential community streets in coastal towns. Courts have upheld that neighborhood or subdivision roads still fall within the scope of “within this state,” meaning that the DUI statute applies even outside major highways.
Penalties
The penalties mirror those of a standard DUI: fines, driver’s license suspension, probation, community service, and even potential jail time. Insurance consequences also follow, and if the cart is classified as a Low-Speed Vehicle, DUI convictions may affect its required insurance as well.
If you've been injured in a golf cart accident, call our Jacksonville car accident injury lawyers. Wilkes & Mee will investigate the crash, help you find the best medical help, and negotiate with the insurance company, all on your behalf.