Golf cart insurance: Everything you need to know

If you own a golf cart or are thinking of buying one, you might have insurance questions. Do you need golf cart insurance? How can you get cheap golf cart coverage? Where do you buy a golf cart insurance policy? We've got the answers right here.

Your state or homeowners association (HOA) might require golf cart insurance, in which case you'll have to buy it. Otherwise, whether or not you need it depends on how you use your golf cart.

Fortunately, it’s possible to get a great deal on golf cart coverage from a well-known insurance company.

Here we've covered everything you need to know about golf cart insurance. We'll cover situations when home insurance covers golf carts, and when it doesn't, and where to buy a standalone policy so you can make sure you're covered.

What is golf cart insurance?

Golf cart insurance covers damage to your golf cart and liability for damage or injury cause while driving it. The coverage depends on the insurance company and the type of policy you select.

You can add a golf cart to your home insurance policy in some cases, and in others you may need a standalone policy.

Golf cart insurance coverage

In general, golf cart insurance covers:

• Property damage liability: applies to damage to another person's property.
• Bodily injury liability: applies to injury caused to another person.
• Collision: applies to damage to the golf cart from a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault.
• Other than collision (comprehensive) Covers fire, theft, weather damage; most types of damage that' aren't from a collision.

When do home, auto, or standalone golf cart insurance apply?

Determining which insurance coverage applies to golf cart accidents can be confusing. The table below summarizes how golf cart insurance applies in a variety of circumstances.

Do I need golf cart insurance?

While your homeowners insurance might be adequate for basic use, a special golf cart insurance policy may be recommended for anything beyond that.

Identify your user profile in the table below and review its unique insurance requirements.

In many golf communities, the HOA requires golf cart owners to purchase specific insurance for golf carts and name the HOA as an additional insured.

Can golf carts cause enough damage to warrant paying for insurance? Unfortunately, yes.

According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 130 golf cart fatalities were recorded from 2013 to 2018.

Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics found that over 6,500 children under the age of 18 are injured by golf carts each year.

Recently, several golf cart tales of woe have hit the news that we thought we'd share:

• Destruction in Minnesota! Six golf carts were taken for a joy ride by teenagers throughout the Blueberry Pines Golf Course in Menahga, Minnesota. The teenagers did over $40,000 in damage. Imagine what new words you'd come up with if somebody took your golf cart for a joyride and tore up your neighborhood, leaving you responsible for the damages.
• Thievery in Florida! A golf cart was recently stolen. It was a blue 2016 Yamaha golf cart that currently sells for around $6,500. Imagine how much fun it would be to have your golf cart stolen and then remember, "Oh, yeah. I don't have golf cart insurance."
• Terror in Texas! In Abilene, Texas, the police cited a guy for drinking while driving a golf cart. Fortunately, he wasn't severely injured and didn't harm anyone else. The damage could have been much worse.
• Runaway golf cart! At the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, an unattended golf cart disrupted the tournament by rolling right into a lake. That’s a first for the course!

Golf carts are vehicles that need to be taken seriously.

How much is golf cart insurance?

Golf cart insurance costs vary based on the insurer and coverage needs, among other rate determining factors. Here is some general information on monthly costs:

• You may pay as little as $6 a month: if you add golf cart coverage to your current homeowner's insurance.
• You may spend about $7 a month: if you buy a standalone golf cart policy.
• You may spend about $100 a month: if you own a speed-modified golf cart. If you're zipping about on roads, your state's DMV might consider it a second car. So, the costs can run high, depending on your driving record and other factors.

Golf insurance costs are lower if the golf cart is used exclusively off-road, in which case you can buy ATV insurance. For on-road golf carts, some insurers, like Progressive, offer a modified motorcycle insurance policy or like The Hartford, a modified low-speed vehicle (LSV) policy.

Are there discounts or other ways to get cheap golf cart insurance?

There are several potential discounts you may be able to get to reduce the cost of your golf cart insurance.

As always, you are likely to pay less if you are willing to take on a higher deductible (the portion of a claim you pay before your insurance pays the rest).

How do I purchase golf cart insurance?

If you've assessed your golf cart and how you intend to use it and have determined you need golf cart insurance, there are a few ways to get it.

First, contact your current insurance company. You may be able to insure your golf cart by adding it to your home insurance policy as a rider. If not, they might be able to offer you a quote for a standalone policy.

You should always compare quotes from multiple companies if you’re looking to buy standalone coverage. This will ensure you get the best price. Once you narrow down which policy you need and shop for a good rate, you can purchase the policy the same way you would any other insurance.

Is my golf cart covered under my home insurance policy?

Your golf cart isn’t automatically included in your homeowners insurance. Many homeowner's insurance policies allow you to add golf cart insurance as a rider. If you can add the golf cart to your homeowner's policy, that's often the least expensive route.

But if your golf cart isn’t covered by your homeowner's insurance, you can also purchase a separate policy specifically for the golf cart, and that may be the better choice.

Think about Florida and Arizona, where the weather is warm and riding around in a golf cart, even on public roads, is almost a way of life. In fact, in Arizona, if you drive a golf cart on the road, you are required to have liability insurance on your golf cart.

Where do I find golf cart insurance?

If golf carts abound where you live, you likely have several insurance options. A few of the insurance companies that offer this type of coverage include Progressive, Allstate, Nationwide, and The Hartford. Make sure to shop around for the cheapest golf cart insurance!

Golf cart insurance for the savvy retiree

Golf carts can be a great way to navigate around a retirement community for seniors or an RV park for the snowbirds who head south for winter. But before you hop on, be sure to check out the insurance requirements for the state you'll be driving it in.

Some states, like Florida, don't require insurance on golf carts (unless they are LSVs) but have roadways specifically for golf carts. Other states, like Arizona and North Carolina, have set minimum coverages required for any golf cart that will travel on public roads.

If you won't be driving the cart on public roads, it's still a good idea to get some insurance coverage for an off-road vehicle. And whatever you do, don't drive an uninsured cart on a public road without insurance, especially if the state you're in requires it.

The bottom line on golf cart insurance

It may seem like yet another thing you need to pay for, but the bottom line is that golf cart insurance is something to consider if you own a golf cart. Most major insurance providers offer golf cart insurance or golf cart riders to your existing home insurance policy at a reasonable cost.

Ensuring you're covered is essential and will result in less time spent worrying about damages and more time enjoying the golf course.

Frequently asked questions