If you own a golf cart, you may be wondering, "do golf carts need insurance?"
Not only is it a good idea to buy golf cart insurance, but it may also even be required by your Homeowner Association (HOA) or state.
Whether or not you need it depends on where you ride and how you use your golf cart--like a riding mower, car or ATV.
If being a golf cart owner is on your agenda, you likely have some questions.
Here we've covered everything you need to know about golf cart insurance so you can make sure you're covered and get back to enjoying time on the green.
- Golf cart insurance is an insurance policy that covers damage to your golf cart and damage that your golf cart causes.
- Buying golf cart insurance depends on where you ride and how you use your golf cart.
- It covers bodily damage liability, property damage liability, collision and comprehensive damage to your cart.
- The cost of golf cart insurance varies by insurance company and coverage needs. But if you add golf cart coverage to your current homeowner's insurance you may have to pay $4 a month.
- What is golf cart insurance?
- What does golf cart insurance cover?
- Do I need golf cart insurance?
- How much is golf cart insurance?
- Are there discounts or other ways to get cheap golf cart insurance?
- How do I purchase golf cart insurance?
- Golf cart insurance for the savvy retiree
- The bottom-line on golf cart insurance
- Frequently asked questions
What is golf cart insurance?
Golf cart insurance is a type of insurance that covers damage or destruction to your golf cart and damage or destruction that your golf cart creates, depending on the insurance company and the coverage you select.
What does golf cart insurance cover?
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, including guest passenger liability in some instances
- Collision costs: applies to collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault
- Other (comprehensive) damage to your cart: think fire, theft, or anything other than a collision -- like wind damage or hail
Home, auto or golf cart insurance?
Determining which insurance coverage applies in the case of a golf cart mishap can be confusing. The table below summarizes various circumstances where damage occurs to people or things resulting from a golf cart accident and indicates each relevant policy.
| Accident location | Golf cart use type | Cart damage | Special circumstances | Covered by | Not covered by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf course | ATV | Unharmed | Damage to others’ property | Homeowners, golf cart insurance | - |
| Golf course | ATV or speed-modified | Damaged | - | Golf cart insurance | Homeowners insurance |
| City street | NEV | Damaged | - | Golf cart or auto insurance1 | Homeowners insurance |
| Outside a golf course | All | Damaged | Fire | Golf cart insurance1 | Homeowners insurance |
| City street | All | Damaged | Golf cart rented to others | - | Homeowners, auto, or golf cart insurance2 |
| Golf course | All | Damaged | Unlicensed child | Homeowners (liability only) insurance | Golf cart insurance3 |
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.
| Golf cart use resembles | Golf cart usage type | Description | Best golf cart insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic—similar to using a riding mower | Driving only on a golf course or on your own property. | Homeowners insurance with a golf cart endorsement |
| Speed-modified—up to 25 miles per hour on neighborhood streets | Some street driving; may include safety features such as seat belts. | Auto insurance for golf carts or Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) |
| All-terrain vehicle (ATV)—use on neighborhood and city streets | Regular use on streets as well as golf course. | Auto insurance for golf carts and umbrella insurance |
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.
You may be wondering if golf carts can cause enough damage to warrant paying for insurance.
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.
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.
Golf carts are vehicles that need to be taken seriously.
How much is golf cart insurance?
Your golf cart insurance cost will vary by insurer and coverage needs, among other rate determining factors. Here is some general information on monthly costs:
- You may pay as little as $4 a month. If you add golf cart coverage to your current homeowner's insurance.
- You may spend about $12 a month. If you buy a standalone golf cart policy.
- You may spend about $33 to $100 a month. If you own a speed-modified golf cart where you're zipping about on roads, and it's practically your second car. It can run kind of high, depending on your driving record and other factors.
Golf insurance costs will typically be lower if the golf cart will be used exclusively off-road in which case many insurers, like The Hartford will offer 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?
Like with some other types of insurance, there are potential discounts you may be able to get with your golf cart insurance:
| Golf cart insurance discount | Description |
|---|---|
| Bundling golf cart insurance | As with auto insurance, one of the best ways to obtain a significant discount is to buy your golf cart or LSV policy from an insurer with which you already do business. This is often referred to as a "bundling" or "multi-policy” discount. If your LSV needs an auto policy, make sure you ask for a multi vehicle discount. |
| Homeowners | Discounts may be available if you own your home. |
| Occupational | Some insurers provide discounts to people in certain occupations. |
| Switching | Certain insurers, such as as esurance, provide discounts of up to 15 percent when you switch over from another insurance company. |
| Motorcycle | Savings may also be available if you obtain a motorcycle license or endorsement. |
| Paid up-front | Additional discounts can sometimes be accessed if you pay your golf cart insurance premium up front for the entire year. |
| Safety certification | Taking safety courses, joining qualifying organizations or being a responsible driver may save you money -- it pays to ask. |
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.
You may be able to insure your golf cart by adding it to your home insurance policy
Let's say that you do your due diligence and check to see if your golf cart is covered on your homeowner's insurance, and, nope, it isn't covered.
Well, 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.
You can also purchase a separate policy specifically for the golf cart.
You may have to insure your golf cart separately from your home insurance policy
Not every policy will let you add the golf cart as a rider to your homeowner's insurance policy. Sometimes, you'll have to get it separately. Think about Florida and Arizona, where the weather is warm where 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.
Check with your insurer or any major insurer to get a quote for your 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 an LSV) 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
How can I save money on golf cart insurance?
Here are a few tips to save money:
- Keep your golf cart off-road
- Look for multi-policy or bundle discounts
- Stay accident-free
- Avoid any unnecessary claims
- Look for safety and driver training courses
Is there special coverage for golf carts?
Many of the major insurers offer special coverage for golf carts. Typically, this insurance policy is a modified form of either motorcycle insurance or ATV/off-road insurance. The coverages are modified to specifically meet the needs of golf carts.
Will my car insurance cover my golf cart?
Generally, no. Most standard car insurance policies provide little to no coverage for golf carts.
What if I get into a golf cart accident and the other driver doesn't have insurance?
With most golf cart policies, you have the option of getting uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This is the type of coverage you'd need if you were in an accident and the other driver was at fault but did not have their own insurance. If the accident was caused by you, your policy would kick in for coverage.
