5 Steps to Exploring More of the Sunshine State
Are you looking to take your golf cart beyond the golf course and your gated community in Pinellas Park? If you want to venture out and explore more of the Sunshine State, you’ll need to convert your golf cart into an LSV or low-speed vehicle. Let’s walk through the process so you can get out and enjoy the benefits of owning a street-legal golf cart.
5 Steps to Turn Your Golf Cart into a Low-Speed Vehicle in Pinellas Park
1. Understand Low Speed Vehicle Florida Regulations
Florida law defines low-speed vehicles or LSVs as “any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour.”1 LSVs can be operated on public roadways with a maximum speed limit of 35 mph and must be equipped with specific safety equipment.
2. Ensure You Have the Required Safety Features
Florida law requires that LSVs carry:
- Headlamps
- Front and rear turn signals
- Stop lamps
- Tail lamps
- Red reflex reflectors, one on each side and one on the rear
- Two mirrors, one exterior mirror on the driver’s side and one interior rear-view mirror or exterior mirror on the passenger side
- Parking brake
- Windshield
- Seat belt for each designated seat
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
3. Get Your Paperwork in Order
LSVs in Pinellas Park must be registered, titled, and insured with personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance. For the title and registration, you’ll want to bring the required documentation (along with payment for applicable title, plate and registration fees) to your local Florida Motor Vehicle Services Center. Required documents include:
- Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
- Form HSMV 82040 (Application for Title)
- Proof of Florida insurance
- Identification: driver’s license, ID card or passport
For a complete list of required documents and fees, visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website.
4. Upgrade Tires and Brakes
Depending on the specifications of your particular golf cart, you may need to upgrade your tires to meet the required size and type for road use. You’ll also need brakes in good working condition for safe operation.
5. Inspection and Approval
Once your golf cart has all of the necessary safety features installed and you’ve submitted your paperwork to the FLHSMV, you may have to undergo an inspection. This inspection is usually done by a certified inspector authorized to inspect golf carts for street-legal operation.
Make It Supreme When You Turn Your Golf Cart into a Low-Speed Vehicle in Pinellas Park
Before you buckle up for your city street outings, rev up your ride with Supreme Carts. Not only do we provide full-service LSV conversions, but we also offer new street legal golf carts and a variety of accessories that reflect the Florida lifestyle. After all, life is an adventure. Enjoy the ride! Visit Supreme Carts.com.
References:
1 https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/consumer-education/low-speed-vehicles/