Roughly 50 Michigan cities and townships allow golf carts on their public streets, but there is no statewide list and no automatic right to drive one. Under MCL 257.657a, each village, city, or township decides whether to opt in, which roads to open, and what equipment to require. So the first question isn’t whether Michigan cities allow golf carts — it’s whether yours does, and on what terms.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 257.657a – Operation of Golf Cart
How to Find Out If Your City Allows Golf Carts
Call your city clerk or local police department before you buy or drive. Ask three things: whether the municipality has adopted a golf cart ordinance, which streets are designated for golf cart use, and what permits, fees, or equipment the ordinance requires. Some cities charge an annual permit or registration fee. Belleville, for instance, charges a $50 registration fee. Fees and procedures are set locally, so there is no single statewide schedule.
Not every community allows them, and some you might expect to say yes actually say no. Charlevoix bans golf carts from all city streets and sidewalks, though it does allow registered low-speed vehicles that meet full safety and insurance requirements. Mackinac Island permits golf carts only on its two golf courses, not as general transportation.
The Statewide Rules That Apply Everywhere
Even in a city that has opted in, state law sets a floor that no local ordinance can loosen.
Driver and Speed
You must be at least 16 and hold a valid Michigan driver’s license. There is no separate golf cart license or endorsement — your regular license is what qualifies you.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 257.657a – Operation of Golf Cart
A golf cart cannot exceed 15 miles per hour, and it cannot be driven on any road with a posted speed limit above 30 mph.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 257.657a – Operation of Golf Cart The 15 mph cap holds even where the posted limit is 25 or 30. You can cross a faster road or a state trunk line highway, but only by using the most direct line of crossing. You cannot travel along those roads.2Michigan Courts. Improper Operation of a Golf Cart Sidewalks are also off-limits.
On the roadway, stay as far to the right as practicable and follow the same signal rules as any other vehicle. You may pass on the left of a two-way road or on either side of a one-way, but only in an unoccupied lane.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 257.657a – Operation of Golf Cart
Daylight Only
Golf carts cannot be operated on public streets from half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 257.657a – Operation of Golf Cart This is a hard cutoff. Installing headlights does not extend your legal window, even if your city requires them. Winter days end early — plan accordingly.
Equipment Your City May Require
The statute gives each city a menu of low-speed-vehicle safety items it can require, and every city picks from that list independently.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 257.657a – Operation of Golf Cart Depending on the ordinance, you may need:
- At least two headlamps meeting Michigan Vehicle Code standards
- At least one tail lamp
- Stop lamp and turn signal
- Red reflectors, one on each side toward the rear and one on the back
- A driver-side exterior mirror plus either a passenger-side exterior or an interior mirror
- Brakes and parking brake
- Horn
- Windshield
- Manufacturer’s identification number permanently affixed to the frame
- Seat belts
Some cities require the full list. Others require only a few items. What passes muster in one town may not in the next, so match your cart to the ordinance where you’ll actually drive.
Insurance: The Gap Most People Miss
Michigan’s no-fault law excludes golf carts from its definition of “motor vehicle,” so the state does not require auto insurance on one.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 500.3101 Cities can add their own requirement, and some do — proof of liability coverage is a common condition for a local permit.
Here is where people get caught. A homeowners policy may cover a golf cart while it stays on your property, but coverage often disappears the moment you drive onto a public road, and most homeowners policies will not cover a golf cart that is registered or permitted for street use. If your city requires insurance and you assume homeowners handles it, you may be driving uninsured. Dedicated golf cart policies are available and typically cover bodily injury liability, property damage, and injuries to guest passengers.
If You’ve Modified Your Cart, Check This
Under Michigan law, a golf cart is a vehicle designed for transportation while playing golf.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 257.657a – Operation of Golf Cart A low-speed vehicle is a four-wheeled vehicle capable of 20 to 25 mph and weighing under 3,000 pounds.4eCFR. 49 CFR 571.500 – Low-Speed Vehicles If you’ve modified your cart to go faster than 15 mph, you may have pushed it into LSV territory, which means it must meet federal FMVSS 500 safety standards and be titled, registered, and insured through the Michigan Secretary of State before it touches a public road. This is a separate compliance path from the golf cart ordinance in your city.
Penalties
Improper operation of a golf cart is a misdemeanor under MCL 257.901, punishable by a fine of up to $100, up to 90 days in jail, or both.2Michigan Courts. Improper Operation of a Golf Cart Common violations include driving without a valid license, operating after dusk, exceeding 15 mph, and driving on a road posted above 30 mph.
The fine ceiling is modest. The misdemeanor classification is not. A conviction goes on your criminal record and can show up on employment background checks. Alcohol makes it worse: operating a golf cart while impaired would fall under Michigan’s general operating-while-impaired statutes, with license suspension, larger fines, and possible jail time. Treat a golf cart on a public street the way you would treat any other vehicle.