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Buying Tips: Things To Know When Purchasing a Golf Cart
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Golf Cars: Making the Rounds Beyond the Golf Course

There’s a compelling reason why golf carts are now more commonly termed “golf cars”. Originally the golfing enthusiast’s constant companion, these small utility cars have gone beyond cruising country clubs and golf courses; they have eventually made it to the streets and are used in various applications. Today, we see a lot of them making the rounds in major public roads in several states across the country, as well as in commercial and private vicinities.

The Most Common Applications of Golf Cars

Today, we see golf cars in all designs, models, brands and levels of performance. There are also custom golf cars designed to achieve a particular look or service. Many of golf cars are modified to look a lot like popular automobiles – only smaller, more space-saving, more economical and offer better convenience. Others are fitted with extensions and commercial attachments allowing for optimized and inexpensive land management or branded group transportation services.

Golf cars have become an essential part of daily life for many individuals and organizations. People have come to rely heavily on these products as the economical, convenient and practical utility cars that they are. Truly, golf cars can have a world of uses:

• Easy and safe mobilization of persons with disabilities and senior citizens in self-contained communities and retirement areas.
• Transport of people, equipment, produce and other goods within airports, spacious buildings, campuses, seminaries, dealerships, warehouses, farms, villages and other private or commercial properties.
• Security patrolling and maintenance of the aforementioned properties
• Convenient transport within construction site
• Gardening and other yard work and navigate the entire vicinity conveniently.
• Event transportation, such as in weddings.
• Snow plowing.
• Hobbies and recreation, such as 4×4 driving and off-road activities.

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What the Law Says About Golf Cars on the Road

In 1998, when the number of electric-powered golf carts and small vehicles frequenting the streets like any other vehicle skyrocketed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, operating under the Department of Transportation, promulgated the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500 ((49 CFR 571.500).

Originally, the use of street legal golf carts and similar small vehicles were subject to local and state approval, as long as they did not exceed the speed limit of 20 miles per hour. Golf carts manufactured or modified to go faster than that are considered motor vehicles under the Federal law and should therefore comply with existing motor vehicle safety standards.

It was clear, however, that compliance with the motor vehicle safety standards under the Federal law was not feasible for golf carts and similar smaller vehicles. Consequently, the NHTSA reclassified golf carts with top speed of 20 to 25 miles per hour as “low-speed vehicles.”

LSVs are required under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500 “to be equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, tail lamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rear view mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and vehicle identification numbers” for safety purposes. At present, each golf cart should have a displayed warning label confirming that they cannot be driven on public roads at a speed of more than 25 miles per hour.

The Federal Highway Administration, as detailed in its Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, also allowed states to utilize warning signs about golf carts and other LSVs sharing the road with automobiles and other slow-moving transport utilities such as mopeds and bikes.

Presently, State laws govern on-road use of golf carts in their jurisdiction. Street legal golf carts, which are widely used at present in many places all over the country, should meet all safety equipment requirements, as well as operational and speed limits – in full compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500.

Specifically, the government of the state of North Carolina has opened up these decisions and allowed each municipality to determine their own golf car street legal requirements; which do not have to adhere to federal guidelines on the subject. Make sure to contact a trusted local golf car dealership in your area to determine the best practices and guidelines for your neighborhood before making your purchase.

Talk To A Trusted Golf Cart Dealer in the Carolinas

Whom you speak to about your golf car needs will play a key role in finding what you are looking for. Trust only an experienced and expert team that can offer you an extensive fleet of new and custom golf cars to help you navigate your lifestyle and business.

Sources:
http://business.time.com/2012/10/22/golf-carts-hardly-just-for-the-golf-course-anymore/
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/lsv/lsv.html#lsv3
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/ppi/liv-com/insight54.pdf

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Recent Posts

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Carolina Golf Cars

5.0

Suhas Darji

3 days ago

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Knowledgeable staff. They sale parts like wheels for reasonable price.

Knowledgeable staff. They sale parts like wheels for reasonable price.

David Jolly

3 weeks ago

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Thank your service for taking care of my golf cart and for bringing it to my house . It took some time for the parts to come in but thats every where know days . Big shout out to Karen and Brian and the person who worked on it sorry I dont recall his name . If you need some work done call them .By David Jolly

Thank your service for taking care of my golf cart and for bringing it to my house . It took some time for the parts to come in but thats every where know days . Big shout out to Karen and Brian and the person who worked on it sorry I dont recall his name . If you need some work done call them .By David Jolly

Thomas Hyslip

4 weeks ago

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Great deal and amazing service.

Great deal and amazing service.

Bernadine Bench

1 month ago

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Learned a lot today from Paul Reynolds. Will be buying a golf cart early next week.

Learned a lot today from Paul Reynolds. Will be buying a golf cart early next week.

Karen Murdock

5 months ago

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Absolutely love this place The people are super nice friendly. Even being short staffed, they follow through

Absolutely love this place The people are super nice friendly. Even being short staffed, they follow through

Ellen Abercrombie

6 months ago

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Found the part we needed

Found the part we needed

Medard Manuana

6 months ago

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Zachary Weir

8 months ago

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This place is fantastic They explained the differences between the different options and took really good care of us. I will be using them again in the future and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a golf cart

This place is fantastic They explained the differences between the different options and took really good care of us. I will be using them again in the future and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a golf cart

Marcus Butcher

8 months ago

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Joe in parts is always a excellent help. They are my goto place for anything cart related.

Joe in parts is always a excellent help. They are my goto place for anything cart related.

Kevin S

9 months ago

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The best service after the sell that I've experienced in any industry. Really nice to work with a company that doesn't feel like it's trying to squeeze a penny out of you at every turn. Will never purchase a golf cart anywhere else.

The best service after the sell that I've experienced in any industry. Really nice to work with a company that doesn't feel like it's trying to squeeze a penny out of you at every turn. Will never purchase a golf cart anywhere else.

Richard White

9 months ago

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Very easy to work with.

Very easy to work with.

mary ann

9 months ago

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We have had a great experience. ....Pete is great thanks pete....Second Golf cart all I can say is Pete you rock thank you again...repeated happy customer

We have had a great experience. ....Pete is great thanks pete....Second Golf cart all I can say is Pete you rock thank you again...repeated happy customer

Miniature Dachshunds Seeking new homes

9 months ago

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Billy l Akers jr

10 months ago

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Good prices great team

Good prices great team

Ryan DaValle

11 months ago

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Carolina Golf Carts was my first stop in my effort to buy my first golf cart. Pete the salesman was top notch and walked me through everything there is to know in buying a cart. Not pushy and super helpful. Would recommend

Carolina Golf Carts was my first stop in my effort to buy my first golf cart. Pete the salesman was top notch and walked me through everything there is to know in buying a cart. Not pushy and super helpful. Would recommend

Lita Shealy

11 months ago

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Leta Shealy

11 months ago

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Nicolas Lopez Davidson

1 year ago

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Good shop fixed my cart

Good shop fixed my cart

Eric Campbell

1 year ago

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John hurst

1 year ago

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I just picked my cart from getting serviced and am extremely pleased with the entire experience. In and out painlessly and all the work completed at a reasonable cost. Thank you Austin for a great customer service experience.

I just picked my cart from getting serviced and am extremely pleased with the entire experience. In and out painlessly and all the work completed at a reasonable cost. Thank you Austin for a great customer service experience.

David Millsaps

1 year ago

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Great selection and Robert is a very helpful salesperson.

Great selection and Robert is a very helpful salesperson.

Landon Roberts

1 year ago

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Great place to get a golf cart.We went in expecting to be pressured, but that wasn't the case.We got the impression right away that they were not selling us anything, just trying to hook us up with the best golf cart that would fit us.We were in and out, and everything went very smooth.

Great place to get a golf cart.We went in expecting to be pressured, but that wasn't the case.We got the impression right away that they were not selling us anything, just trying to hook us up with the best golf cart that would fit us.We were in and out, and everything went very smooth.

Austin Irvin

1 year ago

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Jabamby Brew

1 year ago

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Bowles Garden

1 year ago

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We bought a used 2017 gas Yamaha. Pete Reynolds was excellent to work with. We were able to customize our cart to exactly how we wanted. We even supplied our old utility bed from our old cart. When it arrived I thought it was brand new. Pete and his crew go above and beyond in customer satisfaction. Would not think twice about purchasing a cart from here again or having them do any work on the cart.

We bought a used 2017 gas Yamaha. Pete Reynolds was excellent to work with. We were able to customize our cart to exactly how we wanted. We even supplied our old utility bed from our old cart. When it arrived I thought it was brand new. Pete and his crew go above and beyond in customer satisfaction. Would not think twice about purchasing a cart from here again or having them do any work on the cart.

Marc Norman

1 year ago

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No floor models to look at. Sales people are very nice and informative. Didn't know they where so expensive

No floor models to look at. Sales people are very nice and informative. Didn't know they where so expensive

MICHAEL BLAIN

1 year ago

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Katharine Simpson

2 years ago

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The Sales Rep Pete was knowledgeable and what he didn't know I got answers for my Dad and I. We got what we asked for, plus.It was very busy, and there was a bit of a wait. But Pete was very quick, polite, and professional. It was a good day out with my 86 year old Dad.

The Sales Rep Pete was knowledgeable and what he didn't know I got answers for my Dad and I. We got what we asked for, plus.It was very busy, and there was a bit of a wait. But Pete was very quick, polite, and professional. It was a good day out with my 86 year old Dad.

Kara Fleet

2 years ago

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We rented a golf cart for the long weekend and I can't say enough great things about Carolina Golf Cars. Easy to rent, great drop offpick up process, and an even better staff. It rained all weekend and when I called to book an extra day, Justin offered us the cart on them. We actually kept it two days longer than our agreement and could not be happier with the cart and customer service that was provided. Will 100 rent again

We rented a golf cart for the long weekend and I can't say enough great things about Carolina Golf Cars. Easy to rent, great drop offpick up process, and an even better staff. It rained all weekend and when I called to book an extra day, Justin offered us the cart on them. We actually kept it two days longer than our agreement and could not be happier with the cart and customer service that was provided. Will 100 rent again

Cindi

2 years ago

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Don Johnston

2 years ago

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Don Wegner

2 years ago

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Chip Eaker

2 years ago

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Robert is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with

Robert is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with

BangiT EnterTainmenT

2 years ago

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Very Friendly And helpful I highly recommend Carolina Golf Cart

Very Friendly And helpful I highly recommend Carolina Golf Cart

BangiT EnterTainmenT

2 years ago

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Very FriendlyAnd helpfulI highly recommend Carolina Golf Cart

Very FriendlyAnd helpfulI highly recommend Carolina Golf Cart

LamaR McLaughlin

2 years ago

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Very FriendlyAnd helpfulI highly recommend Carolina Golf Cart

Very FriendlyAnd helpfulI highly recommend Carolina Golf Cart

Kevin Woods

2 years ago

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We have purchased two golf carts over 15 years and always been happy with the service. Last week Ed in parts went out of his way to help us with a spare tire. I would highly recommend Carolina golf carts for any golf cart needs

We have purchased two golf carts over 15 years and always been happy with the service. Last week Ed in parts went out of his way to help us with a spare tire. I would highly recommend Carolina golf carts for any golf cart needs

Robbie Elting

3 years ago

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Joyce Standley

3 years ago

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We purchased a new golf cart today. Pete worked with us and we were happy with the price as well as the price he gave us for our used cart, which we purchased from Pete as well several years ago. Pete has integrity and works hard to make you happy and meet your financial goals. When we need our third cart we will buy from Pete again. It is such a pleasure to purchase from them.

We purchased a new golf cart today. Pete worked with us and we were happy with the price as well as the price he gave us for our used cart, which we purchased from Pete as well several years ago. Pete has integrity and works hard to make you happy and meet your financial goals. When we need our third cart we will buy from Pete again. It is such a pleasure to purchase from them.

Paul Krawiec

3 years ago

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Paul WILLIAMS

3 years ago

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Carolina Golf Cars Showroom

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8740 Wilkinson Blvd Charlotte,
North Carolina 28214

Phone:
(704) 631-9333

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CAR SALES
*MONDAY TO FRIDAY – 8AM to 5PM
*SATURDAY – 10AM TO 4pm
*Sunday– Closed

PARTS DEPARTMENT
*MONDAY TO FRIDAY – 7:30AM TO 5PM
*SATURDAY – 10AM TO 4pm
*Sunday– Closed

SERVICE DEPARTMENT
*MONDAY TO FRIDAY – 7:30AM TO 4PM
*SATURDAY and Sunday – CLOSED

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