Should I Buy New or Used Golf Cart
A used cart costs less to buy and often less to insure, but a new one comes with a warranty and fewer unknowns about its condition.
Used is the cheaper choice, new is the safer bet
For most people a used golf cart is the better value. The cart has already taken its biggest drop in value, parts are easier to find for older models, and insuring it usually costs less because the cart itself is worth less.
A new cart makes more sense if you want a warranty, you're adding features like lights and turn signals for road use, or you don't want to guess at a used cart's battery life and maintenance history. What you actually pay to insure either one depends on the cart's value, how you'll use it, and your insurer's own rules.
How you'll use the cart
A cart that stays on a private course or inside a retirement community is usually cheaper to insure than one you plan to drive on public roads. Street-legal carts need lights, mirrors, seat belts and sometimes a slow-moving vehicle emblem, and your insurer will want to know if you've added those.
If you're buying used specifically to drive on neighborhood streets, check with the seller on what's already installed and what you'd need to add. Missing equipment can mean a trip to a shop before the cart is road ready, and your insurer may ask for proof it meets your state's requirements before writing a policy.
Some communities only allow carts that meet certain standards for road use. Ask your homeowners association or local DMV what's required where you live before you commit to either a new or used cart.
The cart's condition and value
A new cart has a known value and a warranty, so there's less guesswork for an insurer pricing the policy. A used cart's value depends on its age, battery condition, and any modifications, which means you'll want a clear sense of what it's actually worth before you buy.
Ask the seller for maintenance records and battery age if it's electric. A cart with new batteries holds more value and may cost less to insure than one that needs them replaced soon.
Get a quote on the specific cart before you finalize the purchase, not after. That way you know what it will cost to insure and aren't surprised once you've already paid for it.
Questions people ask about this
Do I need insurance for a golf cart I only drive on a golf course?
Often no, since many course owners carry their own coverage for carts used only on course property. Check with the course and your own insurer, since some policies exclude golf carts entirely unless you add them specifically.
Does homeowners insurance cover a golf cart?
Some homeowners policies offer limited coverage for a golf cart kept on the property, but it often doesn't cover liability if you drive it on a public road. Ask your insurer directly what your policy includes and what it leaves out.
Is a street legal golf cart cheaper to insure than a regular one?
Not necessarily, since a street legal cart is usually driven more and faces more risk from traffic, which can affect the cost. What it's insured for depends on how you use it and what your state requires for road use, not just its features.
Can I add a golf cart to my car insurance policy?
Many insurers let you add a golf cart as a separate line or through an endorsement, but not all do. Ask your current insurer whether they cover golf carts at all before assuming you can simply add one to an existing auto policy.
What happens to golf cart insurance if I sell it privately?
The policy doesn't automatically transfer to the new owner, so you'll need to cancel or update your coverage once the sale is final. The buyer will need their own policy before they can legally drive it, depending on your state's rules.
See what it would cost to insure the cart you're considering before you decide.
Before you buy, get the make, model and year of any cart you're seriously considering, new or used, and ask for a quote on each one. If it's used, get the battery age and maintenance history from the seller so the quote reflects its real condition. Check with your state DMV or your homeowners association about what equipment is required if you plan to drive it on public roads. If you already have auto or homeowners insurance, ask that insurer first whether they can cover a golf cart at all. Compare what a dedicated policy would cost against adding it to a policy you already have, since one is often cheaper than the other depending on the insurer.
