Can You Drive a Golf Cart on the Street in Alabama?
Only where your municipality has authorized it. Alabama has no single statewide statute putting golf carts on public roads. Instead, Code of Alabama Title 11, Chapter 73 ("Low Speed Vehicle Operation on Streets") lets municipalities authorize low-speed vehicles on the roads and streets under their control by ordinance. Standard golf carts otherwise stay on private property, and drivers must look to their own city's rules — which is why Alabama's cart culture is concentrated in beach and lake towns that have passed ordinances.
Alabama Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Standard Golf Cart | Low-Speed Vehicle (municipally authorized) |
|---|---|---|
| Drive on public streets | ✗ Not by state law | ✓ Where a municipal ordinance allows |
| Road speed limit cap | N/A | Local streets (typically posted ≤ 35 mph) |
| Driver's license | Not required off-road | ✓ Required |
| Registration / insurance | Not required (private use) | Per municipal ordinance |
| Required equipment | N/A off-road | ✓ FMVSS 500 equipment |
| Private property / golf course | ✓ Fully legal | ✓ Fully legal |
Local Ordinances Run the Show
Under Code of Ala. § 11-73-6, a low-speed vehicle is a four-wheeled motor vehicle with a top speed not greater than 25 mph, a gross vehicle weight rating under 3,000 pounds, and certified to 49 C.F.R. § 571.500 (FMVSS 500). A municipality that adopts a Chapter 73 ordinance can set where and how these vehicles operate. Towns like Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Daphne, and Fairhope along the Gulf Coast — plus lake and golf communities inland — commonly regulate LSVs and carts through local ordinances, permits, and equipment rules. Always check the ordinance for the city you're driving in.
The Street-Legal Path: Low-Speed Vehicles
The reliable way to be road-legal in an Alabama town is a factory-built Low-Speed Vehicle certified to FMVSS 500 with a top speed of 20–25 mph — you can't simply retrofit a standard cart. Factory street-legal models like the DENAGO CITY ship with a manufacturer VIN, DOT lighting, mirrors, and seat belts. Browse street-legal golf carts and Low Speed Vehicles.
Official Alabama Sources
- Code of Alabama Title 11, Chapter 73 — municipal authorization of low-speed vehicles on streets
- Code of Ala. § 11-73-6 — low-speed vehicle definition (≤ 25 mph, < 3,000 lbs, FMVSS 500)
- Your city or town ordinance — the controlling rules for where carts and LSVs may operate
Buying a Golf Cart in Alabama
TIGON delivers across Alabama — the Gulf Coast beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the Eastern Shore communities of Daphne and Fairhope, Lake Martin, and neighborhoods around Birmingham and Huntsville. See the Alabama golf carts page, browse inventory, or call 1-844-844-6638.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are golf carts street legal in Alabama?
There is no blanket statewide golf cart road law in Alabama. Instead, Code of Alabama Title 11, Chapter 73 lets municipalities authorize low-speed vehicles on the streets under their control by ordinance. So whether you can drive on a public street depends on your city — standard golf carts otherwise stay on private property.
Golf carts in AlabamaWhat counts as a low-speed vehicle in Alabama?
Under Code of Ala. § 11-73-6, a low-speed vehicle is a four-wheeled motor vehicle with a top speed not greater than 25 mph, a gross vehicle weight rating under 3,000 pounds, and certification to 49 C.F.R. § 571.500 (FMVSS 500). A municipality that adopts a Chapter 73 ordinance can then permit these vehicles on its streets.
Shop street-legal golf cartsWhere can you drive a golf cart in Alabama beach towns?
Gulf Coast and lake communities such as Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Daphne, and Fairhope commonly regulate golf carts and low-speed vehicles through local ordinances under Title 11, Chapter 73, often with permits and equipment rules — so always check the specific city's ordinance. For guaranteed road use, choose a factory FMVSS 500 low-speed vehicle like the DENAGO CITY; TIGON delivers across Alabama, call 1-844-844-6638.
Shop Low Speed VehiclesShop street-legal golf carts · Golf carts in Alabama · Call 1-844-844-6638