Can You Drive a Golf Cart on the Street in Louisiana?
Only on roads a parish or municipality has designated. Under La. R.S. 32:299.4, operating a golf cart on Louisiana's public roads or streets is prohibited — except (1) on a parish road designated by the parish or a municipal street designated by the municipality, marked with appropriate signage, or (2) to cross a state highway where a golf course sits on both sides and the Department of Transportation and Development has issued a crossing permit.
Louisiana Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Golf Cart (on designated roads) |
|---|---|
| Where allowed | Parish roads / municipal streets a local government designates |
| Cross a state highway | ✓ Only with a DOTD permit (golf course on both sides) |
| OMV registration & decal | ✓ Required — registered as an off-road vehicle |
| Driver's license | ✓ Required |
| Liability insurance | ✓ Required (R.S. 32:900(B) minimum limits) |
| Required equipment | ✓ Brakes, steering, tires, mirror, front/rear reflectors, head/tail/brake lamps, turn signals |
| Private property / golf course | ✓ Fully legal |
Equipment and Registration Requirements
La. R.S. 32:299.4 sets one of the more detailed equipment lists in the South. A golf cart on a parish road or municipal street must have efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices front and rear, headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, and brake lamps. It must be registered with the Office of Motor Vehicles (Department of Public Safety and Corrections) as an off-road vehicle and display an OMV-issued decal. Operators need a valid driver's license and liability insurance meeting the R.S. 32:900(B) minimums. A 2025 update (Act 203, R.S. 32:297.1) also lets certain towns permit golf carts and LSVs on the shoulder of low-speed roads.
The Statewide Alternative: Low-Speed Vehicles
For road use beyond designated parish and municipal routes, a factory-built Low-Speed Vehicle certified to FMVSS 500 (49 CFR 571.500) with a top speed of 20–25 mph is titled and registered like a motor vehicle. You can't retrofit a standard cart — only factory-certified models like the DENAGO CITY qualify, with a manufacturer VIN, DOT lighting, mirrors, and seat belts. Browse street-legal golf carts and Low Speed Vehicles.
Official Louisiana Sources
- La. R.S. 32:299.4 — golf carts: designated roads, equipment, OMV registration, license, and insurance
- La. R.S. 32:297.1 — shoulder operation of golf carts and LSVs where a town authorizes it (Act 203, 2025)
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (DPS&C) — registers golf carts as off-road vehicles and issues decals
Buying a Golf Cart in Louisiana
TIGON delivers across Louisiana — the New Orleans metro and Northshore, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Acadiana, and lake and bayou communities statewide. See the Louisiana golf carts page, browse inventory, or call 1-844-844-6638.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are golf carts street legal in Louisiana?
Only on designated roads. La. R.S. 32:299.4 prohibits golf carts on public roads except on a parish road or municipal street the local government has designated with signage, or to cross a state highway where a golf course sits on both sides under a DOTD permit. Elsewhere, golf carts stay on private property.
Golf carts in LouisianaDo you have to register a golf cart in Louisiana?
Yes, for road use. Under La. R.S. 32:299.4, any golf cart operated on a designated parish road or municipal street must be registered with the Office of Motor Vehicles as an off-road vehicle and display an OMV-issued decal. The operator needs a valid driver's license and liability insurance meeting the R.S. 32:900(B) minimum limits.
Shop street-legal golf cartsWhat equipment does a golf cart need in Louisiana?
La. R.S. 32:299.4 requires efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices front and rear, headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, and brake lamps. For guaranteed road use, a factory FMVSS 500 low-speed vehicle like the DENAGO CITY comes fully equipped; TIGON delivers across Louisiana, call 1-844-844-6638.
Shop Low Speed VehiclesShop street-legal golf carts · Golf carts in Louisiana · Call 1-844-844-6638