Can You Drive a Golf Cart on the Street in Maryland?
Only where your county or municipality has designated roads for golf carts. A 2024 law (Ch. 491 / SB 316, effective October 1, 2024) rewrote Md. Code, Transp. § 21-104.2 to let the governing body of any county or municipality designate the local highways within its jurisdiction where golf carts may be driven. On a designated road, a golf cart may operate only on a highway posted 30 mph or less, between dawn and dusk, and must carry the lighting the Motor Vehicle Administration requires. The driver must hold a valid driver's license and keep the cart as far right as feasible. Golf carts get a registration exception under § 13-402(c)(11).
Maryland Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Golf Cart (designated roads) | Registered LSV / NEV |
|---|---|---|
| Where allowed | County/municipal roads designated by ordinance | Roads posted per statewide LSV rules |
| Speed limit of road | ≤ 30 mph (35 mph in Golden Beach/Patuxent Knolls, St. Mary's Co.) | Higher LSV limits apply |
| Hours | Dawn to dusk only | Day and night |
| Driver's license | ✓ Required | ✓ Required |
| Registration | ✗ Exempt (§ 13-402(c)(11)) | ✓ Required |
| Equipment | Lighting devices per MVA | ✓ Full FMVSS 500 equipment |
How the County / Municipal Designation Works
Before 2024, Maryland authorized golf carts only in a patchwork of named areas (Crisfield, Smith Island, Allegany County, and a few others). The new § 21-104.2 replaced most of that with a general rule: any county or municipality may, by ordinance, designate roads under its jurisdiction for golf carts. Where a road is designated, the golf cart must stay on highways posted 30 mph or less (one carve-out: 35 mph in Golden Beach and Patuxent Knolls in St. Mary's County), operate dawn to dusk, carry MVA-required lighting, keep to the right, and be driven by a licensed driver.
The Statewide Alternative: Low-Speed Vehicles
Where no golf cart ordinance exists, the road-legal path is a registered low-speed vehicle — a factory-built, FMVSS 500-certified vehicle the MVA titles and registers. Models like the DENAGO CITY come street-legal with a manufacturer VIN, DOT lighting, mirrors, and seat belts, and aren't limited to daylight hours. Browse street-legal golf carts and Low Speed Vehicles.
Official Maryland Sources
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-104.2 — county/municipal golf cart designation, 30 mph limit, dawn-to-dusk (2024 Ch. 491 / SB 316)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 13-402(c)(11) — registration exception for golf carts on designated highways
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) — titles and registers low-speed vehicles
Buying a Golf Cart in Maryland
TIGON delivers across Maryland — Ocean City and the Eastern Shore, Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland, and communities around the Chesapeake Bay. See the Maryland golf carts page, browse inventory, or call 1-844-844-6638.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can you legally drive a golf cart in Maryland?
Only on roads a county or municipality has designated for golf carts. A 2024 law (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-104.2, effective October 1, 2024) lets the governing body of any county or municipality designate local highways under its jurisdiction where golf carts may operate. Golf carts get a registration exception under § 13-402(c)(11).
Golf carts in MarylandWhat are the rules for driving a golf cart on a Maryland road?
Under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-104.2, a golf cart on a designated highway may operate only on roads posted 30 mph or less (35 mph in Golden Beach and Patuxent Knolls, St. Mary's County), only between dawn and dusk, and must carry MVA-required lighting. The driver must hold a valid license and keep the cart as far to the right as feasible.
Shop street-legal golf cartsDo I need a golf cart or a low-speed vehicle in Maryland?
If your county or town hasn't designated golf cart roads, or you want day-and-night driving without the 30 mph cap, register a low-speed vehicle instead — a factory-built FMVSS 500 vehicle the MVA titles and registers. TIGON delivers factory-certified LSVs across Maryland, from Ocean City to Deep Creek Lake; call 1-844-844-6638.
Shop Low Speed VehiclesShop street-legal golf carts · Golf carts in Maryland · Call 1-844-844-6638