Can You Drive a Golf Cart on the Street in Missouri?
Only if your municipality has allowed it. Under RSMo § 304.034, the governing body of any municipality may — by resolution or ordinance — allow golf carts on streets and highways under its jurisdiction. A golf cart may not be driven on a state or federal highway, though it may cross one to reach a municipal street. Crucially, a cart may not cross any highway at an intersection where the posted limit exceeds 45 mph. Missouri defines a golf cart as a vehicle designed for a golf course that cannot exceed 20 mph, and golf carts are not subject to state registration.
Missouri Rules at a Glance
| Rule | Golf Cart (municipality-approved) | Registered LSV |
|---|---|---|
| Where allowed | City streets an ordinance permits | Streets posted 35 mph or less |
| State/federal highways | Cross only, at intersections posted 45 mph or less | ✓ If posted 35 mph or less |
| Registration | ✗ Not subject to Chapter 301 registration | ✓ Registered & titled |
| Insurance | Per local ordinance | ✓ Required |
| Equipment | Adequate brakes + any local safety rules | ✓ Full FMVSS 500 equipment |
| Top speed | 20 mph (by definition) | Up to 25 mph |
Municipal Control and Crossings
RSMo § 304.034 is a local-option law: many Missouri lake and Ozark communities have adopted golf cart ordinances, while others haven't. Even where carts are allowed, a golf cart on city streets must have adequate brakes plus any additional safety equipment the municipality requires. The 45-mph crossing cap is a hard statewide limit — a cart cannot legally cross a highway at an intersection posted faster than 45 mph, regardless of local rules.
The Statewide Alternative: Low-Speed Vehicles
For access without a city ordinance, a low-speed vehicle — a factory-built, FMVSS 500-certified four-wheeled vehicle — is registered and titled in Missouri and may be driven on roads posted 35 mph or less. Factory-certified models like the DENAGO CITY qualify. Browse street-legal golf carts and Low Speed Vehicles.
Official Missouri Sources
- RSMo § 304.034 — municipal authority over golf carts, brakes requirement, 45 mph crossing cap, and registration exemption
- RSMo Chapter 301 — motor-vehicle registration (golf carts exempt)
- Missouri Department of Revenue — titles and registers low-speed vehicles
Buying a Golf Cart in Missouri
TIGON delivers across Missouri — the Lake of the Ozarks resort communities, Table Rock Lake and Branson, the Kansas City and St. Louis metros, and small towns statewide. See the Missouri golf carts page, browse inventory, or call 1-844-844-6638.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are golf carts street legal in Missouri?
Only where a municipality allows it. Under RSMo § 304.034, the governing body of any municipality may by ordinance or resolution allow golf carts on streets under its jurisdiction. Golf carts are not subject to Chapter 301 registration, and by definition a golf cart cannot exceed 20 mph.
Shop street-legal golf cartsCan a golf cart cross a highway in Missouri?
A golf cart may not be driven on a state or federal highway in Missouri, but it may cross one to reach a municipal street — except that under RSMo § 304.034 it may never cross at an intersection where the highway's posted limit exceeds 45 mph. Carts must have adequate brakes and meet any additional safety rules the municipality imposes.
Golf carts in MissouriWhat are the low-speed vehicle rules in Missouri?
A low-speed vehicle — a factory-built, FMVSS 500-certified four-wheeled vehicle — is titled and registered in Missouri and may be driven on roads posted 35 mph or less, with no city ordinance required. Factory-certified models like the DENAGO CITY qualify; TIGON delivers across Missouri, call 1-844-844-6638.
Shop Low Speed VehiclesShop street-legal golf carts · Golf carts in Missouri · Call 1-844-844-6638