There are still many misconceptions about the legal use of standard “golf carts” as a means of personal transportation on Florida state public roads. This commentary examines some of Florida`s laws that govern the use of “street legal” golf carts (low-speed vehicles) and “regular” golf carts on public roads. While this discussion is by no means exhaustive, these Florida statues apply to vehicles we sell to the Electric Cart Company (ECC). Several features are required for LSV and NEV electric vehicles or golf carts homologated for the street in Florida, including: Your car must have at least two mirrors to be considered “road legal” in most states. The driver`s side exterior mirror and the interior rear-view mirror meet this requirement. For larger vehicles such as a motorhome or panel van, where the view of the rear-view mirror may be blocked, a second exterior mirror on the passenger side meets the “road legal” requirement. Your car`s horn is a useful warning signal and the necessary safety equipment for your vehicle to be considered “road legal”. The sound of the horn must be audible within 200 feet. While definitions of legal race cars on the road vary, most fall into some broad categories.

In 1968, the federal government required all new cars to be equipped with seat belts. Not only are seat belts mandatory for a “road-legal” car, but with the exception of New Hampshire, all states require adult passengers in the front seat to wear seat belts. In up to 30 states, adult rear passengers must wear seat belts. Seat belt laws regulations vary from state to state, but it`s best to always fasten your seat belt before moving your car. Find out the facts before you get in your car for a ride or make any changes. If some of these traffic laws have surprised you, contact your local motor vehicle department to find out the traffic laws in your state. Please note that the use of a “golf cart” (standard) on public roads is illegal in the State of Florida. However, if a local government entity chooses to lower national and state standards for manufacturing, performance, and safety, and allow “golf carts” access to public roads, specific issues would necessarily have to be addressed and local ordinances would have to be implemented by the local government unit to ensure the use of “golf carts” on its roads. See the summary below for this option: Increasing or lowering the height of your car can be illegal depending on the height you drive, as it changes the handling and performance of the car.

Check your condition`s height restrictions before modifying your car. As a general rule, states do not allow elevators larger than 4 inches. In federal regulations, LSVs are defined as a four-wheeled motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of less than 3,000 pounds and a maximum speed between 20 mph and 25 mph. In Florida, LSVs are restricted to public roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour. Due to federal law, dealers cannot legally sell the vehicles to drive faster than 25 miles per hour. Any vehicle modified at more than 25 mph is subject to passenger car safety requirements. When it comes to determining whether helmets would be mandatory for a legal UTV on the street in Tennessee, the state requires all motorcyclists to wear a helmet, but this law does not apply to people traveling in a closed taxi. In addition, Tennessee does not require helmets for UTVs that are not allowed to operate in the limited circumstances in which they are allowed on public roads. First, the bad news. It`s not always possible to make a race car road legal unless you have a lot of money and a lot of time. Let`s say your eccentric uncle leaves you a NASCAR-style stock car in his will. You want to impress all your employees by driving him to work.

It is an almost impossible task. As one Quora expert explains, “A modified NASCAR stock car for on-road driving would require a speedometer, head, rear and turn signal indicators and doors (the most difficult) that open, an entirely new exhaust system, new balance, chassis realignment, suspension geometry change, a change of all shock absorber and spring speeds, an adjustment of the brake preload… Each state requires your car to display an illuminated, unobstructed license plate on the back of the vehicle. Many states also require a front-mounted license plate. Your local motor vehicle department (DMV) is a great resource for figuring out where to put license plates on your car. To control pollution, the federal government requires that all “road-legal” cars be equipped with a muffler and exhaust gas cleaning system. The exhaust system components shall be securely mounted on the vehicle at the rear of all doors and windows, but less than 15 inches in front of the rearmost part of the vehicle. Exhaust systems should not be temporarily repaired or repaired, as a temporary repair could lead to leaks. The state of Florida has a few variations of the general “legal street” requirements for your car: If you`re heard, you can not only get noticed, but also get a ticket. In most states, it is illegal to tamper with your car`s exhaust system due to pollution control. However, the emissions control system also dampens noise, and many states dictate that your car`s exhaust should produce no more than 90 decibels of volume.

Check before making any changes, as Texas, for example, does not have “legal street noise” regulations. The state requires eye protection for vehicles that do not have windshields, which applies to UTVs and motorcycles that are not legalized. It follows that if your street-approved UTV does not have a windshield, local law enforcement might expect you to wear eye protection. For safety reasons and to avoid possible confusion with local law enforcement, we recommend that you wear a helmet and eye protection when driving a licensed UTV on the street in Tennessee. To drive on Tennessee public roads under the above exceptions, your vehicle must have a Class I or II OHV license plate and a Tennessee-issued registration. Which one you need depends on how your vehicle is categorized in the next section. Learn more about the registration process here: Tennessee Department of Revenue: Off-Highway Vehicles. 316.212 Use of golf carts on certain roads.–The operation of a golf cart on public highways in this State is prohibited, except as provided herein: (22) “golf cart” means a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for use on a golf course for sports or recreational purposes and that may not exceed a speed of 20 miles per hour. Florida and other states have specific laws and regulations on LSVs, NEVs, and golf carts that govern the use and construction of golf carts or “street-legal slow-moving vehicles.” Defined by Florida Law 320.01 (42) as “all four-wheeled electric vehicles with a maximum speed greater than 20 miles per hour but not more than 25 miles per hour,” include NEV low-speed vehicles or district electric vehicles.

Golf carts that are not considered LSV may not be used on roads, with a few exceptions listed in § 316.212. As with motor vehicles, low-speed vehicles are subject to a registration tax equivalent to that required by Florida law p. 320.08 for non-electric vehicles. Your car`s tires should be installed in such a way that dirt cannot fly to other vehicles. The wings or mudflaps of your car usually cover this requirement. Tires must also be in safe working condition, so many states require a tread of at least 2/32 of an inch on tires. However, the local government unit may consider reducing speed on certain roads to encourage LSV use in the United States. States. [11] A notable exception is California`s emissions controls, which are traditionally stricter than in other states. [12] Common requirements for motor vehicles include structure (e.g.

bonnet) and safety equipment (e.g. headlights and bumpers). [13] If you`re a car lover, you know that driving isn`t the only thrill you`re looking for. Car enthusiasts often like to make, modify and rebuild cars. Maybe you want higher ground clearance, flashy appearance, or stronger performance. But do some of these changes no longer make your car “street legal”? Let`s take a look at some common and illegal car modifications.