A few weeks ago, Coral Gables Golf Cart released a blog answering several common golf cart related questions – by beginning to type in a question related to golf carts, Google autocompletes it with what people are searching most about golf carts. This week, instead of only using autofilled golf cart questions, we searched for more specific questions so we can provide more specific golf cart answers. Here are some common golf cart questions, and the golf cart answers written by us in our own words.
What’s the difference between a golf cart and an LSV?
Often times, we use the terms interchangeably, but a golf cart and an LSV are actually two separate vehicles. Low speed vehicles (LSVs) and golf carts can look the same, but the main difference is that LSVs are street legal and have a VIN number. An LSV must have a maximum speed of 24mph in order to be registered as a street legal vehicle, and can be driven on roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less. LSVs also need a variety of safety features in place in order to be street legal, including headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, a horn, seat belts, a windshield, and side view mirrors.
Some of our golf carts, such as our Advanced EV 2 passenger non street legal carts, can reach 24mph, but are not made to be street legal. This is the same with our EZGO, Club Car, and Yamaha carts – although some of them can reach up to 20-22mph, they lack the safety features that LSVs come with. However, these carts can be upgraded to include these features, and can even be made to go faster with a speed upgrade. Another requirement for a cart to be an LSV is that it must be electric – gas golf carts are not street legal, which we explain further in our previous golf cart answers blog.
How long do golf cart batteries last?
Depending on the weight on the golf cart and the speed being maintained, generally, lead-acid golf cart batteries can last about 20-25 miles before needing to be charged. Example: 6 adults using a 6 passenger golf cart at its maximum speed of 24mph will need to recharge their golf cart sooner than 2 adults using a 4 passenger golf cart at the same speed. Lithium golf cart batteries, on the other hand, can last up to 60 miles before needing to be recharged, and their recharge time is a lot faster than lead-acid batteries. For more information, read our blog about the benefits of lithium batteries, or visit our golf cart lithium battery website.
In terms of longevity, generally, lead-acid batteries will need to be replaced every few years, while lithium batteries can last up to 10 years.
When and how do you charge a golf cart?
For a standard lead-acid battery system – the most common golf cart battery system -, you’ll want to charge your golf cart once it starts to get down to the 50% area. Advice we give to a lot of our customers is to use the golf cart for the day and plug it in at night and let it recharge overnight. The lower the charge, the longer it takes for the golf cart to fully recharge, and if a lead-acid battery’s charge gets too low, it can take over 12 hours to get back up to 100% charged. In some cases, if the battery becomes too depleted, a regular recharge won’t work, and the battery will have to be supercharged – a service we provide when necessary. When renting a golf cart from Coral Gables Golf Cart, your golf cart will come with a charging cable. One end plugs into the cart, while the plug can be connected to any standard 110 household outlet. Plug the cart into an outside outlet, an outlet in the garage, or run an extension cord out your door from an outlet inside – all methods are sufficient.
Do golf carts have a warranty?
Our Advanced EV golf carts come with a 2 year warranty, while our Evolution golf carts carry a 2 year warranty on the cart itself and a lifetime warranty on the chassis. Our America EV carts also come with a 1 year warranty. Used golf carts do not have a warranty.
What should I look for when buying a golf cart?
When buying a golf cart, no matter if it’s new or used, you’ll want to check the condition first. Make sure that a new cart’s batteries are also new and that the range is sufficient, and for used carts, keep the age of the (lead-acid) batteries in mind. It’s okay if the batteries are one or two years old, but if they’re older than that, keep in mind that you’ll need to replace them a lot sooner than you would with new or slightly used batteries. If you want a street legal golf cart, the price will increase, and it’ll be much easier to find a new street legal golf cart instead of a used street legal golf cart; used street legal golf carts are very hard to come by. Check for any damages, even on new carts – damage during shipping is rare, but not impossible. Keep the price in mind too – a brand new street legal cart with multiple accessories will have a much higher price than a 10 year old non street legal golf cart. Make sure everything works, especially when buying a used golf cart – just like a car, keep in mind that you may be paying a lower price now, but may have to spend more for future maintenance, whereas a brand new golf cart may be more expensive now, but will last much longer before needing major service.
In the end, it really depends on what you’re using the golf cart for – for transporting heavy materials for construction sites, a used utility cart will be just fine, while you’ll want a new street legal LSV if you plan on driving it daily on the road.
Where else can you use a golf cart?
Most of the golf carts we rent out are used for street use rather than on the golf course, though they can be used on both, and in many more places! A lot of people who come down to Florida on vacation rent a golf cart from us because it’s more affordable than a standard car rental. Golf carts can also be used for event transportation – for example, we provide a lot of rentals for weddings, where a host may need to transport guests around the venue -, utility carts can be used for construction sites to carry loads of heavy building materials, and golf carts are also used for campground and resort transportation.
If you have any other questions, we may be able to provide the golf cart answers you need – use our contact form or call to get in touch with us!