Can you still drive a golf cart in Carolina Beach, NC, and what insurance do you need?
Golf carts are being phased off Carolina Beach streets. Low-speed vehicles are not.
Only if you already hold a permit. Carolina Beach stopped issuing new golf cart permits on July 1, 2023, lets prior-year permit holders renew through 2027, and ends golf cart use on public streets after December 31, 2027.
Low-speed vehicles (LSVs) with a state plate and registration are not part of the phase-out and need no town permit. Both permitted carts and LSVs must carry liability insurance.
Coverage for Carolina Beach carts and LSVs
Liability. Required for permitted golf carts by town code and for LSVs by state law. It pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Forms, limits and exclusions vary by insurance company, and your own policy governs.
Collision and comprehensive. Covers your cart or LSV after a crash, theft, vandalism, fire and many weather events. Island storage under raised houses adds storm exposure.
Medical payments. Pays medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of fault.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist. Protects you when a car driver with no or too little insurance hits you.
Accessories and conversion equipment. Covers lights, mirrors, wipers, seat belts and other equipment, including the upfit if you convert to an LSV.
Guest use. Tell us if guests drive. Personal policies often exclude rental use.
What it usually does not cover
- A golf cart driven on Carolina Beach streets without a current town permit.
- Golf cart street use after December 31, 2027, when the town code no longer allows it.
- Renting a cart or LSV to guests on a personal policy.
- Most homeowners policies once the vehicle is on a public street.
- Wear, tear and battery failure.
Forms, endorsements and availability vary by insurance company. Your own policy governs.
Who needs it in Carolina Beach
- Owners who held a permit the previous year and are renewing through 2027.
- Owners of registered LSVs, including carts converted to LSVs.
- Vacation rental owners who provide an LSV for guests.
- Owners planning to convert a cart before the 2027 sunset.
Carolina Beach rules and local facts
Golf cart sunset. From July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2027, only owners who held a permit the previous calendar year may renew, and no new applicants are accepted. After December 31, 2027 the golf cart sections are struck and carts may no longer be driven on public streets in town (Sec. 16-79).
Permit fee and where to renew. An annual golf cart permit is $100 and expires December 31. Permits are sold online, at Town Hall or at the parking office at 1708 Canal Drive (Town of Carolina Beach). The permit sticker goes on the left, driver's front of the cart (Sec. 16-77).
Rules for permitted golf carts. Roads posted 35 mph or less only, except to cross. Liability insurance is required, the driver must be at least 16 with a valid license, and drivers must stay far right and yield to overtaking traffic (Sec. 16-75).
Required equipment and seat belts. Headlights, a rearview mirror, side mirrors on both sides, reflex reflectors, a windshield and wipers, tail lights and turn signals, installed to NCDOT specifications before registration. Seat belts are required for every seated person, and a child under 8 and under 80 pounds must ride in a weight-appropriate restraint in a forward-facing seat (Sec. 16-75).
LSVs are not phased out. The town defines an LSV as a four-wheeled vehicle with a top speed above 20 and below 25 mph (Sec. 16-74). LSVs use roads posted 35 mph or less and must be state registered and insured (Sec. 16-76). They carry a state plate and need no town permit (Town of Carolina Beach).
LSV parking pass. Residents and visitors may buy an annual LSV parking pass for $100. Without one, an LSV pays the hourly or daily rate in regular or golf cart spaces (Town of Carolina Beach).
Penalties. Golf cart violations carry a civil penalty set in the town's annual fee schedule, and each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense (Sec. 16-78).
What drives the cost in Carolina Beach
These are the factors insurance companies weigh for Carolina Beach carts and LSVs:
- Permitted golf cart or registered LSV
- Value of the vehicle and any conversion equipment
- Drivers in the household and their records
- Guest or vacation rental use
- Storage on the island and storm exposure
- Liability limits and deductibles
- Claims history
We do not publish average prices. A licensed advisor quotes your actual situation across more than 100 insurance companies.
Common Questions
Can you drive golf carts in Carolina Beach, NC?
Only if you held a town permit the previous year and renew it, and only through December 31, 2027. Registered LSVs may still be driven on roads posted 35 mph or less.
Is Carolina Beach getting rid of golf carts?
Yes, on public streets. The town stopped new permits on July 1, 2023, and golf carts will no longer be allowed on town streets after December 31, 2027.
Can I get a new golf cart permit in Carolina Beach?
No. Only owners who held a permit in the previous calendar year may renew.
How much is a golf cart permit in Carolina Beach?
The town lists $100 per year, expiring December 31. You can buy it online, at Town Hall or at the parking office on Canal Drive.
Do LSVs need a permit in Carolina Beach?
No. An LSV has a state plate and registration and does not need a town permit. An optional annual LSV parking pass covers parking.
Do you need insurance on a golf cart in Carolina Beach?
Yes. The town requires liability insurance on permitted golf carts, and LSVs must be insured under state law.
What equipment does a golf cart need in Carolina Beach?
Headlights, a rearview mirror, side mirrors, reflectors, a windshield and wipers, tail lights, turn signals and seat belts, installed to NCDOT specifications. Young children need a weight-appropriate restraint.
Where can I park a golf cart or LSV in Carolina Beach?
LSVs with the annual parking pass may park in covered spaces, and those without one pay the hourly or daily rate. Check posted signs for golf cart spaces.
Should I convert my golf cart to an LSV before 2028?
If you want to keep driving on Carolina Beach streets after 2027, an LSV registration is the path the town code leaves open. Tell us before you convert so the policy changes with the registration.
The Bottom Line
- Renew your golf cart permit every year through 2027, or it cannot be renewed again.
- Tell us before you convert to an LSV so coverage follows the registration.
- Keep proof of liability insurance current for the permit or registration.
- Use a proper child restraint for young passengers.
- Tell us if guests or renters drive the cart or LSV.
- Plan for December 31, 2027, when golf cart street use ends.
Forms, endorsements and availability vary by insurance company. Your own policy governs.
Sizemore Insurance is an independent insurance company founded in North Carolina in 1977. Tell us what you need to protect, and a licensed advisor will compare more than 100 insurance companies to find the coverage that fits. Insurance made just for you.
Sources: Carolina Beach Code Sec. 16-74, definitions; Carolina Beach Code Sec. 16-75, rules for golf carts; Carolina Beach Code Sec. 16-76, rules for low-speed vehicles; Carolina Beach Code Sec. 16-77, permit required; Carolina Beach Code Sec. 16-78, penalty; Carolina Beach Code Sec. 16-79, sunset for golf carts on streets; Town of Carolina Beach, golf cart and LSV permits.
Forms, exclusions, endorsements, and availability vary by insurance company. This page is general information, not a policy or legal advice. Review your own policy or talk to your advisor.