Can you drive a golf cart in Oak Island, NC, and what insurance do you need?
Oak Island treats a plain golf cart very differently from a street-legal LSV. Here is what the town code says and what to insure.
A standard golf cart cannot be driven on Oak Island's public streets unless it is registered as a low-speed vehicle (LSV) or the driver has a mobility impairment and a town permit. A registered LSV needs no town permit but must carry North Carolina auto liability insurance.
Town-permitted mobility carts must also carry liability insurance at state auto levels for as long as the permit runs. If you bring a cart for a vacation or leave one at a rental, insure it for the way it will actually be used.
Coverage for Oak Island carts and LSVs
Liability. Required for both LSVs and town-permitted mobility carts, at no less than the state auto minimum. Higher limits protect you if a passenger or pedestrian is badly hurt. Forms, limits and exclusions vary by insurance company, and your own policy governs.
Collision and comprehensive. Covers damage to your cart from a crash, theft, vandalism, fire and many weather events. Carts stored under raised beach houses are exposed to both theft and storms.
Medical payments. Pays your passengers' medical bills after an accident, regardless of fault.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist. Protects you when the other driver has no insurance or too little.
Accessories. Covers the caution triangle, reflectors, seat belts, windshield and other equipment you add to meet town or state rules, plus upgrades.
Guest use. Tell us if family or vacation guests drive. Rental use often needs a different policy.
What it usually does not cover
- A plain golf cart driven on public streets without an LSV registration or a town mobility permit.
- Most homeowners policies once the cart leaves your property.
- Renting a cart or LSV to guests for a fee on a personal policy.
- Wear, tear and battery failure.
- Town civil penalties and permit revocations.
Forms, endorsements and availability vary by insurance company. Your own policy governs.
Who needs it in Oak Island
- Residents and second-home owners with a registered LSV.
- Residents or visitors with a mobility impairment who hold a town golf cart permit.
- Vacation rental owners who provide an LSV or mobility cart; the town allows a vacation rental address for registration.
- Golf course and private community residents who drive carts off the street.
- Cart sales and rental businesses (commercial coverage).
Oak Island rules and local facts
Plain golf carts are not allowed on public streets. The town states that unregistered, non-street-legal golf carts may not operate on public streets in Oak Island. LSVs registered with the state need no town permit (Oak Island Police). Under the town code, a golf cart not registered as an LSV may only be operated by a person with a mobility impairment (Sec. 28-38(a)).
Mobility cart permit and insurance. A mobility cart needs a town permit before it goes on a public road. The owner must provide physician certification or a valid disability placard, proof of ownership, liability insurance and a signed waiver, and keep copies in the cart. The cart must be registered to an Oak Island address, and a vacation rental address is allowed (Sec. 28-39). Liability must be at least the state minimum for motor vehicles and stay in force for the whole registration (Sec. 28-38(a)(3), Sec. 28-37).
Where and when mobility carts may drive. Not on Oak Island Drive, Beach Drive or Ocean Drive, and not on any road posted above 35 mph except to cross. Daylight only, from half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before sunset, never above 20 mph, and never on sidewalks, multi-use paths or bike paths. Drivers must be at least 16 and licensed (Sec. 28-38).
Required equipment for mobility carts. A reflective rear caution triangle at least 12 inches per side carrying the permit sticker, a rear view mirror, a reflector on each side, a parking brake, seat belts for every seat, a windshield, and no more than three rows of seats (Sec. 28-38(a)(11), Sec. 28-39(d)).
Beach strand. Only electric mobility carts may use the strand, only on marked segments, and only from dawn to dusk (Sec. 28-38(a)(19)). LSVs, ATVs and UTVs may not be used on the beach as mobility devices (Sec. 28-6).
LSV rules in town. LSV drivers must be licensed, impaired driving laws apply, seat belt and child seat laws apply, and an LSV may not tow a trailer or wagon unless it is also registered. The police department cannot help convert a cart to an LSV (Oak Island Police).
Penalties and permit revocation. Violations carry a civil penalty from the town fee schedule. The town can revoke a permit if an underage driver is allowed to drive or if safety equipment is removed (Sec. 28-40).
Cart sales and rental businesses. Golf cart and LSV sales and rental lots may not store vehicles on the public right-of-way, must screen storage with an opaque fence, and must do repairs inside an enclosed building (UDO Sec. 7.55).
What drives the cost in Oak Island
These are the factors insurance companies weigh for Oak Island carts and LSVs:
- LSV with a state registration, or a mobility-permitted golf cart
- Value of the vehicle and added equipment
- Drivers in the household and their records
- Guest or rental use
- Storage: garage, carport or open space under a raised house
- 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 a golf cart on the road in Oak Island, NC?
Not a plain golf cart, unless the driver has a mobility impairment and a town permit. A golf cart registered as a low-speed vehicle with a state plate may use streets posted 35 mph or less.
Can I bring my own golf cart to Oak Island?
You can drive it on private property, but not on public streets unless it is a registered LSV or you qualify for the town's mobility permit. A mobility permit can be registered to a vacation rental address.
Do you need insurance on a golf cart in Oak Island?
Yes for street use. LSVs need state auto liability insurance, and mobility carts need liability at least equal to the state auto minimum for the whole permit period.
Do LSVs need a permit in Oak Island?
No. LSVs registered with the state do not need a town permit, but they must follow state LSV rules and carry insurance.
Can golf carts drive on Oak Island Drive?
Mobility-permitted golf carts may not drive on Oak Island Drive, Beach Drive or Ocean Drive. LSVs may use roads posted 35 mph or less, and the town advises avoiding long trips on Oak Island Drive.
Can you drive a golf cart on the beach in Oak Island?
Only an electric mobility cart with a town permit, on marked beach segments, from dawn to dusk. LSVs, ATVs and UTVs may not be used on the beach as mobility devices.
How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Oak Island?
At least 16 with a valid driver's license for a mobility cart on public roads. LSV drivers must also be licensed.
Can golf carts drive at night in Oak Island?
Mobility-permitted carts may only drive from half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before sunset. LSVs have headlamps and are not limited to daylight by the town.
Does my rental guest's golf cart need insurance in Oak Island?
Yes if it goes on the street. Tell us if you provide a cart or LSV to guests, because personal policies often exclude rental use.
The Bottom Line
- Tell us whether your vehicle is a registered LSV or a mobility-permitted golf cart.
- Tell us before guests or renters drive it.
- Keep proof of insurance and the permit paperwork in the cart.
- Keep the triangle, reflectors, belts and windshield in place so the permit stays valid.
- Carry more than the minimum liability if passengers or kids ride often.
- Tell us if you store the cart under a raised house during hurricane season.
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: Oak Island Police Department, low-speed vehicles; Oak Island Code Sec. 28-37, golf cart definitions; Oak Island Code Sec. 28-38, golf cart qualifications and rules; Oak Island Code Sec. 28-39, golf cart registration and permit; Oak Island Code Sec. 28-40, enforcement; Oak Island Code Sec. 28-6, mobility devices on the beach; Oak Island UDO Sec. 7.55, golf cart and LSV sales and rentals.
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.