[morancheryl]

Unfortunately, most local insurers are ignorant on on the topic of golf cart insurance. My husband and I have studied and served the community for 25 years in insurance interpretations. Here are the facts (I AM LICENSED IN FLORIDA TO PRACTICE INSURANCE AND ALSO HOLD A MASTERS IN INSURANCE)

1) If your cart is licensed and registered for the road as a LSV, you must pay for PIP Florida auto insurance. In otherwords, pay the same as a car. The risk is the same as a car and Florida requires no-fault and PIP coverage. Should you get into an accident or pulled over with your LSV, you will be required to show an insurance card sepcifically listing Bodily Injury.

We then checked with all of our LSV owner friends and found that 50% of them had the wrong insurance even though they consulted their agent! Not only could you get fined, you will be assessed for not having insurance and face suspension of your driving licenses and violations. IT IS UGLY!

We called numerous insurers and believe it or not, we originally bought the wrong policy. The agent had no clue despite the challenges that we presented. When we read the insuring agreement, we called the agent and guess what? They gave us a refund and advised us that they could not insure a LSV.

In our experience, there are only two carriers that can handle the golf carts that are LSV. They are Allstate & State Farm. Progessive, Geico, etc. do not write the LSV policy although they have golf cart policies. We went on a major search, and through much work found that we can only do as good as about $400 a year. Your driving record will effect your rates too.

2) If you are not in a registered and licensed golf cart, then the separate $75- $100 policy is ok. DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOUR HOMEOWNERS POLICY AND ENDORSEMENT WILL COVER YOU! As soon as you leave your property, no coverage! Buy a separate policy!

3) Folks who have villas etc and rent them out including a golf cart, look out. This is a gap in all golf cart policies! There is not any coverage available for golf carts that are part of rental agreements. Sensitive subject, but read the insuring agreements. LIABILITY IS UGLY! I recommend to fiends that they have the guests rent a cart from a specialty company rather than take the risk that can lose them their retirement lifestyle. NOT WORTH IT!

LASTLY! BUY AN UMBRELLA POLICY! PROTECT YOUR RETIREMENT FUTURE!