LSV and NEV Question

[rsetterlund]

Does anyone know if a LSV/NEV has to be registered for the street? They have a turf mode switch. What happens if you only want to use it as a golf cart? I like the construction and safety of these things but do not want to the cost for car insurance.

[golfnut]

if it has the capability of traveling in excess of 19.9 mph it has to be registered and licensed...gn

[zcaveman]

If it is an LSV it has to be registered. Period.

[red tail]

Does anyone know if a LSV/NEV has to be registered for the street? They have a turf mode switch. What happens if you only want to use it as a golf cart? I like the construction and safety of these things but do not want to the cost for car insurance.

the safety features and the superior braking make it worth the ins costs imho

[rsetterlund]

Red Tail,

The insurance cost is one thing, the other thing is to drive a registered vehicle you must have a driver's license. One of the most important features of The Villages is that once we reach an age that we should not drive a car any longer and have to give up our driver's licenses, we will still be able to get to the stores and doctors as we need. So I guess I now have to figure out which is the best electric or gas golf cart to purchase.

[memason]

Red Tail,

The insurance cost is one thing, the other thing is to drive a registered vehicle you must have a driver's license. One of the most important features of The Villages is that once we reach an age that we should not drive a car any longer and have to give up our driver's licenses, we will still be able to get to the stores and doctors as we need. So I guess I now have to figure out which is the best electric or gas golf cart to purchase.

This is a really tough issue in America! On the surface, I believe persons who are unable to drive a car might be questionable driving a cart. Often times, you still need to drive on the public streets in TV. Granted, it's much slower and much of the time on cart paths.

Not being able to drive is a real issue for many seniors. Outside of major metropolitan areas, public transportation is at a premium.

I think there's no good solution today....

[downeaster]

the safety features and the superior braking make it worth the ins costs imho

But, as someone has already stated, it must be registered as a motor vehicle. The cart must meet all of the requirements of a LSV. That can run the overall costs up considerably.

[ajbrown]

Red Tail,

One of the most important features of The Villages is that once we reach an age that we should not drive a car any longer and have to give up our driver's licenses, we will still be able to get to the stores and doctors as we need.

I really do not wish to offend anyone, but I sure got concerned when I read this. What would be an example of a reason that someone would not be allowed to drive a car, but would be safe to drive a golf cart 19.6 MPH on the mutli-modal paths or sharing streets around town?

I understand you do not need a license to drive a golf cart yet (see GA), and I have not thought through the options and consequences, but the statement just got me thinking....

[downeaster]

I really do not wish to offend anyone, but I sure got concerned when I read this. What would be an example of a reason that someone would not be allowed to drive a car, but would be safe to drive a golf cart 19.6 MPH on the mutli-modal paths or sharing streets around town?

I understand you do not need a license to drive a golf cart yet (see GA), and I have not thought through the options and consequences, but the statement just got me thinking....

Not offensive, aj. You make a good point.

[ajbrown]

This is a really tough issue in America! On the surface, I believe persons who are unable to drive a car might be questionable driving a cart. Often times, you still need to drive on the public streets in TV. Granted, it's much slower and much of the time on cart paths.

Not being able to drive is a real issue for many seniors. Outside of major metropolitan areas, public transportation is at a premium.

I think there's no good solution today....

:agree:

This was not here when I started my post on a similar vein. That is what happens when I take 20 minutes to hit submit!

[Hal :-)]

This is a really tough issue in America! On the surface, I believe persons who are unable to drive a car might be questionable driving a cart. Often times, you still need to drive on the public streets in TV. Granted, it's much slower and much of the time on cart paths.

Not being able to drive is a real issue for many seniors. Outside of major metropolitan areas, public transportation is at a premium.

I think there's no good solution today....

There may be a solution in our future. Google claims 140,000 hands-free miles on public highways.
http://goo.gl/eVdp5

[gongoozler]

The rule (law) is if it has a VIN # it must be registered to be on the road. If you have an LSV that has the switch from turf mode (below 19.9) to road mode (up to 25) then you could pull the VIN tag off the cart (very easy to do)and ALWAYS drive in turf mode. No police officer would ever pull you over to check and if you got stopped for something like rolling through a stop sign no officer could ever tell if it had a VIN # . . . the problem might be, "what happen if you have an accident with the insurance?" I do not think it is worth the gamble but that's me and the cost of insurance on an LSV is very very cheap (I have one).

:coolsmiley:

[golfnut]

gong, what do u pay for insurance on your lsv...gn

[gongoozler]

I pay $65.97 for six months of coverage . . . so $132/year . . . it includes: Bodily Injury - $300,000; Property Damage - $25,000; Medical Payment - $5,000 per individual; Uninsured bodily injury - $300,000; Comprehensive loss with $1,000 deductible; and Collision loss with a $50 deductible. I have my insurance through USAA. At one time USAA was reserved for military officers but the company is pretty open now but as a former officer I do receive a special 12% of premiums back so my actual insurance bill for the LSV is $116 when you consider the dividend check I get at the end of the year.

:super:

[rsetterlund]

gongoozler,

Thanks for the information. I will check into the insurance.

I am both concerned and disappointed with the responses from those that feel if you are not okay to drive a car which weights much more than a golf cart and has the ability to do 100 MPH then you should not be driving a golf cart that is limited to 19.5 MPH. Car a permitted to go places where the traffic is very heavy and going quite fast. I do admit and agree that hopefully we all will reach an age where we should not be driving anything more than a walker. With TV being a retirement community I would have hoped that people would be more compassionate for seniors. The days of small communities with all the stores needed to live being within walking distance is gone. It isn't even that way in TV. Unless we start public transportation services that travel every street, how will people get around?

[rsetterlund]

gongoozler,

I just checked the USAA web site, auto and home owner insurance is only available to military or retired military people. They do offer all kinds of other financial products.

[red tail]

I pay $65.97 for six months of coverage . . . so $132/year . . . it includes: Bodily Injury - $300,000; Property Damage - $25,000; Medical Payment - $5,000 per individual; Uninsured bodily injury - $300,000; Comprehensive loss with $1,000 deductible; and Collision loss with a $50 deductible. I have my insurance through USAA. At one time USAA was reserved for military officers but the company is pretty open now but as a former officer I do receive a special 12% of premiums back so my actual insurance bill for the LSV is $116 when you consider the dividend check I get at the end of the year.

:super:

where is your PIP coverage?

[gongoozler]

Florida's minimum coverage is $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) as long as you have a valid Florida license plate.

My PIP is included in my multi-vehicle plan with USAA.

Another "perk" of owning a LSV is that you are also covered by AAA for flat tires and breakdowns!

:024:

[zcaveman]

The rule (law) is if it has a VIN # it must be registered to be on the road. If you have an LSV that has the switch from turf mode (below 19.9) to road mode (up to 25) then you could pull the VIN tag off the cart (very easy to do)and ALWAYS drive in turf mode. No police officer would ever pull you over to check and if you got stopped for something like rolling through a stop sign no officer could ever tell if it had a VIN # . . . the problem might be, "what happen if you have an accident with the insurance?" I do not think it is worth the gamble but that's me and the cost of insurance on an LSV is very very cheap (I have one).

:coolsmiley:

My understanding is that if it is an LSV (and they do look different that golf carts) it must be registered. If a policeman sees an LSV looking vehicle without a license tag they will stop it and ticket it - VIN number or not.

Go to the Golf cart seminar or the poice station and present this tale and see what they say.

[red tail]

My understanding is that if it is an LSV (and they do look different that golf carts) it must be registered. If a policeman sees an LSV looking vehicle without a license tag they will stop it and ticket it - VIN number or not.

Go to the Golf cart seminar or the poice station and present this tale and see what they say.

to be more specific
1. not all lsv's look the same. some do indeed look just like a golf cart.
2. they dont need to be licensed unless they are used on the roads. cart paths and the courses are exempt.

[zcaveman]

to be more specific
1. not all lsv's look the same. some do indeed look just like a golf cart.
2. they dont need to be licensed unless they are used on the roads. cart paths and the courses are exempt.

While I agree I also disagree. Some LSVs look like LSVs. Forget the Par-Car carts.

I don't have one so I don't really care. Just be sure to read and understand the laws.

That is all I am saying.

[ajbrown]

to be more specific
1. not all lsv's look the same. some do indeed look just like a golf cart.
2. they dont need to be licensed unless they are used on the roads. cart paths and the courses are exempt.

I believe item two is incorrect, based on everything I have read. If it has a VIN (likely faster than 20MPH) it must be registered to drive around TV. If I am wrong please let me know, I hate spreading mis-information.

As Z posted, check it out first.......

[EdV]

Technically item 2 is correct, but realistically you can’t get anywhere in TV without traveling on public roads at one point or another.