If your golf cart exceeds 19 miles per hour, you lose
 

your insurance coverage. If you have an unregistered non street legal cart that goes 23 miles per hour, or if you have souped it up to go 30, your insurance company will stick its nose up in the air if you file a claim.

Let's hope the claim isn't a million dollars.

Check it out with your agent.

I heard this story when I attended a Villages golf cart safety clinic. The Allstate agent who was there got up and said it.

I spent over 33 years in the auto claims field. I have participated in writing auto policy language for a major carier. There is no such exclusionary language in any policy that I am aware of. I know for a fact it's not in my policy.

I wanted to talk to the agent after the meeting but there were so many people lined up with questions I didn't bother.

Without writing a never ending diatribe that most readers won't understand, ask the agent or person who makes such claims regarding modified golf carts to point out and qoute the specific policy language that voids coverage if the vehicle is modified. While the vehicle would most likely be rated improperly, resulting in less premium than what should be charged, it's not going to void the policy.

Don't just don't take "it's not covered" as an explanation, ask for the specific policy language which is the basis for such a statement. I'll bet there isn't any.

Once you acceed 19 miles per hour, it's no longer a golf cart. My information comes from an attorney who specializes in golf cart claims

Please cite the relevant statutes regarding this claim?

I'm just trying to understand if I'm covered or not. I heard the same claim from the Allstate lady.

So even if my golf cart can go faster, but I opt to keep it under 19 MPH, are you saying that I'm covered? How would they know how fast I was going? The speedometer in my car goes to 140 MPH, but I don't often drive at that speed!

We were told something similar by a golf cart sales person (hence it may not be reliable). He said that if you are caught going more than 19.5 mph in a "golf cart", that you will lose your golf cart status and be treated by the law as if you were traveling in an LSV. Hence, your ticket will not be just for speeding but also driving an unregistered vehicle with no license plate. Seems a bit harsh, but I would like to know if this is true or not.

Check with your agent. That's the best source of information. What I say is irrelevant. Or you may just ignore the issue.

The following link provides information on Florida Laws for LSVs and Golf Carts.

www.starelectriccars.com/Florida%20Law.htm

Hope this helps clear up the confusion.

Here is what appears to be a relevant definition from Florida stautes:
Hence, it would appear to be within the letter of the law to declare your "golf cart" that goes more than 20 mph a "Low speed Vehicle" by virtue of the fact that its top speed is greater than 20 mph. Therefore, it may be plausible for being ticked for lack of registration/licesing/insurance if your "golf cart" is caught going more than 20 mph.

Maybe a technical minuae but .........
 

This may be very unimportant. but the previous post cited that a golf cart is , " .... any motorized vehicle....." I have no motor, just batteries. Does it still apply?

You have a battery powered electric motor.........

I'm neither a lawyer or an insurance man, but just for discussion, maybe an electric motor qualifies as motorized.

This isn't about statutes, it's about an insurance policy. It's important to recognize they are two entirely different things.

My golf cart is insured on a "recreational vehicle" policy. The policy defines a "recreational vehicle" as a "motorized all terrain vehicle, amphibious vehicle, dune buggy, golfmobile, snowmobile or trail or minibike". It's a modified auto policy designed to insure the vehicles mentioned. The described vehicle on the policy is a 2006 Yamaha golf cart.

So the golf cart meets the definition of a rec vehicle for coverage purposes. There is no language in the policy stating "this coverage does not apply if the described vehilce has been modified to exceed the speed of some, or most or a few golf carts or if it needs to be licensed. There is no policy exclusion, endorsement or definiton that strips coverage for a golf cart that goes 20.1 MPH.

In addition, if you golf cart goes 19mph it's already been modified to go faster than the factory set speed which is 12-14mph. So according to this "theory" it's already in violation of the non existent policy language.

Have your attorney friend who "specializes" in golf cart claims recite the policy language. It's clear he doesn't specialize in insurance coverage issues.

The statements that you will be ticketed for not registering an LSV are true. However, this isn't about violations of the motor vehicle code or statutes, we are discussing coverage on an insurance policy.

What's next, the med pay section of the policy contains "death panel" language?

320.01 Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:

(42) "Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including neighborhood electric vehicles. Low-speed vehicles must comply with the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. s. 571.500 and s. 316.2122.

If your Golf Cart is capable of going more than 20 miles per hour it is classified as a LSV.


(2) A low-speed vehicle must be equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and vehicle identification numbers.

(3) A low-speed vehicle must be registered and insured in accordance with s. 320.02.

(4) Any person operating a low-speed vehicle must have in his or her possession a valid driver's license.

The two issues are intertwined in that if you are going above speeds allowed by a golf cart, your insurer may invalidate your policy (and I say "may" in the sense that I see it as a possibility that they could do such a thing) .

The other issue is how the state views it. It is quite clear that any vehicle capable of going above 20 mph may no longer be classified as a golf cart and must therefore comply with LSV regulations, including insurance requirements.

Well, at least a few of you know where to look for the statutes and are not just spouting off what someone else told you.

I give up.

As far as the statutes goes, it's an LSV and needs to be licensed. It doesn't change the fact it's a golf cart that goes a little faster. The two issues are not "intertwined".

Somebody please qoute the clear policy language that invalidates insurance coverage if the golf cart is modified. The statutes don't invalidate the insurance contract, the policy language does. At the end of the day, from the insurance perspective, it's still a 2006 Yamaha golf cart. What it's called in a specific state statute doesn't change the policy definition.

The insurance company I worked for would not invalidate the policy because the golf cart was modified. But how would I know? Well simply, I would be the guy who would invalidate it. That's what I did for a living for 33 years. But then again, State Farm is a small company.

I really don't know how to make this any clearer. If it's not excluded in the policy, it's covered. Just like "show me the money" in the movie, show me the policy language.

Readers of this forum would rather tell you what they were told by so and so and what they believe, instead of getting the facts.

it's simple. If you have a cart that exceeds 19 miles per hour, call your agent and ask. Tell them the truth and see what they say. Otherwise, you can find out when you have a huge claim filed against you. If you have not altered your cart, this is not an issue that you need to be concerned about.

Not really sure why anyone would want to make an issue of this. If you read your policy I think it states off road vehicle. A vehicle that by law is a motorized vehicle is not an off road vehicle and must comply with Florida law when it comes to insurance.

Why not just follow the law? If you want a vehicle that goes fast, buy a LSV and buy the required insurance. If you want a golf cart, then buy a golf cart that by Florida law is a golf cart.

Good Point, if everyone followed the law we wouldn't be worried about speed traps or whether we are covered or not after we make our golf cart into a street rod. I prefer to see everyone following the rules. Good luck with that in TV though.:undecided:

Amen!

Wow - my cart goes 18mph on the flats. Down hill I gain speed. Now what happens ? I get a ticket for speeding = common sense. Do I also get a ticket for non registered LSV ? Is my insurance revoked ? Have you ever known a lawyer that wouldn't argue the interpetation of a law ? Oh yea I forgot, that's what they do for a living. AMEN AGAIN.

I agree-- thank you

Almost everything I have ever learned, I have learned from someone else. When I got this information from a lawyer who specializes in golf cart cases, I kinda thought it was accurate. But then I went to someone else, who I consider an expert.

My wife spent 35 years in the insurance business. I asked her opinion and when it corresponded with that of the attorney, I stopped there.

I didn't feel the need to go checking elsewhere.

Again, the best thing to do is call your agent and say, "I have altered the safety equipment on my golf cart. Instead of the factory set 19 miles an hour, I have put a high speed motor and high speed rear end in it. It now goes almost 50% faster than when you insured it. Am I covered if I happen to run into a bus?"

They will tell you if you are protected.

I hope somebody will let us know what their agent says.

We were not asked how fast our carts go by our insurance agent.- I doubt mine goes 19 mph, but my husband's does go faster. I would think this would fall under errors and omissions coverage for the agency if the insurance company denied it and had required that information.

320.01 Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:

(42) "Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including neighborhood electric vehicles. Low-speed vehicles must comply with the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. s. 571.500 and s. 316.2122.

If your Golf Cart is capable of going more than 20 miles per hour it is classified as a LSV. It is no longer considered a Golf Cart so you would need insurance that is required for an LSV.

I really don't know why this is so hard for people to understand.

bimmertl,
As a former Claims Rep for Aetna C & S, I endorse your position...More folks need to read the policy before passing on what may, or may not be covered.:bowdown:

IMHO, this topic has been raised so many times in the past I've lost count, this post only serves to add to the total number of posts on this site, why is left to your own interpretation...GN

Is there some illness associated with adding to the total number of posts on this site? It exits for the purpose of conversation. That is normal human behavior.

Why won't anybody call their insurance agent and ask? It's better to be safe than sorry.

If you purchase insurance on a golf cart that you know is illegal when you insure it as a golf cart, why would the insurance agent be at fault? You misrepresented the facts at the time of purchase.

I still am at a loss for words as to why anyone would want to modify a golf cart to go over the LEGAL speed limit and BREAK THE LAW. If you want speed, buy a LSV and purchase the required STATE OF FLORIDA insurance.

The Florida statute that is referenced here cites an LSV as an electric vehicle capable of a top speed of between 20 and 25. It seems to me that a gas powered vehicle capable of greater than 20 mph qualifies as neither a golf cart nor an LSV, under that definition.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...lies/faint.gif

Interesting
 

Gator Fan - who would know - you move here and go to a dealer and purchase a new golf cart, call your agent with all the info - in our case we went into the agency. We just bought the policy they told us we needed. We were never asked about speed, did not modify anything. In fact, we did not know how fast it went until we had it out. That doesn't mean it is driven like that around TV. I think you are out of line in saying someone deliberately deceives someone else without knowing them or the facts. There was a job to be done by the agent who handles most of these for the Villages and they failed to tell us or advise us.

I had a friend who also lives in the Villages, He had an accident with his golf cart, No one checked to see if his cart exceeded the speed limit, Never asked him anything about how fast his cart went, They just paid the claim. So I don't know how they would know if it was soup ed up or not, I'm curious if anyone else knows of an insurance company asking after an accident or checking the cart out. Not that I condone speeding but we hear a lot about this and I am curious how the insurance company's deal with it.

A while ago, someone posted a comment in TOTV about how the Sheriff’s officers have been trained to recognize souped up components (motors, controllers etc.) that have been installed on a golf cart. So if you were involved in an accident that the sheriff’s office writes up, they could site you for driving an unregistered vehicle as part of the report even if you had not actually exceeded 20mph. That would likely be spotted by your agent as part of the claim settlement.

So just because a golf cart is souped up that means the driver is in an unregistered vehicle? Suppose I soup mine up so I can climb every hill at 19 mph? I never exceed that speed, it can't go any faster, I just like to be able to go that fast up hills and have souped it up to do so. The deputy looks at it and sees it is souped up and I get a ticket? I don't think so - he would have to actually observe me going over 20 mph or prove the cart is "capable" of going over 20 mph.

Souped Up
 

The police chief who conducted the first golf clinic we attended right after we came here in 2004 said, "If you are involved in an accident with your golf cart, the first thing we will do is check to see if you have tampered with the governor or have it "souped up". If we find that you have, YOU'RE MINE!" Those were his exact words, emphasis and all, and I have never forgotten it.

A sheriff's officer said that an individual will be charged with "altering factory safety equipment."