Golf Cart 101: Buying, Rules, Trails and What It Really Costs

There are more than 60,000 golf carts in The Villages, and for most residents the cart is the daily driver. Groceries, the doctor, dinner on the square, church — all by cart, on 100+ miles of dedicated paths with their own tunnels and bridges. If you’re moving here, this is the one piece of equipment you’ll actually use every day.

Gas or electric?

Gas carts go farther (a tank lasts weeks), handle hills better, and are what most long-time residents drive. They’re louder and need oil changes.

Electric carts are quiet, smooth, and cheap to run, and modern lithium batteries have solved most of the old range worries. Range of 30–50 miles on a charge is typical now — plenty for a day around your area, though a long run from Spanish Springs to Eastport and back is a stretch.

Either works. If you’ll be crossing the whole community regularly, gas. If you mostly stay in your area, electric is delightful.

New vs. used

• New: roughly $10,000–$20,000 depending on brand, seats and options. Many local dealers.
• Used: $5,000–$12,000 for a good one. The Villages has a thriving resale market because owners upgrade often. Have a dealer inspect batteries or engine before buying.
• Included with the house: common. Ask. A cart in the garage is a legitimate negotiating point.

Options people actually use: a rain enclosure, a rear-facing seat for grandkids, LED lights, a windshield, and a cover. Skip the fancy sound systems unless that’s your thing.

The rules (Florida law and Villages rules)

• Speed: standard golf carts are limited to under 20 mph. Low-speed vehicles (LSVs) can go up to 25 mph, but must be titled, registered, insured and driven by a licensed driver.
• Who can drive: as of Florida’s 2023 law, anyone under 18 needs a learner’s permit or license, and adults must carry a government ID. Under 14 cannot drive a golf cart on public paths.
• Where you can drive: the multi-modal paths, designated cart lanes, and streets with a posted 25 mph limit or lower. Never on US-441, CR 466, CR 466A or SR 44 — use the tunnels and bridges.
• At night: headlights, tail lights, brake lights and reflectors are required.
• Alcohol: DUI laws apply to golf carts exactly as they do to cars.

Insurance

A standard golf cart is not required to be insured, but almost everyone adds it to their homeowner’s or auto policy for liability and theft — typically $100–$300 per year. LSVs require insurance like a car.

What it costs per year

• Fuel or electricity — $150–$400
• Insurance — $100–$300
• Maintenance (tires, batteries amortized, service) — $200–$600
• Trail fee for golf (if you use your own cart on the courses) — about $145

Figure $600–$1,400 a year to run one, far less than a second car.

How far can you actually go?

Farther than you’d think. The path network runs continuously from Spanish Springs in the north to Eastport and Middleton in the south, with tunnels under the major roads and the famous bridges over CR 466, CR 466A and SR 44. A cart trip from Lake Sumter Landing to Brownwood takes about 25 minutes. Most residents pick a home within a 10–15-minute cart ride of their favorite square and rec center.

Read the golf-cart life page for the path maps, and ask Kevin which neighborhoods have the best path access — it’s one of the questions he hears most.