Golf cart insurance coverage and safety tips

Golf carts have become a popular mode of transportation within gated communities, tourist destinations, and campgrounds. They often share the roads with automobiles or use a combination of roads and special cart paths. 

Depending on how you use your golf cart and the state you live in, you may be required to have liability coverage. Never assume that your existing insurance policy will provide coverage. It’s always best to talk to your independent insurance agent. Insurance coverage will vary by company. For example, coverage could be found under an auto, motorcycle, or homeowners insurance policy. 

Insurance Coverages

• Bodily Injury Liability coverage pays for the medical costs of others who are injured by you.
• Property Damage Liability coverage pays for damages you caused to another person’s vehicle or property.
• Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with an object. Examples include hitting a telephone pole, mailbox, or guardrail. It also covers vehicle overturn.
• Comprehensive coverage is an optional coverage that protects your vehicle from non-collision events. Perils covered include theft, vandalism, fire, weather, accidents with animals, and other acts of nature.

Safety Tips 

1. Get to know your vehicle. When purchasing a golf cart from a dealer, be sure to ask questions. Once you have it home, refer to your owner’s manual for additional information. Lastly, take it slow on your first ride.

2. Pay attention to the weather. If you hear a rumble of thunder, it’s time to go indoors. Not only can lightning travel for miles, high wind, hail, and torrential downpours can also be dangerous, especially when riding on a golf cart. 

3. Be mindful of your passengers. All vehicles limit the number of passengers for safety. Golf carts are no different. If your cart has seat belts, encourage their use. Avoid sudden movements such as accelerating, braking, or turning. An unexpecting passenger can easily be thrown off your cart. 

4. Pay attention to the terrain. Rough terrain could cause you to lose control of your cart. Loss of control could lead to striking an object or overturning. In addition, rough terrain can lead to neck and back injuries.

5. Watch your speed. No matter what vehicle you’re driving, excessive speed can be dangerous. It affects your ability to steer, brake, and navigate curves. Aggressive acceleration, braking, and turning causes weight transfer which affects overall handling. And while it may seem fun to race down a hill, don’t give in to the temptation.

6. Avoid distracted driving. We all know that distracted driving is dangerous. Yet we tell ourselves that it’s ok to look away from the road for a quick second. That quick second could cause you to swerve overturning your golf cart. 

7. Yield to pedestrians. No matter what type of vehicle you’re driving, always yield to pedestrians. Being courteous goes a long way. Plus, it’s likely they have the right of way.

8. Obey traffic laws. If you’re driving on a street, golf carts are subject to the same traffic laws as other passenger cars.

9. Don’t forget the sunscreen. Use an SPF of 30 or higher and apply it to exposed skin. Reapply every few hours. You CAN get sunburn in warm climates no matter what season it is.