Street Legal Golf Carts in Illinois

Are golf carts street legal in Illinois?

Street-legal (LSV) status

Recognized

Allowed on roads up to

30 mph

Driver's license

Required

Registration

Required

Insurance

Required

Illinois recognizes Low-Speed Vehicles (four-wheeled vehicles with a top speed greater than 20 but not more than 25 mph meeting federal safety standards); under 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.2 an LSV may be operated on any street with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less (a municipality may authorize streets posted up to 35 mph), and the owner must secure a certificate of title, display valid registration, carry the mandatory insurance required under the Vehicle Code, and the operator must hold a valid driver's license. Traditional golf carts are classified as non-highway vehicles that are not state-titled or registered and may be driven on public roads only where a unit of local government has authorized them by ordinance. The statute requires a valid driver's license but does not set a specific minimum driver age; verify current requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State.

This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice — golf-cart and LSV rules change and vary by city and county. Confirm the current requirements with the Illinois DMV before you buy or drive. What makes a golf cart street legal.

Sources: 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.2 - Operation of low-speed vehicles on streets (Illinois General Assembly)· Illinois Low-Speed Vehicles (U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center) · Reviewed August 2026