Are Golf Carts Street Legal in Tennessee? LSV Rules Explained

7 min read

A traditional golf cart is not street legal in Tennessee. State law defines a golf cart as a vehicle built for use on a golf course that can’t go faster than 20 mph, and the Tennessee Department of Revenue says these carts may not be titled and registered for on-road use. A cart can be street legal only if it qualifies as a low speed vehicle (LSV) or a medium speed vehicle: it has to meet the speed range set by state law and carry the safety equipment required by the federal low-speed vehicle standard, and it has to be titled and registered through your county clerk. This guide covers each category, the equipment list, where these vehicles can be driven and how registration works, using official government sources.

Three categories under Tennessee law

Tennessee law treats golf carts and street-legal carts as different kinds of vehicles. The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s title and registration notices on low speed vehicles and medium speed vehicles quote the definitions:

  • Golf cart (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-1-123): a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes that is not capable of exceeding 20 mph.
  • Low speed vehicle (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-1-122): a four-wheeled electric or gasoline vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than 20 mph but not greater than 25 mph, including neighborhood electric vehicles.
  • Medium speed vehicle: a four-wheeled electric or gasoline-powered vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than 30 mph but not greater than 35 mph.

Both low and medium speed vehicles must also comply with the federal standard for low-speed vehicles, 49 CFR 571.500. The categories are defined by top speed, not by styling.

Is a regular golf cart street legal in Tennessee?

No. The Department of Revenue states that traditional golf carts may not be titled and registered for on-road use unless they are modified to meet all of the low or medium speed vehicle requirements in Tennessee law and the federal safety standards. The Kingsport Police Department’s guidance on golf carts puts it plainly: a vehicle that meets the traditional golf cart definition “IS NOT street legal.”

The flip side is also in the Revenue notices. A cart that is designed and manufactured for on-road use, or that has been modified to meet every low or medium speed vehicle requirement, no longer meets the legal definition of a traditional golf cart. That vehicle may be registered as a low or medium speed vehicle if all of the requirements are met.

Equipment a street-legal cart needs

Tennessee’s notices and affidavit forms point to the federal low-speed vehicle standard, 49 CFR 571.500. The state’s Low or Medium Speed Affidavit (RV-F16031) lists these required items:

  • Headlamps
  • Stop lamps
  • Front and rear turn signal lamps
  • Tail lamps
  • Reflex reflectors: one red on each side near the rear and one on the rear
  • A parking brake
  • One exterior mirror on the driver’s side, plus a second mirror on the passenger side or inside the vehicle
  • A windshield that meets the federal glazing standard (49 CFR 571.205)
  • Type 1 or Type 2 seat belts at each seating position
  • A vehicle identification number (VIN) that conforms to 49 CFR 565

The current text of the federal standard on eCFR also lists rear visibility meeting paragraph S6.2 of FMVSS 111 and an alert sound meeting 49 CFR 571.141. If you are comparing a cart against the rules, read the current federal text alongside the state forms.

Kingsport’s guidance adds the items needed to actually use the vehicle on the road: it must be registered with a license plate displayed, insured with proof of insurance available, and driven by someone with a valid Class D driver license in their possession.

Where LSVs and medium speed vehicles can be driven

Speed limits decide which roads are open to these vehicles. According to the Department of Revenue notices:

  • Low speed vehicles can only be operated on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 mph or less. They may cross streets with a higher limit.
  • Medium speed vehicles can only be operated on streets where the posted speed limit is 40 mph or less. They may cross streets with a higher limit.

The state’s Low-Speed Vehicle Affidavit adds that Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-191 allows a low speed vehicle to be operated at no more than 25 mph on those streets. Kingsport’s guidance says these vehicles may cross higher-speed streets only at intersections, and that drivers must obey all traffic laws and rules of the road.

Local rules matter too. The Revenue notices say that, in the interest of safety, local county governments or the Tennessee Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of low and medium speed vehicles on any road in their jurisdiction. Before you plan a route, check with your county and city.

How to title and register a low or medium speed vehicle

Registration goes through your local county clerk’s office. The Revenue notices describe two paths:

Vehicles built for on-road use

For a vehicle designed and manufactured for on-road use, applicants should give the county clerk a copy of the vehicle’s manufacturer’s statement of origin (MSO) as proof that it meets the statutory requirements and safety standards, along with the usual documents required for vehicle registration. If the MSO does not show that the vehicle is a low or medium speed vehicle, an affidavit form must be submitted with the registration application.

Golf carts modified to meet the requirements

Anyone who modifies a traditional golf cart to meet low or medium speed vehicle requirements must submit an affidavit certifying that the vehicle has been sufficiently modified. The affidavit is a condition of registration. The current Low or Medium Speed Affidavit asks the owner to check the vehicle category, confirm each required equipment item, and sign under penalties of perjury that the vehicle meets the federal safety standards in 49 CFR 571. The completed form goes back to the county clerk to finish the title and registration process.

Other rules that apply on the road

  • Driver license: operators of low and medium speed vehicles must have a Class D driver license in their possession when driving them on Tennessee roads, according to the Revenue notices.
  • DUI laws: Kingsport’s guidance and the City of Pigeon Forge FAQ both state that Tennessee DUI laws apply to any motor vehicle, including traditional golf carts and low and medium speed vehicles.
  • Passenger restraints: the Pigeon Forge FAQ states that all passenger restraint laws, including child restraint laws, apply to golf carts.
  • Sidewalks: both Kingsport and Pigeon Forge prohibit operating golf carts and low and medium speed vehicles on sidewalks under their city ordinances. Sidewalk rules are local, so check your own city’s ordinance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive my golf cart on the street in Tennessee?

Not if it is a traditional golf cart. Tennessee does not allow traditional golf carts to be titled and registered for on-road use. A vehicle has to qualify as a low or medium speed vehicle, meet the federal equipment standard, and be titled and registered.

Can a low speed vehicle drive on a road with a 45 mph speed limit?

No. A low speed vehicle can only be operated on streets posted at 35 mph or less, and a medium speed vehicle on streets posted at 40 mph or less. Both may cross faster streets, and Kingsport’s guidance says that crossing should happen only at intersections.

Do I need a driver’s license to drive an LSV in Tennessee?

Yes. The Department of Revenue says operators must have a Class D driver license in their possession when driving a low or medium speed vehicle on Tennessee roads.

Can I make my golf cart street legal?

A traditional golf cart can be registered as a low or medium speed vehicle only if it is modified to meet all of the state requirements and federal safety standards, including the speed range. The owner must submit a signed affidavit with the registration application at the county clerk’s office.

Shopping for a cart with the road in mind

If on-road use matters to you, start with the vehicle’s paperwork, since the county clerk asks for the manufacturer’s statement of origin. You can browse the Honor LSV listings or see all golf carts for sale at Sports Center Golf Cars, and check each listing’s details for the specific vehicle. For questions about a particular cart, use the Get My Quote button on its listing or call either location listed on our Locations page.

Sources (checked October 2026): Tennessee Department of Revenue notices 08-20 and 08-21 and forms RV-F16031 and RV-F1314301, 49 CFR 571.500, and City of Kingsport and City of Pigeon Forge guidance. The Revenue notices say laws can change. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm current rules with your county clerk and local government.