Many parents wonder if a 13-year-old can safely and legally drive a golf cart in their neighborhood, but age limits and safety concerns make the answer more complex.
In most places, a 13-year-old generally cannot legally drive a golf cart on neighborhood streets. When a cart is used on public roads or in areas open to traffic, it is often treated more like a motor vehicle than a toy. That means local and state laws usually require a minimum age (commonly 16) and, in many cases, a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit.
While some private communities or golf resorts may create their own rules that allow younger teens to operate carts under supervision, those exceptions do not change the laws on public roads. A 13-year-old driving through typical neighborhoods is usually both unsafe and against the rules.
Many states and local governments require a licensed or permitted driver to operate a cart on roads. Because the minimum age for a license or permit is often 15 or 16, a 13-year-old is simply too young to qualify. Even in areas with specific rules just for carts, age limits are still common, and they almost always exclude younger teens.
At 13, most kids are still developing the judgment and awareness needed to share space with cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. A golf cart may feel slow and simple, but it can still tip, skid, or collide with other vehicles. Carts also lack many of the safety features found in cars, such as airbags and reinforced doors, which increases the risk of injury if an accident occurs.
If an unlicensed minor drives a cart and causes an accident, the parents or guardians can often be held responsible. They may face:
As carts become more common in neighborhoods and planned communities, many areas have stepped up enforcement. Police and community security are more likely to stop underage drivers and issue tickets or warnings to the owners who allowed them behind the wheel.
Some private properties, such as farms, large rural lots, or private club grounds, may allow younger teens to drive a cart under close supervision. In these cases, the cart is being used off-road and not in traffic, which lowers—but does not eliminate—risk. Even then, the adult in charge is responsible for safety and any injuries or damage that might occur.
Certain gated communities or resorts publish their own usage rules for carts. A few may allow supervised teen drivers on internal roads that are not treated like public streets. However, once the cart leaves those areas and enters public roads, state and local laws apply again, including age and license requirements.
In some jurisdictions, a teen with a learner’s permit may be allowed to drive a cart if a fully licensed adult is seated beside them. These rules vary widely, so it’s essential to check local regulations rather than assuming that car permit rules automatically apply to carts.
There is no single nationwide age, but a common pattern looks like this:
The safest approach is to check:
Until you confirm that a younger teen is allowed to drive, assume the answer is “no” for public neighborhood roads.
Riding as a passenger is different from driving, but safety still matters. There is usually no strict universal law setting a single minimum age to ride in a golf cart, yet many communities and courses follow common-sense guidelines:
Some golf courses and private communities publish their own passenger age recommendations (for example, discouraging very young children from riding). Parents should also consider whether their child can follow instructions and sit still; if not, they may be safer staying off the cart.
If your child is asking to drive or ride in a cart around the neighborhood, consider these steps:
In most neighborhoods, a 13-year-old should remain a passenger—not the driver—of a golf cart. Following the rules protects not just the young driver, but everyone sharing the road or pathway with them.
