Beaufort just updated its golf cart ordinance. Everyone in a cart must wear a seatbelt. The city will now allow carts to operate at night if the cart has working headlights, rear lighting, and turn signals. Police will begin enforcing the new rules after a 60-day grace period. You also need a $5 city decal, registration with the state, and you can only drive on streets posted 35 mph or below within four miles of the address on your registration. You may cross higher speed roads only at controlled intersections. If you ride near the Beaufort and Port Royal line, both municipalities now allow nighttime use, which removes a long-standing headache for residents heading to evening events.
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Why the City Changed Course on Nighttime Driving
Residents asked for it, and city leaders wanted consistent rules along the shared boundary with Port Royal. Port Royal has long permitted nighttime golf cart use, and many families drive carts to holiday light parades and waterfront events. Until now, Beaufort’s prohibition meant an evening route could turn illegal the moment you rolled over a city limit. Alignment between the two jurisdictions reduces confusion, which should improve safety.
Seatbelts: Who Must Wear Them and What the Law Now Requires
South Carolina’s new statewide law requires seatbelts for children 12 and under when a cart is on public roads. Beaufort went further. The rule is simple: every person on the cart must wear a seatbelt. If your cart does not have belts, you need to add them before the grace period ends. Plan on one belt per seating position.
What It Costs to Add Seatbelts
If you are handy, aftermarket kits on major retailers typically run about $40 to $70 for two belts. You will need basic tools, mounting brackets, and time to install them correctly. If you prefer professional installation, local cart shops report price points around $40 per seatbelt for parts installed by a technician. Prices vary by cart model and whether your seats are rear-facing add-ons or factory benches. Quick tip: buy hardware that includes backing plates and locking nuts. A secure mount matters more than the belt’s fabric.
Night Driving Checklist: Gear Your Cart Must Have
Beaufort allows carts on public roads after dark only when the cart has all of the following:
• Headlights bright enough to illuminate the lane ahead without blinding others
• Rear lighting so your cart can be seen from behind
• Turn signals that function on both sides
• Reflectors recommended for side visibility
• A rearview mirror you can actually use at night
If your cart came from a golf course fleet, it may lack signals or a lighting harness. Many shops can add a plug-and-play kit. Test everything at dusk before you take your first night ride.
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Where You Can and Cannot Drive
• Streets at 35 mph or less: legal within a four-mile radius of the address on your registration.
• Big arterial roads like Ribaut, Boundary, or Carteret: still off limits for travel because of higher posted speeds. You may only cross them at controlled intersections.
• Public paths: the ordinance includes language that could allow the city to create separate golf cart paths in the future. None are approved yet.
Registration and Decals
You must be registered with the state and carry insurance to operate a golf cart on public roads. Beaufort also requires a city decal that costs $5. Display the decal where an officer can see it. If you move or change addresses, update your paperwork so the four-mile rule still matches where you actually live.
Grace Period and Enforcement
The new rules are in effect now, but officers will spend the first 60 days educating and warning drivers while residents add belts and lighting. After that, expect citations if you miss equipment or seatbelts. Treat the grace period like a deadline.
How These Rules Affect Families
Families can now drive to evening youth practices, a late dinner downtown, or holiday events without juggling different municipal rules. The tradeoff is stricter safety. Children cannot ride in laps or unsecured rear seats. Buckle every rider before moving, even for short hops inside a neighborhood.
Safety Tips for Night Cart Driving in the Lowcountry
• Slow down. Carts are small and quiet. Drivers in full-size vehicles may not see you until late.
• Wear bright clothing. A simple reflective vest or wrist strap makes hand signals visible if a turn bulb fails.
• Keep it rain-ready. Sudden coastal showers can fog windshields. Pack a towel to wipe clear and keep your brake lights visible.
• Avoid shoulder riding. Stay in the lane where carts are permitted. Sand and oyster shell shoulders can grab a front wheel.
• Do a pre-ride check. Belts, lights, tires, and brakes take minutes to confirm.
Common Questions: Costs, Kids, Tourists, and Visitors
What will it cost to get compliant? For a two-row cart that needs four seatbelts and a basic light kit, expect roughly $160 to $280 for belts, plus $150 to $400 for a lights and signal kit if your cart lacks one. Professional installation can raise the total. If your cart already has DOT-style lighting, your cost may be only a few belts.
Can my child ride up front? Yes if buckled. The city’s rule is everyone buckled, no exceptions. Use booster cushions only if they do not interfere with the belt’s fit and you can still close the lap belt low across the hips.
Do I need a driver’s license? State law requires a licensed driver at least 16 years old to operate a golf cart on public roads.
Can visitors drive my cart? Only if they meet age and license requirements and the cart is registered, insured, and equipped. Remind guests about the four-mile rule, the 35 mph street limit, and the seatbelt requirement.
What about music and coolers? Keep the volume down so you can hear traffic, and never let unsecured coolers or beach gear block the brake pedal or belts.
If a Crash Happens
Golf carts do not provide the same crash protection as cars. After any collision, call 911, check for injuries, and document the scene. Because carts share streets with heavier vehicles, injuries can be serious even at neighborhood speeds. If you or a family member is hurt, speak with a lawyer who understands insurance coverage issues that can arise when a non-traditional vehicle is on a public road.
How This Relates to South Carolina Injury Law
A golf cart crash may involve layers of coverage: the cart owner’s policy, a negligent driver’s auto policy, and sometimes a homeowner’s policy. Comparative fault rules can also apply if someone rides without a belt after the grace period ends. A lawyer can explain how these facts affect the value of a claim and what evidence helps most, like proof that your cart had working lights and that riders were belted.
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Connections for Readers in the CSRA and Lowcountry
Our team at Malchow Johnson Injury Lawyers represents injured people across the CSRA. Many readers split time between Beaufort County beaches and the Augusta area. If you have questions after a cart-related crash or a vehicle hits a family member who was riding legally on a cart, our firm can help you sort out medical bills and insurance. We have handled serious roadway claims for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and passengers.
Helpful Next Steps and Related Reading
If you commute between Beaufort County and Augusta, it helps to refresh your safety plan for higher speed traffic too. If a full-size vehicle hits you or a loved one on the road, learn what to do next by reviewing guide articles on our site. For example, our car crash advice page explains the first steps to protect a claim, how to handle statements, and how to track treatment and bills. You can also skim our pedestrian and bicycle safety posts if your family rides between neighborhoods and community paths in coastal towns.
Internal resources on our site
If a negligent driver strikes a cart or your vehicle during a Lowcountry trip, our car accident guide covers steps from the first call to the insurance company through settlement timing. If a loved one is hurt while walking to or from a cart, our steps after pedestrian accident blog explains immediate care and documentation. For medical bills after a crash, this explainer outlines options while a claim is pending. If a child or elder suffers severe harm, learn how wrongful death and serious-injury claims work in Georgia when crashes occur during regional travel. These pages are not about Beaufort’s ordinance, but they answer common injury and insurance questions that come up after roadway incidents in our region.
Have questions about a crash involving a golf cart or a night ride gone wrong? Call Malchow Johnson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation, or contact us through our site. We will review the facts, explain insurance and liability, and outline your options.
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