Golf Cart Rules in North Myrtle Beach: What Buyers and New Residents Need to Know
Quick answer: In North Myrtle Beach you can legally drive a golf cart on public streets only if it is registered with the SC DMV (a $5 permit decal, renewed every five years), carries liability insurance, and is driven by a licensed driver at least 16 years old. Carts may be driven only on secondary streets posted 35 mph or lower, only between sunrise and sunset (a 2025 city rule that headlights do not override), and never on US-17, Sea Mountain Highway, the beach, sidewalks, or bike paths. Anyone under 12 must be belted. Violations carry up to a $100 fine and 30 days. To drive after dark you need a street-legal low-speed vehicle (LSV), not a golf cart.
First: is it a ''golf cart'' or a ''low-speed vehicle''?
The rules below are for a permitted golf cart — a cart that tops out around 20 to 25 mph and gets a $5 DMV decal. A low-speed vehicle (LSV) is a different, federally regulated vehicle with a VIN, a title, and a license plate, and it can be driven at night. If you are not sure which you have or want, see the companion article, ''Golf Cart vs. Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV): What Grand Strand Buyers Should Know Before They Buy One.''
How to make your golf cart street-legal in North Myrtle Beach
· Get the SC DMV permit. Complete SCDMV Form GC-2, provide your driver's license and proof of golf cart liability insurance, and pay $5. The decal is valid five years or until you move.
· Get the North Myrtle Beach city decal. The city issues its own decal, free to residents and property owners. Contact North Myrtle Beach City Hall.
· Keep three things in the cart at all times: your driver's license, the SC DMV registration certificate, and proof of insurance.
Who can drive, and who can ride
· Driver: at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license.
· Passengers: no more than the number of seats the cart was built for.
· Children under 12: must wear a fastened seat belt or be secured in an appropriate car seat or booster.
· Parents beware: letting an unlicensed minor drive on a public street can bring a fine of more than $200.
Where you can drive
· Speed limit: only on secondary streets posted 35 mph or lower.
· Distance: within four miles of the address on your registration (state law).
· Crossing bigger roads: you may cross a road posted above 35 mph at an intersection, but you may not drive along it.
· Off limits: US-17 (Bypass and Business), SC-9 / Sea Mountain Highway, 27th Avenue South, the beach, sidewalks, bike paths, and multi-use paths.
When you can drive: daylight only
North Myrtle Beach allows golf carts on public streets only between sunrise and sunset. The June 2025 city ordinance made this absolute — working headlights and taillights do NOT extend the hours. If you are caught out after sunset, you are in violation regardless of your equipment. Driving at night legally requires an LSV.
Ocean Boulevard: seasonal closures
Several times a year the city closes Ocean Boulevard to golf carts (and often mopeds) during high-traffic events — typically Memorial Day weekend and the Atlantic Beach Bikefest period, and sometimes other busy summer weekends. These closures are announced each year, so check the city's website or social media before those dates if you plan to use your cart near the oceanfront.
Penalties
· Fine and jail: up to $100 and/or up to 30 days.
· Towing: your cart can be towed at your expense.
· Enforcement: officers often lead with warnings, especially on the child seat belt rule, but that is discretionary — do not count on it.
Insurance
· Liability coverage is required to get and keep the DMV permit.
· Your home or auto policy may not cover road use. A standard homeowners policy usually excludes a golf cart driven off your property, and an auto policy typically will not cover it either. Ask your agent about a dedicated golf cart policy or an endorsement.
· The exposure is real. An open cart with passengers and no doors, driven on public streets, is a meaningful liability risk. Carry more than the minimum if you can.
HOA and community rules stack on top of city rules
Gated neighborhoods and golf communities often add their own layer: cart registration, community speed limits, designated cart paths, and rules about where a cart may be parked or stored. City law does not override an HOA's stricter rules on private community roads. Read the covenants and rules before you assume you can use a cart where you are buying.
If a golf cart lifestyle is part of why you are buying here
· Check the street speeds. Make sure the roads between your prospective home and the places you want to reach — grocery, restaurants, a beach access — are all posted 35 mph or lower.
· Check for a highway barrier. Some newer communities near North Myrtle Beach are separated from the oceanfront by US-17, which a golf cart cannot legally travel along. ''Close to the beach'' is not the same as ''golf-cart accessible to the beach.''
· Check what is actually included. If a cart conveys with the home, look for a VIN plate — it may be an LSV, which is titled and registered differently.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a driver's license to drive a golf cart in North Myrtle Beach?
Yes. The driver must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver's license.
Can I drive my golf cart on the beach?
No. Golf carts are prohibited on the sand, as well as on sidewalks, bike paths, and multi-use paths.
Can I drive a golf cart at night in North Myrtle Beach if it has headlights?
No. Since June 2025 the city allows golf carts only between sunrise and sunset, regardless of equipment. You need a low-speed vehicle (LSV) to drive legally after dark.
How much does it cost to register a golf cart in South Carolina?
The SC DMV permit is $5 and is valid for five years. You also must carry liability insurance.
How far can I drive my golf cart?
Within four miles of the address on your registration, and only on streets posted 35 mph or lower.
Can visitors or renters drive golf carts in North Myrtle Beach?
Yes, through licensed rental companies and under the same rules. The four-mile radius is measured from the rental company's address.
Written by Cathy Cagno, SRS, GRI, RENE, ABR — the Broker-in-Charge of Local to Coastal Realty, serving North Myrtle Beach, SC and the Triad and Triangle regions of North Carolina. Cathy helps buyers understand what ''golf-cart-friendly'' really means for a specific neighborhood before they buy. LocalToCoastalRealty.com | 336-516-4136.
Golf cart rules in North Myrtle Beach change frequently and are enforced by the city and the SC DMV. Confirm current requirements with North Myrtle Beach City Hall and dmv.sc.gov before relying on any point in this article.
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, financial, or insurance advice. Laws, tax rates, programs, and market conditions change and vary by location — verify current details with a qualified professional before acting. Cathy Cagno, LocalToCoastalRealty.com · Equal Housing Opportunity.
