If you’re a golfing enthusiast, you’ve probably considered buying your own golf cart a few times before now. After all, if you’ve got your own golf cart to use at your convenience, you’ll no longer need to worry if all the club’s carts are booked, and you’ll be able to travel freely in your golf cart (within reason), no longer restricted to the course.
However, as you’ll know if you’ve ever explored the idea for yourself, buying a golf cart is no easy task, with so many different factors to consider before making the all-important purchase.
To help you out, I’ve rounded up six of the most important things to think about when buying a golf cart.
1. Check the license requirements and laws
Whether you’re shopping for a new or second-hand golf cart, you’ll need to know both when, and where you’ll be allowed to drive it legally. If you’re in the US, for example, some states may require a driver’s license in order for you to drive on public roads, while others may not.
There are plenty of other state-level laws and community ordinances to look into, too. So, don’t rush things or overlook any important rules.
Often, you may ned to modify your cart in order to make it suitable for road use. Often, you’ll have to install a kit that includes lights and mirrors. It’s also quite common for low-power electric carts to be forbidden from driving on public roads. If this is true where you live, you could look into getting a gas-powered cart instead.
Finally, you’ll also need to be aware of any rules set by the golf club/s you’ll be visiting. Some courses don’t allow private carts, while others don’t allow carts at all. Make sure you double-check!
2. Check the history of the cart
Shopping for a used golf cart is just like buying any other second-hand vehicle; it would be helpful to be able to ensure it’s been serviced regularly, and not mistreated. In reality, however, many golf cart owners don’t keep a record of these kinds of things in the way they may do for their cars.
If you can’t get hold of a reliable service history for the golf cart you’re thinking of buying, try to at least find the serial number so you can look the model up online and read any reviews you might come across.
3. Ask questions
As mentioned, it’s often challenging to obtain a full service history on a golf cart. However, you should still make every effort to ask the previous owner or dealer about the cart.
You should ask questions about:
- How the cart was treated
- What it was used for
- How often it was serviced
- How old it is
- How recently the last owner replaced the battery
- If the cart has had any major repairs
4. Inspect the battery
Batteries are the life force of an electric-powered golf cart, and they can be very expensive to replace; in fact, they can cost over £1,600 to replace!
At the very least, take a look at the battery and check the condition of it. Inspect it for potential leaks and damage, especially if it has one of the older, lead-based batteries. With these types of batteries, you can also check electrolyte levels.
It doesn’t hurt to check the battery with a voltmeter to check the battery has the specified output, either. You may also be able to conduct a hydrometer test, depending on the type of battery and what is available to you.
5. Take it for a test drive
While this may seem obvious, it’s a great idea to take your dream golf cart for a test drive before you part with any cash. This may be difficult to do if you plan on buying the cart from a different city or state, and sending it to your home address via a freight company.
You could still ask the seller to send a video of the cart in action, though; any serious seller with a quality product would surely be happy to oblige.
6. Negotiate
Whether you’re buying a brand new cart from a dealer, a factory refurbishment, or a second-hand cart, there is usually a little wiggle room on the price, or a deal that can be made. Don’t be afraid to at least ask for a little discount, you may be surprised at the savings you could end up making.
So, when it comes to purchasing a golf cart, be sure to do your due diligence. Don’t forget to check the full background of the cart, as well as the associated laws where you live, and adapt your purchase habits accordingly. Now, all that’s left to do is to check out the best golf carts on the market today, and decide which suits your particular needs.
Have you got any golfing getaways scheduled for this year? Tell me what you’ve got planned in the comment box below!