Golf carts do not have titles in South Carolina. The state’s titling law reaches vehicles that must be registered and licensed as motor vehicles, and golf carts sit outside that system. Ownership is documented instead through a bill of sale or the manufacturer’s certificate of origin, and if you want to drive on a public road you get a permit decal and registration certificate from the DMV rather than a title and license plate.
Why There’s No Title
South Carolina requires a certificate of title for any vehicle “of a type required to be registered and licensed” in the state, plus mobile homes.1South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 – Chapter 19 – Section 56-19-210 Golf carts don’t go through that registration and licensing process. They’re handled under a separate statute, Section 56-2-90, which sets up a permit decal and registration certificate system specific to golf carts.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-2-90 – Operating a Golf Cart on a Public Highway Because they never enter the traditional vehicle registration channel, the titling requirement doesn’t reach them.
The current version of Section 56-2-90 took effect in May 2025, replacing the older Section 56-2-105 that had governed golf carts for years. The change did not create a title requirement. Golf carts still move through the DMV under a lighter, permit-based process.
What Proves You Own the Cart
Without a state-issued title, the paperwork you keep is the paperwork that proves ownership. Two documents do most of the work:
- A bill of sale from the person or dealer you bought the cart from.
- The manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO), especially for newer carts sold through a dealer.
These records matter more than people expect. In a titled-vehicle world, the state tracks ownership changes for you. With a golf cart, no one does. Your bill of sale is what you’ll produce when you register the cart with the DMV, when you buy insurance, and when you eventually sell. Lose it and you’re relying on the memory of whoever sold you the cart.
A useful bill of sale contains the names and addresses of buyer and seller, a description of the cart including make, model, year, and serial number, the sale price, the date, and signatures from both sides. Ask the seller for the MCO if they still have it; it’s the closest thing to an original ownership document a golf cart has.
The Permit and Registration That Replace a Title
Before driving on any public road, the owner needs a permit decal and registration certificate from the DMV. Section 56-2-90 sets the requirements, and they’re modest compared to titling a car:2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-2-90 – Operating a Golf Cart on a Public Highway
- Proof of ownership, meaning your bill of sale, MCO, or similar documentation.
- Proof of liability insurance meeting the state’s minimum limits.
- A $5 fee, paid at the DMV.
The DMV issues a permit decal that goes on the cart and a registration certificate that stays with you while driving. There is no license plate. The decal has to be replaced every five years, or sooner if you move, whichever comes first. If you sell the cart, cancel the permit; a buyer cannot take it over and has to register in their own name and at their own address.
Insurance Is Part of the Package
South Carolina requires liability coverage on any golf cart driven on a public road, at the same minimum limits that apply to cars: $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury to two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage.3South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 38-77-140 – Bodily Injury and Property Damage Coverage You’ll need to show proof at the DMV to get the permit, and you’ll need to keep proof with you while driving.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 56-2-90 – Operating a Golf Cart on a Public Highway
A common gap catches new owners: standard homeowners policies typically limit golf cart coverage to use on your own property or within a private community, and stop at the edge of a public road. A standalone golf cart liability policy or an endorsement on an existing auto policy is the usual way to meet the state’s requirement. Optional collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist coverage are available from many insurers if you want protection against theft, vandalism, or accidents with uninsured drivers.
Buying or Selling a Cart Without a Title
Private golf cart sales look different from car sales because there is no title to sign over and no state lien check a buyer can run. The bill of sale carries the transaction on its own.
If you’re buying, ask for the manufacturer’s certificate of origin along with the bill of sale. If the seller has an existing DMV permit, understand that it stays with the seller — you’ll register the cart yourself and pay the $5 fee for a new decal in your name. Without a title system to lean on, confirm the seller actually owns the cart before handing over money: match names on the bill of sale and MCO, look at the serial number on the cart, and be cautious about cash sales that leave no paper trail.
If you’re selling, write a clear bill of sale, hand over the MCO if you still have it, and cancel your DMV permit so you’re not tied to a cart someone else is driving.
One Situation Where “No Title” May Not Apply
A vehicle that looks like a golf cart is not necessarily a golf cart under the law. Section 56-2-90 defines a golf cart as a vehicle originally built for use on a golf course with a top speed of 20 miles per hour or less. A vehicle that can go between 20 and 25 mph is a low-speed vehicle, which South Carolina treats as a motor vehicle under Section 56-2-100 and which must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500.4South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 – Chapter 2 – Section 56-2-1005GovInfo. Federal Register – Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards NHTSA has said the same on the federal side: conventional carts capped at 20 mph are not motor vehicles for federal purposes, but faster ones are.6National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA Interpretation – Kozloski 1635
The practical point: if a cart has been modified with a speed kit or otherwise pushed past 20 mph, it may no longer fit the golf cart definition, and the no-title, permit-only path may not be available to it. Owners considering performance upgrades should think through the regulatory consequences before installing them.