Golf Cart

Question

We are coming down on vacation and have our own Street legal golf cart that is insured. Would we be allowed to bring it and drive it on the island??

Answer

Good question — it’s a bit of a gray area when it comes to bringing your own street-legal golf cart (LSV) to Anna Maria Island. There are some rules, and locals / rental companies report a few restrictions. Here’s a detailed breakdown + key things to think through.

What the Local Rules and Rental Companies Say

Anna Maria Island *does allow* “street-legal” golf carts (LSVs) on many of its roads. According to AMI blog, LSVs must be: registered, insured, and meet safety standards (seatbelts, lights, etc.).
You are only allowed to drive on roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.
Golf carts / LSVs are *not allowed* on:
- sidewalks or bike paths, per rental-company rules.
- the beaches.
In Holmes Beach specifically (one of the AMI municipalities), there’s some local speed-limit and ordinance discussion: for example, a past ordinance stated golf carts are prohibited on certain streets and require seatbelts, child restraint, etc.
According to Sharky’s Golf Cart Rentals (a well-known AMI company), drivers of street-legal carts must:
- be 21 years old or older, have a valid driver’s license, and have current auto insurance.
- use legal, public roads (not on sidewalks or utility paths) where speed limits are ≤ 35 mph.
- observe seatbelt requirements (all passengers must have seatbelts).
According to another local cart-rental company (Anna Maria Golf Carts), their street-legal carts “stay within 5 miles” of where they drop off the cart. (This suggests that carts are generally expected to be the *local type* / LSV rentals, not long-distance personal vehicles.)

Concerns / Risks Around Bringing Your Own Cart

If your cart is insured and registered, that’s good — but local law enforcement or code enforcement might not consider all LSVs/carts equal, especially if they’re not “standard” rental-fleet models. One Redditor said someone was ticketed for bringing their personal cart:
“I THINK it's because it wasn't registered … Either of the three towns should be able to tell you.”
There’s some ambiguity over bridge crossings: for instance, per Sharky’s, you cannot cross the Manatee Avenue bridge in a golf cart.
You’ll need to follow local LSV/golf cart rules strictly — traffic law, speed-limit restrictions, safety equipment, etc.
Even though LSVs are generally allowed on “city streets,” the various city ordinances (Anna Maria / Holmes Beach / Bradenton Beach) may have slightly different rules — so where exactly you're driving matters.

My Take / Recommendation

Yes — it *might be possible* to bring your insured, street-legal golf cart and drive it on Anna Maria Island, since LSVs are permitted on many roads. But it’s risky and not guaranteed, because it depends heavily on how local authorities interpret “street-legal” and whether your specific vehicle meets their expectations.

Here’s what I recommend you do if you want to try:

Contact the city offices (Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, or Bradenton Beach — depending where you’ll be) *before your trip* to verify that your cart is allowed under their local ordinance for your travel dates.
Bring your registration, insurance paperwork, and any LSV certification / VIN so you can show you’re compliant.
Double-check that your cart has required safety gear: seat belts, headlights, turn signals, mirrors, etc. (Standard for LSVs.)
If you want to be very safe and avoid potential legal headache, consider renting a local, street-legal golf cart for the duration of your stay — it’s common, well understood by locals, and the rental companies operate with the right infrastructure.

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