Golf Carts for Carolina Beaches: Buy in Charlotte, Ride at the Coast
Beach days just feel better with a golf cart. Whether you own a place on Oak Island, spend the same week at Ocean Lakes every summer or head to North Myrtle Beach with the whole family, Queen City Carts can set you up close to home in Charlotte or Mount Holly. Shop in person, take a test drive and get honest answers about what is legal where you vacation. It is our pleasure to help.
See golf carts for sale | Lithium conversions | Call (704) 302-1200
Why Charlotte beach owners buy from us
- Shop close to home. See, sit in and drive your golf cart before it ever heads east.
- Street-legal LSV packages. Most North Carolina beach towns want a registered LSV on public streets, and we build them right.
- Lithium for salt air and range. Sealed batteries and more miles per charge.
- Delivery to the coast. Ask us about delivery to the coast. Call (704) 302-1200 to arrange it.
Golf cart and LSV rules at Carolina beaches
Every beach does it a little differently. In South Carolina, state law lets a permitted golf cart run on secondary roads posted 35 mph or less within 4 miles of home, and towns can set their own hours (SC Code 56-2-105). In North Carolina, a golf cart can only use public streets where the town allows it, so many beach towns stick with registered LSVs on roads posted 35 mph or less. Here is a quick guide. Rules change, so check with the town before you go.
| Beach | Regular golf cart | Street-legal LSV | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Golf cart with SCDMV permit decal ($5), insurance, licensed driver 16+, secondary roads posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of the registered address. Daylight only. Not on Kings Hwy, US 501 or US 17 (crossing is OK), sidewalks, bike paths or the beach. | Plated LSV on roads posted 35 mph or less | City of Myrtle Beach |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | Golf cart with SCDMV permit decal ($5), insurance, licensed driver 16+, secondary roads posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of the registered address. Sunrise to sunset on secondary roads. Crossing Ocean Blvd, Hwy 17 or Sea Mountain Hwy is OK. | Plated LSV on roads posted 35 mph or less | City of North Myrtle Beach |
| Surfside Beach, SC | Golf cart with SCDMV permit decal ($5), insurance, licensed driver 16+, secondary roads posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of the registered address. Night use only with permanently installed working headlights and taillights. | Plated LSV on roads posted 35 mph or less | Town of Surfside Beach |
| Garden City, SC | Unincorporated Horry County, so state law applies: SCDMV permit decal ($5), insurance, licensed driver 16+, secondary roads posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of the registered address, daylight hours. | Plated LSV on roads posted 35 mph or less | SCDMV |
| Ocean Lakes Family Campground | Electric only. A $45 Ocean Lakes sticker each calendar year, $50,000 liability insurance, licensed driver 16+, lights on after dark. Roadways only, not campsites or the beach. No outside rentals. | LSVs register and follow the same campground rules as golf carts | Ocean Lakes |
| Oak Island, NC | Unregistered golf carts are not allowed on public streets. A town permit exists only for mobility-impaired drivers. | Registered NC LSV, no town permit needed, streets posted 35 mph or less | Town of Oak Island |
| Ocean Isle Beach, NC | No town golf cart permit is offered. | NC tag, inspection, insurance and a licensed driver. Paid parking applies to LSVs too. | Town of Ocean Isle Beach |
| Holden Beach, NC | Not on public roads unless registered as an LSV. | NCDMV LSV with annual inspection and insurance, roads posted 35 mph or less, designated LSV parking | Town of Holden Beach |
| Sunset Beach, NC | No golf carts on the beach strand, except a limited permitted exception for disabled drivers. | LSVs allowed on town streets, with designated roadside LSV parking | Town of Sunset Beach |
| Carolina Beach, NC | Town-registered golf carts with insurance, full safety equipment and a licensed driver 16+, on roads posted 35 mph or less. The town is phasing golf cart permits toward LSV only. | Registered, insured LSV on roads posted 35 mph or less | Town of Carolina Beach |
| Kure Beach, NC | Carts must be tagged and licensed like any other vehicle. | Street-legal LSV built to FMVSS 500 with a 17-digit VIN | Town of Kure Beach |
| Wrightsville Beach, NC | Street-legal carts only. | Registered, insured LSV on roads posted 35 mph or less. Town parking permits are required for street-legal carts. | Town of Wrightsville Beach |
| Topsail Beach, NC | Regular golf carts are not allowed on town or state streets. | NC-registered LSV on streets posted 35 mph or less | Town of Topsail Beach |
| Emerald Isle, NC | Town registration ($125) with a town plate and annual decal, insurance, safety inspection, owner 18+ with a license. 20 mph max. Not on NC 58 or Coast Guard Rd. | Registered LSVs follow state law | Town of Emerald Isle |
Checked October 2026. HOAs, campgrounds and rental companies may add their own rules.
Street-legal LSV packages for the beach
An LSV is a golf cart built or upgraded to federal low speed vehicle standards, then titled, registered and insured. That means headlights, brake lights and turn signals, mirrors, seat belts, a DOT windshield and a VIN. It also means freedom: in places like Oak Island, Holden Beach and Topsail Beach, an LSV is how you cruise to dinner. Our street-legal LSV conversion page explains the steps in plain English.
Lithium: made for salt air and long beach days
Lead acid batteries need watering, and corrosion loves salty air. A lithium golf cart battery conversion gives you sealed batteries with no watering, less weight, faster charging and more range for the run from the beach house to the pier and back. Already have a golf cart at the coast? Many owners convert the cart they already love.
Delivery to the coast
Buying here and riding there is easy to plan. Ask us about delivery to the coast, and call (704) 302-1200 to arrange it.
Visit us before the trip
Our Mount Holly home store is at 107 Henderson St, Mount Holly, NC 28120, (704) 302-1200, and our Charlotte Wilkinson store is at 8812 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28214, (704) 837-0101.
Mount Holly hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5:30, Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday by appointment only.
- Browse golf carts for sale
- Apply for financing
- Contact us or call (704) 302-1200
Love golf carts close to home too? See our guide to the best golf cart communities around Charlotte.
Thank you for considering Queen City Carts. We hope to see you before your next beach trip.
Carolina Beach Golf Cart FAQ
Can I buy a golf cart in Charlotte and take it to the beach?
Yes. Many customers buy in Mount Holly or Charlotte and enjoy their golf cart at a beach house or campground. Ask us about delivery to the coast and call (704) 302-1200 to arrange it.
Do I need a street-legal LSV at the beach?
At most North Carolina beaches, yes. Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Topsail Beach expect a registered, insured LSV on public streets. Emerald Isle and Carolina Beach run town golf cart programs. In South Carolina, a permitted golf cart can use secondary roads posted 35 mph or less near the registered address, and an LSV gives you more freedom.
What do I need for a golf cart in Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach?
An SCDMV permit decal and registration, proof of liability insurance and a licensed driver 16 or older. Drive only on secondary roads posted 35 mph or less, within 4 miles of the registered address, during daylight hours. Golf carts are not allowed on the beach or sidewalks.
Can I bring my own golf cart to Ocean Lakes Family Campground?
Yes, if it is electric. Register it at the Golf Car Building for a $45 calendar year sticker and show at least $50,000 in liability insurance. LSVs follow the same campground rules, and outside rentals are not allowed.
Is lithium a good fit for a beach golf cart?
Yes. Lithium batteries are sealed, so there is no watering and no acid to spill. They are lighter, charge faster and give you more range for long beach days. Ask us about a lithium golf cart battery conversion.
Can you make my golf cart street legal for the beach?
Yes. Street-legal LSV packages are one of our specialties. We add the lights, mirrors, seat belts, windshield and other required equipment and walk you through the title, inspection and registration steps.
What are your Mount Holly hours?
Monday to Friday 9 to 5:30, Saturday 10 to 5, and Sunday by appointment only.