About the pilot program

The golf cart pilot program provides another transportation option for people living in communities with unique transportation needs.

The pilot program allows residents and visitors to use golf carts on roads with a speed limit of up to 50 kilometres per hour on Pelee Island and in the municipality of Huron-Kinloss. The pilot program will run for ten years.

The municipalities of Huron-Kinloss and Pelee Island are required to pass by-laws before golf carts can be used on roads in the regions. Golf cart users in these regions must follow the local by-laws.

The municipal guidelines document outlines best practices for municipalities participating in the pilot program.

Like with a regular car, collisions involving personal injury or property damage must be reported to the police.

After the pilot

Municipalities are required to provide information to the province about golf carts operating under the pilot regulation.

We will use the information gathered from municipalities during the pilot to help determine the next steps.

Requirements

Driver requirements

You must have a valid A, B, C, D, E, F or G licence to drive a golf cart in the pilot program.

Vehicle requirements

The golf cart can be either electric or gas-powered. It must have:

  • two to six seats
  • a steering wheel
  • service brakes
  • parking or emergency brakes
  • a rear-view mirror
  • a horn
  • good-quality tires
  • daytime running lights
  • turn signals
  • brake lights
  • reflectors

If the golf cart is manufactured with seat belts, the seat belts must be worn by the driver and all passengers.

Operating requirements

Golf carts allowed under the pilot must:

  • be used only on Pelee Island or in Huron-Kinloss
  • be used on roads with maximum speed limits of 50 kilometres per hour or less
  • only be operated between April 1 and November 30 each year
  • not tow other vehicles
  • not be used for an Ontario driver’s licence road test
  • display a slow-moving vehicle sign mounted on the rear of the vehicle
  • not carry passengers under eight years old
  • have adequate nighttime lighting during the period that begins one half-hour before sunset and ends one half-hour after sunrise
  • have daytime running lights that are always on
  • not be capable of going 32 kilometres per hour or faster on a level surface
  • be operated in the lane furthest to the right, unless preparing to make a left turn
  • not carry any combustible fuel except in the fuel tank (if equipped with one)

Golf carts must also cross at an intersection where there is a traffic control signal, a stop sign and/or other traffic control devices that control traffic in all directions, and the speed limit is not more than 80 kilometres per hour.

Insurance and registration requirements

Car insurance, licence plates and provincial vehicle registration are not required under the pilot program.

Applicable laws

All Highway Traffic Act rules of the road apply to golf carts allowed under the pilot program. In addition, federal penalties for impaired driving under the Criminal Code would apply.

Penalties, such as fines of $250 to $2,500, will also apply to violations of the pilot regulation and other applicable regulations under the Highway Traffic Act. Police are responsible for enforcing the law and any violations of the pilot regulations.

For the full list of pilot requirements, please see Ontario Regulation 407/21: Pilot Project - Golf Cars.