Golf Carts for sale – Your own 7 item Cheat-sheet!

I am going to give you a checklist of 7 things before you make your golf cart purchase.  If you are in one of the suburbs in the sunbelt states in the US, chances are that you have seen Golf carts beginning to pop up in the quiet neatly paved roads in your neighborhoods since the pandemic. Its been called a “micro mobility” revolution as people are realizing that owning a golf cart is a lot of fun. It’s easier and more fun to take your golf cart up to the pool or the community club, as opposed to getting in your Sedan or SUV.

Many Golf cart sellers/retailers have indicated that sales have exploded to 50-80% and even over 100% since the pandemic started. And these sales are not just to golf courses and communities either. The pandemic accelerated this rise in the families who don’t play golf and are just using it as a lifestyle vehicle.

If you are one of those potential customers who is looking to get one of these used Golf carts for moving around the neighborhood, below is a seven point checklist before you take out your checkbook and drive home in your “dream” golf cart.

Buying used can be a great way to get on the road without the hefty price tag of a new vehicle. But how do you know a used vehicle is everything it was chalked up to be in the online ad?

The checklist below outlines what to look for when shopping for a used golf cart through a private seller or dealer so you can make the purchase with peace of mind.

Before we begin with the checklist, to make sure that all readers understand- there is tremendous variety in Golf carts. They can come in a wide range of formats such as 2, 4, and 6 seaters. So price etc will depend on what you are looking for and what your budget is.

Also a thing to note is that there has been a tremendous increase in accidents related to Golf Carts almost consistent with the increase in their popularity. So it matters what golf cart you get, where and how you drive and be aware of its limitations and “potential” dangers.

Some of the main causes of injury related to golf cart accidents included cart overturn, falling/jumping from a moving golf cart, collision with another vehicle or stationary object, struck/run over by a cart, getting into or out of a moving cart. Out of all these, “falling or jumping from a golf cart” was the most common cause of injury for both adults and children.

One contributing reason is that current golf cart safety features are insufficient to prevent passenger falls or ejection. That makes getting a sturdy, reliable and good golf cart that much more significant instead of something that stops working or causes a problem midstream.

Here is my list of what to look for. It is by no means a complete list and a lot of what is said is common sense. But it will still help you when you start looking at what Golf cart to ultimately get.

What to check before buying a used golf cart

1. Price

2. Electric or Gas Powered

3. Age of Golf Cart

4. Rust or paint damage or Frame issue

5. Tire Condition

6. Upholstery

7. Test Drive

1. Price

The price of a golf cart can range anywhere from under US$1,000 to well over US$ 20,000 per cart, depending on several factors. Age, condition, electric or gas powered, customization if any, there are a host of factors that determine the price. Its almost the end product of all these factors, and for the customer it is kind of the most important thing. Mind you, not very different from buying used cars or RVs or anything else like that.

2. Electric or Gas-Powered

There are both gas powered, and lithium-ion powered cars available now in the market.  The lithium option is most expensive, but they have gained real popularity in the last few years. And with the focus on green energy and sustainability and reducing carbon footprint, these might be more desirable in the long run anyway.  Lead acid batteries are heavy, dirty, and a hassle to maintain. es.) They also need to be replaced every three to four years, at a cost of around $1,000 each time. While the upfront expense for lithium carts is higher, they last longer, are easier to maintain, and, perhaps most importantly, are more fun to drive, with better acceleration and more power for going over hills.

3. Age of Golf cart

Age is a very important determinant. The older the car, the more the chances that it might stop working at some point, or the parts may be hard to find. But it will be a good medium to start enjoying the benefits of a golf cart within your budgets. Get as much information as you can from the current owner and then do your own research. The older models may work fine, but their parts may be harder to find. So, weigh the pros and cons of going too far back in time.

4. Rust or paint damage or Frame issue

Take a walk around the golf cart and keep an eye out for any rusty spots or paint chips. Small, localized rust patches aren’t necessarily a deal breaker because they can be fixed easily. If there are places where the metal is totally rusted through, you might want to reconsider the purchase. While you’re walking around the golf cart, you should also look for problems with the frame. Is the golf cart sitting level on the ground?.

5. Tire condition

The tire tread should be worn evenly and all four should match. Uneven tread or extra wear on a few of the tires often means poor alignment, which can be a symptom of steering, suspension, or frame issues. A poorly aligned golf cart will pull to the right or left when driving.

6. Upholstery

Seats and interior fabric can take a beating in a vehicle. Watch out for tears, stains, and cracked leather on all the front and back seats. upholstery can be a pricey thing to repair.

7. Test drive

The test drive is probably the most important part of shopping for a used golf cart. Plan your route and put the golf cart through the paces to test its maneuverability, acceleration, braking and suspension.

Last thing, some of the golf carts are really customized. If that’s your thing, you can spend top dollars on these, but for starter golf cart, be more thoughtful about spending your money right away and start with something which allows you the enjoy the benefits without breaking the bank.

Lastly just enjoy golf in a beautiful day on a golf cart 🙂