Golf cars and ride-on mowers
Golf cars and ride-on lawn mowers don’t need to be registered and shouldn’t be used to travel on roads.
Golf cars and ride-on lawn mowers don’t need to be registered. They are designed mainly for use outside the road system and don’t have the safety features of a regular vehicle.
Don’t drive them on footpaths, bike paths and shared paths.
Golf cars and ride-on lawn mowers are not ‘motor vehicles’ under the law, as long as they follow all of these rules:
- They are motor vehicles that:
- are designed mainly for use outside the road system; and
- are not used for travelling on a highway for more than two kilometres at a time in one direction; and
- are only being used for the purpose for which it was manufactured.
If you don’t follow these rules, a golf car or ride-on lawn mower is:
- treated like any other motor vehicle, including laws related to driver licensing and registration
- not covered by third party personal injury insurance
- not covered by TAC if you have an accident.
Who can drive golf cars and ride-on lawn mowers
You don’t need a driver’s licence to use these vehicles if following these conditions.
However, you should:
- not drive them while using alcohol or drugs
- be very careful using them after dark
- always travel at safe speeds.
We recommend taking out an insurance policy to cover the golf car or ride-on lawn mower.
Risks driving these vehicles on the road
If you don’t follow these rules, a golf car or ride-on lawn mower is:
- treated like any other motor vehicle, including laws related to driver licensing and registration
- not covered by third party personal injury insurance
- not covered by TAC if you have an accident.