Road rules and safety

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.