One of the most important things that you should know is whether or not your golf cart has a VIN (vehicle identification number) number, but there isn’t much information out there. In this blog post, we will discuss if golf carts have VIN numbers and what they are used for!
Is there a VIN Number on a Golf Cart?
Standard golf carts do not have VIN numbers as this type of vehicle identification is used for road vehicles only. If you have a custom cart that is road-ready then you are required by law to have a VIN number issued to it.
This number, like a car’s identification number, allows a golf cart to be registered and licensed at state level, as an example you can search “golf carts for sale Arkansas” and site information will confirm what legal requirements you are obliged to undertake.
In order to drive a level road-ready golf cart, you should ensure that you have all the necessary documentation.
This includes the VIN number, as well as insurance and registration documents if you plan to use it on public roads.
A golf cart can also be used privately within a community or destination resort but without these legal requirements, it is not road-ready and cannot be driven outside of its private space.
If golf carts do not have VIN numbers how can I look up details about golf cart to make sure it is legit and not stolen?
Do Golf Carts Have Titles?
Despite costing thousands of dollars, regular golf carts do not have titles because they are not classed as road vehicles. Only when they are customized into road-legal vehicles will they require a necessary title.
If you are thinking about buying a road-legal golf cart then ensure that the vehicle has a valid title that details important information such as
- Proof of ownership including name and address.
- Any liens against the cart.
- A physical match to the golf cart’s VIN number.
- License plate number.
How Do I Identify My Golf Cart?
Thankfully, golf carts have their own unique serial numbers that are used to identify them.
These are similar to road vehicles with a VIN number.
Understanding where this number is located is important because if you were to service or repair the cart, this number is crucial for that purpose.
Want to sell your cart to someone else? Then it’s a no-brainer that you will need to know what the serial number is.
You can find it in different places, depending on what type of vehicle you have.
EZGO Golf Cart Serial Number Location
Got an EZGO cart? Find out the location of the serial number by looking at these three possible locations:
- The first place to check is on the steering column.
- The glove box on the passenger side is another location.
- Finally, check the mainframe of the cart, behind the driver’s legs. It could be printed there.
Yamaha Golf Cart Serial Number Location
Yamaha has a very good “find your model” facility on their website in order to find a serial number on a golf cart.
The numbers on a Yamaha cart are called PID numbers which stand for Primary-ID number.
Each model of the Drive, Adventurer, and G Series carts has a corresponding instructional diagram to illustrate where the serial numbers are located.
Every model is covered from 1979 to the latest series manufactured in 2019. Find your Yamaha serial number here.
Club Car Golf Cart Serial Number Location
This company likes to be consistent with the location of its PID number.
The serial number of the Club Car Golf Cart vehicle is located on either the driver’s side panel or passenger floorboard that also has a small side panel near the glove box.
Remember you are looking for a 12 digit number that contains letters and numbers that are used to uniquely identify your golf cart.
What Year Is My Golf Cart?
Once you have located the serial number there is a quick and easy way of finding out what year your golf cart was manufactured in.
The first two letters indicate what model the cart is but it is the next 4 numbers that indicate what month and year your golf cart was made and this number is prevalent on all major golf cart brands.
Finally, the last 6 digits are the identifying numbers that give each golf cart its own id number.
If you are struggling to find the serial number then your cart maybe has been re-painted so ask your local dealer for further advice.
A good example of a painted-over serial number on a golf cart is demonstrated by leading golf cart mechanic, Wayne Martin.
Visual Example of a Painted Over Serial Number
Check around the 1-minute mark where he discovers that the Club Golf Cart he features in his video has been painted over – an excellent and typical example of what to look out for!
Be sure to check out Wayne’s other videos on his YT channel if you are interested in golf cart repair home fixes.
He has some excellent videos on how to bypass an OBC, installing lithium batteries, and even how to emergency jump-start a golf cart!
The Final Word on VIN Numbers and Golf Carts
A vehicle identification number (VIN) is an alphanumeric code used to identify individual motor vehicles including cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds as well as their parts.
It may also include trailers and other towed vehicles such as caravans.
The purpose of the VIN is to provide a means for identifying different versions of a particular model from any given year.
Just because there is no VIN on a golf cart doesn’t mean we can’t identify them.
The serial number is the all-important number we should be looking at and by reading our comprehensive guide you can now quickly and easily locate the 12 digit number on your golf cart.