Paint for Golf Carts? (8 Critical Facts You Should Know!)

Want to dramatically improve the look of your golf cart? Why not invest in a fresh paint job? It’s one of the best ways to refresh and restore your ride. The fresh coats of paint will refresh the entire look and give you an increased resale value – but what’s the best way?

This is just one of the questions that we answer in this article, as we explain everything you need to know about painting your golf cart.

We show you just how easy a DIY golf cart painting job is and introduce you to the simple steps that you need to follow to get the job done like a pro.

What Kind of Paint Do You Use on a Golf Cart?

The best paint to use when painting a golf cart is acrylic paint. Therefore, you should avoid vinyl, lacquer, enamel, and chalkboard spray paints, as they’re not ideal for use on any golf cart, regardless of make or model.

It’s best to get hold of an air compressor or spray paint gun to help you with the paint job, and you can either borrow one from a neighbor or buy one online. They’re quite cheap and make painting a piece of cake.

You can buy acrylic-based paints online or from a local hardware or DIY store, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find a product and color that works well for your golf cart.

In the following sections, we take you through some important steps that you need to bear in mind when you’re painting your golf cart to ensure you get the job done to the highest possible standards.

What’s the Best Way to Paint a Golf Cart?

The good news is that painting your golf cart is not difficult. Here are some simple steps that you can follow if you’re undertaking a DIY paint job for your golf cart:

1. Clean your cart: Make sure your cart is clean and free of any dirt and debris before starting. You can use liquid soap or water to clean dirt and other grime from your cart.
2. Prime the cart: Next, remove any trim from your cart and use masking tape to cover areas that you don’t wish to paint. You will also need to sand down the cart with fine-grit sandpaper.
3. Apply primer: You’re now ready to apply a thin coat of primer to the cart, as this will prevent your paint job from peeling.
4. Start painting: Apply the first coat of acrylic paint to your golf cart using a sprayer.
5. Add your desired number of coats: We would recommend 2-3 coats of acrylic paint, allowing each coat to dry before reapplying.
6. Remove tape and inspect: Remove the masking tape and inspect your cart. You will need to go over any areas that you have missed.

Painting your golf cart is relatively straightforward. Just make sure you use the correct paint, as anything, but acrylic won’t look great when your work is complete.

How Much Does it Cost to Repaint a Golf Cart?

A DIY golf cart paint job shouldn’t cost you a great deal of money, and your biggest expense is going to be the paint itself. If you undertake the work yourself, it shouldn’t cost you more than $100 to paint your golf cart, particularly if you buy the paint online.

However, if you’re not confident doing the work yourself, it will cost anywhere between $500 and $700 to hire a professional to do the work on your behalf. One of the main variations in the price of a professional job is the cost of labor, which varies from place to place.

Given the relative simplicity of the task and the fact that it costs so little to do the work, we recommend painting your golf cart yourself to save money.

You can then use the money that you save on labor to buy various parts or accessories for your cart, which is a great way to enhance the value of your cart alongside the paint job.

How Do You Prepare a Golf Cart for Paint?

Cleaning your golf cart thoroughly is the first job. You can use a special type of car shampoo if you have some, or soap and water should do the trick with a little bit of elbow grease. It’s crucial you remove all excess grime from your cart before starting.

Your next job is to prime your golf cart. Once you’ve cleaned it, use some fine-grain sandpaper to prime the surface, but make sure you don’t apply too much pressure. This will remove most of the existing paint job.

Then it’s time to apply a primer coat, which you will need to allow sufficient time to dry before moving onto your base layer of acrylic paint.

As mentioned, we’d recommend applying 2-3 coats of acrylic paint to achieve the best possible look for your golf cart, so make sure you order enough paint to get the job done to perfection.

Can You Paint a Golf Cart with Spray Paint?

Provided that the spray paint is acrylic, you can use a spray can if you wish. In fact, many acrylic paints come in spray cans, which makes it relatively easy to get the work done. Again, just make sure you order enough paint to cover the entire cart with 2-3 coats.

Alternatively, you can purchase a paint sprayer, which is perhaps the best option. They are not expensive, and they can purchased online. It will help you apply the paint evenly across the cart, and you can use it for any future painting jobs you take on.

When you use spray paint or a sprayer, you need to wear gloves and protective eyeglasses to prevent any of the paint from entering your eyes.

Provided that you follow these safety tips and as long as you order enough paint, you will find that using a spray can or sprayer is the best way to paint your golf cart.

What About Painting the Top of the Golf Cart?

Although this article has focused on spraying the body of your golf cart, the same principles apply when painting its roof. You should still clean, prime, and sand the roof before painting it with acrylic paint.

You will need to pay special attention when spray painting the top of your cart, as you need to be careful not to inadvertently spray the interior of your cart – this is a surefire way to ruin the upholstery and dash!

Some golf cart roofs are removable, so that could be a viable option if you’re worried about the paint getting everywhere. After all, spray painting from above isn’t the easiest process to complete, particularly if you’re an inexperienced painter.

Ultimately, if you follow the tips listed above, you shouldn’t encounter any issues when painting the body or roof of your golf cart.

Painting a Golf Cart with Krylon Fusion?

If the body of your golf cart is made from plastic, you can paint it with Krylon Fusion paint. Krylon Fusion is a premium paint product that is known to bond to difficult surfaces, including plastic, making it a good option for your golf cart.

Again, you need to prime your cart before using the paint, and you can follow the steps introduced above. One advantage of using Krylon Fusion is the excellent protection it provides against rust, and it’s ideal for all weather.

A slight drawback of Krylon Fusion is that it’s relatively expensive when compared to acrylic paint options. Still, you get what you pay for, and it’s undoubtedly worth the extra money if you have the budget available.

Whichever product you use, you should never paint your golf cart without priming the surfaces first. If you remember this tip, you shouldn’t have any issues when using Krylon Fusion.

Can You Paint a Golf Cart with Rustoleum?

No, Rustoleum is primarily used for painting metal surfaces, so it’s only really suitable for the metal surfaces on your cart. That being said, there is a plastic-based primer available within the Rustoleum range, which is a viable option.

As the name suggests, Rustoleum offers additional protection against rust and is regarded as an industrial-grade product. But you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to, and standard acrylic paint will work just as well.

Like Krylon Fusion, Rustoleum is more expensive than most acrylic paints, which increases the price of your paint job. So, bear this in mind when looking for the most appropriate products to use when painting your golf cart.

Conclusion

Painting your golf cart is an excellent DIY job to undertake that you can do without breaking the bank. In fact, it should cost you less than $100, and your biggest expense will be the paint itself.

If you follow the steps and tips introduced in this article, you should be able to paint your golf cart with very few issues. However, if you’re not very confident, you could always call on a professional to help you; just be prepared to pay more for the job.