group of motorcycles riding on open road representing motorcycle insurance protection from McGriff-Williams Insurance

Motorcycle, ATV and Golf Cart Insurance in Florida

From McGriff-Williams Insurance, an independent agency serving North Central and Northeast Florida.

Whether it’s a cruiser on a back road, an ATV on the trails or a golf cart around the neighborhood, insurance can protect you from the cost of damage to your own ride and from your legal responsibility if you injure someone or damage their property. Florida’s rules for each are different, so here’s a plain-English guide.

Motorcycles: What Florida Requires

No PIP, and no proof of insurance to register. Florida’s personal injury protection (PIP) law applies to vehicles with four or more wheels, so it doesn’t cover motorcycles. Florida also doesn’t require proof of insurance to register a motorcycle.
But a crash changes things. If you cause a crash that injures someone, Florida’s financial responsibility law requires you to have had liability coverage of at least $10,000 per person and $20,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $10,000 for property damage. Without it, your license and registration can be suspended until you buy coverage and carry an SR-22 proof-of-insurance filing for three years, and you settle with the other parties or post a security deposit.
Helmets. Riders under 21 must wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards, and no insurance policy changes that. Riders over 21 may ride without a helmet only if they’re covered by an insurance policy providing at least $10,000 in medical benefits for crash injuries. Operators also need eye protection.
License. Motorcycles over 50cc require a motorcycle endorsement or a “Motorcycle Only” license, and new riders must first pass the Basic RiderCourse.

ATVs and Off-Road Vehicles

In Florida, ATVs, side-by-sides (ROVs) and off-highway motorcycles are grouped as off-highway vehicles. They must be titled, but they aren’t registered and aren’t required to carry PIP or property damage liability. They generally can’t be driven on public roads. Florida allows ATVs during the daytime on unpaved roads posted under 35 mph, and counties can change that rule or designate specific roads. When an ATV is allowed on a road, the operator must be a licensed driver or a minor supervised by one.

A homeowners policy usually offers limited coverage for an ATV or UTV, often only while it’s on your own property, and it may not cover damage to the vehicle itself. A dedicated off-road policy can cover you on the trail, at camp and while hauling.

Golf Carts vs. Low-Speed Vehicles

A golf cart and a street-legal low-speed vehicle (LSV) aren’t the same thing in Florida, and they aren’t insured the same way.

Golf carts are built for golf courses and can’t go faster than 20 mph. They don’t need a title, registration or license plate, and the state doesn’t require insurance. Insurance is still a smart idea, and golf carts are usually covered under a policy built for motorcycles and powersports vehicles. Don’t count on your homeowners policy for your golf cart. Once it leaves your property, even on community roads, coverage may not apply.
Low-speed vehicles (LSVs) are four-wheeled vehicles with a top speed above 20 mph and no more than 25 mph. They must meet federal low-speed vehicle safety standards and Florida’s equipment rules (headlights, turn signals, a windshield, seat belts, a VIN and more), and they must be titled, registered and plated. A registered LSV must carry at least $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability, so it’s insured like a car, on an auto policy.

Where can golf carts go? Only on roads your city or county has designated and signed for golf carts. Local rules vary, so check with your city or county. Golf carts generally may only cross state highways at approved crossings, and they’re limited to sunrise to sunset unless local rules allow night driving and the cart has headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield. On public roads, a driver under 18 needs a learner’s license or driver license, and a driver 18 or older needs a valid government-issued photo ID.

LSVs may only drive on streets posted at 35 mph or less (they can cross faster roads at an intersection), and the driver must have a valid driver license.

Has your cart been modified? If it’s been changed to go faster than 20 mph, talk to us. Converting a cart to an LSV requires a state inspection and paperwork, and the coverage changes too. On a converted cart, the title date may not reflect the vehicle’s real age.

What Your Policy Can Include

A motorcycle, ATV or golf cart policy can include the coverages below. Availability varies by insurance company and vehicle.

Bodily injury and property damage liability. Pays for injuries and damage you cause to others, plus your legal defense, up to the limit you choose when you buy your motorcycle policy.
Guest passenger liability. Covers injuries to a passenger riding with you, which matters for riding two-up and for golf carts that carry passengers. On some policies it’s part of bodily injury liability; on others it’s a separate limit.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist. Pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough.
Medical payments. Pays medical bills for you, and on many policies your passenger, regardless of fault, up to the limit. For riders over 21 who choose not to wear a helmet, medical payments coverage may help satisfy the $10,000 medical-benefits requirement. Ask us to confirm your policy’s wording.
Collision. Pays for damage from hitting another vehicle or object, or from overturning, minus your deductible.
Comprehensive. Pays for theft, vandalism, fire, weather (including hurricanes and flooding) and hitting an animal, minus your deductible.
Custom parts and equipment. Covers add-ons like chrome, saddlebags, custom paint, golf cart lift kits, and winches or plows on ATVs.
Riding gear and OEM parts. Some policies cover helmets, jackets, gloves and boots damaged in a covered crash, and some agree to repair with original-manufacturer parts.
Total loss or new-vehicle replacement. Some policies pay a new current-model price if a nearly new bike or ATV is totaled.
Agreed value. For custom, vintage or older bikes, you and the insurance company agree on the value up front.
Roadside assistance and trip interruption. Towing, jump-starts and fuel delivery, plus help with lodging and meals when a breakdown or covered loss happens far from home.
Transport trailer and carried items. Some policies cover the trailer you haul your bike or ATV on, and personal items you carry on the bike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need insurance to register a motorcycle in Florida?

No. But if you cause a crash that injures someone, Florida’s financial responsibility law applies, and going without liability coverage can lead to license and registration suspension.

Can I ride without a helmet if I have insurance?

Only if you’re over 21 and covered by a policy providing at least $10,000 in medical benefits. Riders under 21 must wear a helmet, with no insurance alternative.

Does a golf cart need insurance in Florida?

The state doesn’t require it, but it’s worth having for liability and damage. A registered low-speed vehicle (LSV) is different: it must carry PIP and property damage liability and is insured like a car.

Talk With Us About Your Ride

Not sure whether you have a golf cart or an LSV, or what your bike policy really covers? Call McGriff-Williams Insurance at (352) 371-7977 or request a quote. Ask us about available discounts, too.

Statements on this website provide general information only as it relates to policies and coverages. All coverages are subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the actual policy issued. Please contact one of our licensed agents for questions regarding your specific needs and policy.