Can I Upgrade My Golf Cart to Use as a Low Speed Vehicle?
CONSIDERATIONS
• Must have an inspection by a police officer
• Completion of TR-54 form (Michigan Secretary of State Office)
• Re-titled as “Assembled” for manufacturer, and “Low Speed” for body style
• Vehicle must be upgraded by the person seeking the title
• If upgraded by a third party, title must show that party as manufacturer
o Third party must also have appropriate level of dealer license
o Third party manufacturers must meet all current year FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards), not just windshields and safety
belts/anchorages
REQUIREMENT for BRAKES
• MCL 257.705(a): A…low-speed vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the vehicle, including 2 separate means of applying the brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least 2 wheels. If these 2 separate means of applying the brakes are connected in any way, they shall be constructed in a way that failure of 1 part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least 2 wheels.
HELMENT or CRUSH-RESISTANT ROOF MCL 257.658b
• (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a person operating or riding in a low-speed vehicle shall wear a crash helmet on his or her head. The crash
helmet shall meet the requirements of the rules promulgated by the department of state police under section 658.
• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person operating or riding in a low-speed vehicle equipped with a roof that meets or exceeds the standards for
r00f-crush resistance, provided under 49 C.F.R. 571.500
WINDSHIELDS
• A windshield must be ANSI AS-1 or AS-4 Department of Transportation approved and labeled on glass as such. 49 C.F.R. 571.500
• (a) When tested in accordance with test conditions in S6 and test procedures in S7, the maximum speed attainable in 1.6 km (1 mile) by each low-
speed vehicle shall not be more than 40 kilometers per hour (25 miles per hour).
• (b) Each low-speed vehicle shall be equipped with:
o Headlamps o Front and rear turn signal lamps o Tail lamps o Stop lamps o Reflex reflectors: one red on each side as far to the rear as
practicable, and one red on the rear
o An exterior mirror mounted on the driver’s side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger’s side of the vehicle or
an interior mirror
o A parking brake
o A windshield that conforms to the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on glazing materials (49 CFR 571.205)
o A VIN (vehicle identification number) that conforms to the requirements of part 565 Vehicle Identification Number of this chapter
o A type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to Sec. 571.209 of this part, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, Seat belt
assemblies, installed at each designated seating position
RIGHTS and DUTIES of OPERATOR MCL 257.657
• Each person…operating a low-speed vehicle upon a roadway has all the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to the provisions of this chapter which by their nature do not have application.
LIMITATIONS ON USE IN MICHIGAN MCL 257.660
• (1) A person operating… low-speed vehicle…upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care
when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
• (4) A person operating a …low-speed vehicle…shall not pass between lines of traffic, but may pass on the left of traffic moving in his/her direction in
the case of a 2-way street or on the left or right of traffic in the case of a 1-way street, in an unoccupied lane.
• (6) A…low-speed vehicle shall not be operated on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians.
• (7) A low-speed vehicle shall be operated at a speed of not to exceed 25 miles per hour and shall not be operated on a highway or street with the
speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour except for the purpose of crossing that highway or street. The state transportation department may
prohibit the operation of low-speed vehicle on any highway or street under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the
interest of public safety.
OFF ROAD VEHICLES ORV
• MCL 324.81101(n): “ORV” or “vehicle” means a motor driven off-road recreation vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road
or trail, on or immediately over land, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain.
• MCL 324.81122(1): A person shall not operate an ORV that is not registered under code upon a public highway, street, or right-of-way of a public
highway or street, except as provided in section 811331….
• MCL 324.81131 (1): A person under 18 years of age shall not operate an ORV pursuant to this section unless the person is in possession of a valid
driver license or under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian and the person has in his or her immediate possession an ORV safety certificate
issued pursuant to this part…
ANSI/ASAE S276.6 SLOW MOVING VEHICLE INDENTIFICATION EMBLEM 257.684a
• Slow moving vehicle identification emblems are for use on “Implements of husbandry” (Farm tractors and trailers towed by farm tractors).
• Implement of husbandry means a vehicle which is either a farm tractor, a vehicle designated to be drawn by a farm tractor or an animal, a vehicle
which directly harvest farm products, or a vehicle which direly applies fertilizer, spray, or seeds to a farm field. | 
