Updated October 14, 2026 · By Brian Smith
What it costs to ship a golf cart
Expect a price close to what an SUV costs on the same route. A golf cart is light, but it occupies a position on the trailer that could otherwise carry a car, and it has to be loaded and secured the same way. As an example, the planning band for a standard vehicle from Ohio to Florida is $1,000 – $1,200 on an open carrier; a golf cart on that route lands near the same figure. Every route page shows the band for its corridor, and your exact price depends on your two ZIP codes and the pickup date.
What is the cheapest way to ship a golf cart?
- Choose an open carrier. On every route I publish, open is the lower band; enclosed is worth it only for a show cart or a custom paint job.
- Make sure it runs, or at least rolls and steers. A cart that has to be winched on needs a carrier with the right equipment.
- Give a pickup window of a few days. It lets me put the cart on a truck already passing your town.
- Avoid the busiest weeks if you can. The fall run south and the spring run north are when room on the Florida trucks is tightest.
- Take the extras off. A roof, windshield or rain enclosure left on has to be secured, and loose items are usually excluded from the carrier’s cargo coverage.
Golf carts and the snowbird season
Golf carts move with the snowbird migration: south from the Midwest and the Northeast in the fall, north again in spring. Those are the busiest weeks on the Florida lanes, so ask early and give a pickup window rather than one fixed day. If you are shipping your car as well, ask for both in one quote; the snowbird guide covers timing both ways.
Street-legal carts and LSVs
A street-legal golf cart or low-speed vehicle (LSV) ships the same way as a standard cart. Tell me the make and model, whether it is gas or electric, any lift kit, larger wheels, a rear seat or an enclosure, because those change its size and how it is secured.
If the cart does not run
A cart with a dead battery or a fault can still be shipped if it rolls and steers, but it has to be pushed or winched on and off. Say so when you ask for a quote, so the carrier brings the right equipment and the price is agreed before pickup.
Preparing a golf cart for transport
- Charge an electric cart, or leave a gas cart with a little fuel, so it can be driven on and off.
- Remove bags, coolers, ball washers and anything loose from the cart and the basket.
- Secure or remove the windshield, roof, rain enclosure and seat covers.
- Hand over the key, and the charger if it is traveling with the cart.
- Photograph the cart from every side and note existing damage on the inspection report with the driver.
Insurance and the price you pay
Once your final price is confirmed, you receive the driver’s name and phone number, the carrier’s certificate of insurance and its MC and DOT numbers. The price is fixed in writing before pickup, and nobody asks for more at delivery; the price guarantee explains how.
Written by Brian Smith, Auto Transport Manager at Leader Auto Ship LLC — FMCSA licensed property broker, MC #1638331, DOT #4232283. Verify the licence yourself.
