Practical answers to the questions every first-time golf cart buyer asks. Updated for the 2026 market.
New golf carts from Big Three dealers typically run $9,000 to $18,000 for a personal-use 4-passenger with standard features. Used carts start around $3,000 to $5,000 and climb from there depending on year, battery condition, and upgrades.
The strongest case for used: batteries are the expensive component, and a used cart with fresh batteries and a 90-day shop warranty (like the ones at Good Bull) can deliver 80% of a new cart's experience at 40-50% of the price. The strongest case for new: lithium drivetrains have improved dramatically in the last 3 years, and warranty + financing stack up to make new carts more accessible than they look.
Electric wins on quietness, low maintenance, and neighborhood aesthetics. You wake the neighbors less, there's no oil change, and most neighborhoods increasingly expect electric. Gas wins on range, refueling speed, and cold-weather reliability — less relevant in Central Texas but worth noting if you're thinking about hunting trips or longer runs away from a charger.
Yamaha's QuieTech EFI gas engine is a notable middle ground — gas drivetrain, quiet enough that the neighborhood-noise argument largely goes away. See the Yamaha brand page for more.
Lithium is winning. Expect 2,000+ charge cycles vs. 500-800 for lead-acid. Lithium is lighter (better range), doesn't need to be topped off with water, and charges faster. The price premium was $2,500-$3,500 five years ago; it's closer to $1,200-$1,800 now and shrinking.
Lead-acid still makes sense if: (a) you're buying used and replacing batteries later is cheaper, or (b) you're buying a pure course cart that only does 18-hole rounds.
A "Low Speed Vehicle" (LSV) is a golf cart that's been upgraded to meet federal requirements: seatbelts, DOT-approved headlights, turn signals, horn, windshield, VIN, and a 25 mph top speed. Texas allows LSVs on roads posted at 35 mph or less (plus crossings of higher-speed roads). Outside those rules, a golf cart is technically a private-property vehicle.
If you're buying for neighborhood use — groceries, the mailbox, grandkid pickup — pay for LSV. It's the difference between legally driving 200 yards to the pool and not.
If you're within an hour of Austin, start at Good Bull Golf Carts in Cedar Creek. Authorized for both Club Car and E-Z-GO, which gives you the easiest head-to-head comparison on the two most proven personal-use platforms in a single visit. Full list of other shops is on the Shops page.