Alright, so I started looking into this whole golf cart thing not too long ago. We moved to a new spot, and I kept seeing folks buzzing around in them, and I thought, “Hey, that looks pretty handy!” Maybe for quick trips to the community pool, or just cruising around when the weather’s nice. Seemed simple enough, right?
My First Look-See
So, the first thing I did was hop online, just a quick search, you know? And then I actually went down to a couple of places that sell ’em. Walked into a dealership, bright lights, shiny new carts everywhere. And man, that’s where my eyes kinda popped open. I guess I had this idea in my head they’d be, I dunno, like a fancy lawnmower price-wise? Wrong.
Brand new ones, especially the ones with all the bells and whistles – like fancy seats, cool sound systems, lift kits – those things can get up there. We’re talking thousands, easily. Some were pushing what you’d pay for a cheap used car! I saw basic electric ones, basic gas ones, and then the super tricked-out versions. The price range was huge, and honestly, a bit of a shocker at first.
Digging into the Used Market
After that initial sticker shock, I figured, okay, maybe a used one is the way to go. Makes sense, right? Let someone else take that initial depreciation hit. So, I started poking around. Looked at those online marketplace sites, you know, where people sell their stuff locally. Also checked out some independent repair shops that sometimes have used carts for sale.
What I found was a real mixed bag. You could find some older models for a couple of grand, maybe less if you were lucky or willing to do some work. But then you gotta be careful.
- How old are the batteries if it’s electric? That’s a big one.
- What kind of shape is it in? Any rust? Does it run okay?
- How was it maintained?
It’s not like buying a new one with a warranty. You’re kinda on your own a bit more.
The “Other” Costs I Didn’t Think About At First
This is where it gets interesting. It’s not just the price you pay upfront. I started talking to a few owners, and they clued me into some other stuff.
Like I mentioned, batteries. If you’re looking at an electric cart, those batteries don’t last forever. And replacing a set? Woah. That can be a seriously big chunk of change, like, a thousand bucks or even more, depending on the type and how many. That was a real eye-opener for me. I heard some folks say you might get 3-5 years out of a set, maybe more if you’re lucky and take good care of them.
Then there’s maintenance. Gas carts need oil changes, spark plugs, filters, just like a small engine. Electric ones are generally less maintenance, but you still have tires, brakes, and other bits that can wear out.
And accessories! Oh boy. Windshields, rain enclosures, lights if it doesn’t have ’em, seat covers, maybe a rear seat kit. All that stuff adds up pretty quickly. I saw some carts that probably had as much spent on accessories as the cart itself cost initially!
Insurance is another thing. Some places require it, especially if you’re driving on public roads (even in a community). And even if not required, probably a good idea.
So, What’s the Bottom Line?
What I learned is that “how expensive is a golf cart” doesn’t have one simple answer. It really, really depends.
You can get a very basic, older, used gas cart for maybe $2,000 to $4,000 if you hunt around and are willing to accept something that’s not perfect. An older electric one in that range might need batteries soon, so you gotta factor that in.
Decent, refurbished used ones from a dealer, or newer private sales, seem to hover in the $4,000 to $7,000 range. These are usually in good shape, maybe with newer batteries or some nice features.
New ones? Well, a basic new electric or gas cart might start around $7,000 or $8,000. But once you start adding features, better seats, lift kits, street legal kits… I saw plenty that were $10,000, $12,000, even $15,000 and up. Some of those fancy “luxury” ones were north of $20,000!
For me, I realized it was going to be a bigger investment than I initially thought, especially if I wanted something reliable and decent-looking without immediately sinking more money into it for batteries or repairs. I’m still mulling it over, actually. Definitely made me do a lot more homework than I expected for what seemed like a simple purchase!
