Golf Cart used on Public Road

November 14, 2013

We have an HO-3 policy. A golf cart was being driven by our insured's daughter and her friend. The daughter is 13 years old and the friend is 14 years old. There is some dispute as to which one of them was the driver. However, they hit a parked vehicle. The golf cart was not on a golf course but was being driven across the street from the insured's residence. The policy has no other endorsements and the golf cart was not registered. Would this be covered under the insured's homeowner's policy? If the friend was driving would that prevent coverage? Does the fact that they are both under 16 years old make a difference in providing coverage whether or not a golf cart was involved?

Massachusetts Subscriber

A golf cart is a motor vehicle by definition in the policy. Motor vehicles are excluded under the liability section of the homeowner's policy. Golf carts are excluded unless they are on a golfing facility or a private residential community which is subject to the authority of a property owner's association and contains the insured's residence. Such communities generally border golf courses or are retirement communities for senior citizens; the golf cart must be able to legally travel on the community roads. In this situation, there is no coverage. The age of the girls is immaterial.