Golf carts have been growing in popularity outside of the golf course for the past few decades, with many companies renting golf carts for use in vacation destinations, and with some families buying their own golf cart for use around their neighborhood or property. When children are involved, it’s critically important to keep them safe, which is where golf cart car seats come in.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to install a car seat in a golf cart properly and keep your little ones safe while you spend time on your cart.
Can You Put A Car Seat In A Golf Cart?
Yes, you can absolutely put a car seat in a golf cart, and it’s safer than holding your child in your lap.
Understand that the car seat manufacturers test in accordance with federal regulations and are not designed or tested for use in vehicles other than cars, vans, SUVs, and light trucks.
This means that your car seat manual will not have any instructions on how to install the car seat in a golf cart, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
The good news is that golf carts go at much lower speeds, are involved in less accidents, and have a lower rollover risk than regular vehicles.
You’ll need a little preparation in order to attach a car seat in your golf cart, which we’ll walk you through below.
It’s also a good idea to measure the seat beforehand to get your golf cart dimensions so you know what space you’re working with.
How To Install A Car Seat In A Golf Cart
Before you go installing the car seat in your golf cart, make sure your child’s car seat is the type that can accept a belt strap through the frame in the back, going in one side and out the other.
This seat belt or lap belt is going to serve as the car seat attachment for your golf cart.
Start by taking the lap belt or seat belt and entering the frame on one side, looping it through the other, and securing the buckle of the seat belt (similar to how you’d install one in your regular vehicle).
Apply pressure while securing the belt as tightly as possible to minimize movement at the base of the car seat – use your knee to press down the car seat to get every last bit of wiggle out.
Once you’ve secured the base, you’ll also want to secure the tether on the middle or upper back of the car seat to your golf cart.
Hook the tether to the golf cart’s seat or another part of the frame, keeping the tether centered as much as possible – using this tether will keep the child carrier upright and stabilize the top of the seat to prevent tipping.
If your golf cart does not have seat belts, we strongly recommend installing them with a golf cart seat belt kit.
Not only will this make installing a baby carrier on your golf cart easier and safer, it will also provide extra safety for passengers of all ages.
If installing seat belts is not possible due to your golf cart’s model or other limitations, you could use ratchet straps to make sure the base of the car seat is completely tight and secure to the golf cart’s seat or frame.
Never use bungee cords, as they don’t have the same hold as a seat belt does because they stretch too much.
Golf Cart Car Seat Laws
The laws for golf carts and NEVs (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles) vary by state and even by county or local government body, so check with your local area to see what regulations apply.
In our research, we mostly found that if children are required to be in a car seat in a vehicle, they’re also required to be in a golf seat in a golf cart.
There are general distinctions between a regular golf cart intended for use solely on a golf course, and using a golf cart or NEV on public roads.
Check out our guide on how to make a golf cart street legal for what you’ll need to take your cart out on the road.
The Best Golf Cart Car Seats
Since not all child carriers and car seats accept seat belts, we’ve rounded up the best baby seats, toddler seats, and child harnesses for golf carts available on the market today.
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat is the best-selling carseat in the US for a reason.
It easily converts to handle kids from 4-65 pounds and can be both front-facing and rear-facing, and accepts a seat belt strap through the base, allowing it to be attached to a golf cart.
Graco Tranzitions 3 In 1 Harness Booster Seat
This 3-in-1 Graco Tranzitions Harness Booster Seat made our list for its ability to handle kids from 22-100 pounds, giving it a range that most seats can’t handle.
It’s also lightweight and converts easily, and it’s slim width profile makes it great for installing in golf cart seat where you’re not squeezing out other passengers or sacrificing arm room.
WhizRider Portable Booster Seat
The WhizRider Portable Booster Seat is convenient and is very compact, making it great for throwing in a storage compartment or glove box for times when you need it.
Unlike booster seats which lift the child up, the WhizRider pulls the shoulder belt down to the correct level and secures the entire seatbelt in an optimal position around the wearer.
Liuliuby Travel Harness Seat
The Liuliuby Travel Harness is a good budget option for strapping a harness to a golf cart seat (or any other chair with a seat back up to 21” wide, for that matter).
It has 3 adjustable heights to accommodate children 6 months and up, provided they can sit up unassisted.
It rolls up very compact, and this is a good choice if you plan on sitting next to your child in the golf cart so you can still keep a hand on them.
Wrapping Up Golf Cart Car Seats
We hope this guide helped you better understand how to attach a car seat to a golf cart and helped you along with finding the best child carrier for your cart.
What did you decide on, and how did the installation process go?
Let us know (along with any helpful tips and tricks) in the comments below.
