by Tom Tomlinson
1. Find a Trustable Dealer
Make sure the dealer you buy from is both reliable and trustworthy. You can ask other golf cart owners for suggestions, or you could research a potential dealer online.
2. Prepare for Repair
Just like cars, golf carts need to have repairs from time to time. Choosing a golf cart dealer who also offers free or discounted repairs for their buyers will save you time and money in the future.
3. Test Drive It!
Test drive any golf cart you are considering buying. If it looks great but does not run like you might like it to, then keep looking.
4. Know Your Price
You can purchase a good used golf cart for between $2000 and $4000. If you rent golf carts often, this will pay for itself within a year.
5. Ask Around
If you have any family or friends who have owned a golf cart before, ask them what they liked and disliked about their golf cart, how much they paid, and where they have it serviced at.
6. Gas Vs. Electric
You can purchase either a gas or electric golf cart and while they both have advantages and disadvantages, it really depends on what you are going to use it for. Gas-powered carts have more power and therefore can travel at higher speeds. On the other hand, having an electric cart is much more cost-efficient, and if you’re not planning on taking it very far the lower speed should not matter.
7. Stay Away from As-Is
A big “Sold As-Is” sign on the cart you like should be a huge red flag. In many cases this means the dealer bought the cart as it was and did nothing to repair any problems. Additionally, they may not have even checked it for major malfunctions.
8. Say Yes to Reconditioned
A reconditioned cart is usually a safe bet. This means the dealer checked the cart for problems and fixed what needed to be fixed. Reconditioned carts often come with warranties or guarantees as well.
