Written by: Carolyn Jackson

Top Ten Must Have Golf Cart Accessories

Golf carts are not just for golf. Although they do a great job carrying your clubs around the course while you chase after that ball that you just swear was in the fairway. Golf carts have become more and more common in pedestrian areas as a means of fun and convenient transportation.

Whether you’re renting a cart for your Sunday 18, for the family beach trip, as a wedding chauffeur service, or you own a golf cart – there are some pretty cool ways to trick them out with aftermarket upgrades.

In this article, we are going to give it to you straight. Our top ten best golf cart accessories you should have if you ever plan to set foot in a golf cart.

If you are still in the “man, a golf cart would be really awesome to own” stage, take a look at our Golf Carts 101: All Your Questions Answered to learn a little more about what it is like to own a golf cart.

 

Overview of Golf Cart Accessories

Golf carts are pretty basic. It might sound harsh, but most golf carts come without any of the exciting bells and whistles. They are designed simply to do their job – transport you from one place to another, maybe have storage space for clubs, lawn clippings, or other items. If you want to use your golf cart for other things, such as driving it legally on a road or even off-roading, carrying your favorite snacks and drinks in a cooler, or bringing the party with a sound and lighting system – you’ll have to buy these accessories after you purchase your golf cart and make the upgrades yourself.

Don’t worry, none of these (extremely cool) upgrades are too challenging or too expensive to add to your (already) sweet ride. With that in mind, let’s dive into our favorite golf cart accessory finds.

 

The Ultimate List: Top Ten Golf Cart Accessories

Golf Cart Lift Kit

A lift kit is when you raise up the chassis of a vehicle so the clearance between the chassis and the ground is larger. A lift kit has multiple benefits, including the ability to cover uneven terrain, adding on larger tires and offset wheels for a smoother ride that can handle better, and a very unique look. For golf carts, the lift is usually between 3 inches and 8 inches from the factory height.

We recommend having a lift kit professionally installed unless you believe you have the skills to ensure the installation is done properly and safely. There are also multiple types of lift kits you can choose from. The differences depend on your overall goals. Are you wanting just the look of higher ground clearance? Or are you planning on using the golf cart in rough terrain?

Here are some places to look for golf cart lift kits that fit your ride:

You can also ask the dealer you purchased your golf cart from if they have any lift kits that fit your make and model in stock or if they have any recommendations for both a lift kit brand and style they like and for a mechanic to install it on your cart.

How Much Does it Cost? Lift kits vary widely in price. The price depends on the durability of the cart, the terrain you expect to cover, the wheels you want to put on, etc. The higher you go and the larger the wheels, the more expensive the kit will get. Generally, prices on the low end are between $100 and $400 and on the high end are usually in the $900 to $1,300 range.

Front Storage Basket

This isn’t your kid’s bike basket. This is a heavy-duty metal storage container for the front of your golf cart. Ok, it’s kinda like your kid’s bike basket, but there’s a reason bike baskets are still around, right? This particular golf cart storage basket is highly rated by users for easy installation, affordability, and overall practicality. People use this for anything from hauling maintenance tools, carrying tackle and bait, tools for hunting, and a table to eat lunch on. This thing is just practical.

How Much Does it Cost? $300

Personalized Back Seat Protective Cover

If your golf cart has a theme, you find the seats uncomfortable, you want to protect the seats from spills and stains, the seats get too hot, or you just want something pretty in your golf cart – these personalized protective seat covers are for you.

This fully lined cover measures approximately 22 inches in width by 40 inches in length and fits most golf cart front seats. This seat cover comes crafted with four adjustable nylon straps to secure your cover to the cart. For extra security, the back edge of the cover can be tucked in on the back of the seat where you raise to check your battery compartment, or gas compartment for gas models.

How Much Does it Cost? $95 – $185

Headlights and Taillights

This is a very popular post-manufacturer upgrade. Not only are headlights and taillights a great investment so that you can use your golf cart at night, but they are also a major safety investment. If you want to drive your golf cart on the public streets, they will need to have headlights, taillights and turn signals (as well as rearview and side-view mirrors). But the headlights and taillights are a great first step towards being street legal. Also, there are a lot of cool options to choose from when adding lighting to your golf cart! Here are some options:

You can buy packages that have both headlights and tailights and the installation pieces all together. Here is a golf cart lighting kit example from Golf Cart Garage.

Remember to pay attention to the manufacturer of your golf cart and to purchase a lighting kit that fits that make and model. For example, the one above is for an EZ-Go golf cart.

How Much Does it Cost? $200 – $400

Golf Cart Hitch

Sometimes you just need to tow stuff, ya know? But seriously, think of all the possibilities for hauling other things with your golf cart. From hauling a trailer to hauling a cooler, adding on the ability to haul many items can be extremely helpful for some golf cart users. This would apply to people who have golf carts for when they are camping or on a large property so they can transport items/food/drinks/debris from one place to another. This is especially helpful if you do not have a bucket/basket in the back of your golf cart, you can simply add a hitch and a small trailer and you are good to go.

How Much Does it Cost? On average, $20-$80

Golf Cart Heaters and/or Fans

This one is pretty exciting. Do you love to golf year-round but hate being cold? Do you love riding your golf cart in the middle of summer in Florida, but slide around on the seat because you’re sweating so much? If so, a golf cart heater or golf cart fan may be the perfect solution. There are other people out there who do not let the weather deter them from using their golf cart, but they probably have one of these handy dandy gadgets.

You can add in an overhead fan that attaches to the inside of the roof of the golf cart and connects to the golf cart battery so it can easily run any time you use your golf cart. It is also pretty small and narrow so it doesn’t take up too much space. There are also more traditional oscillating fans you can add to the rails of your golf cart. These fans are usually battery-operated.

If you plan to use your golf cart in colder temperatures, there are also heating solutions available. The most popular is a portable heater that sits in your cupholder and uses a small propane tank to run.

How Much Does it Cost?

Ceiling Fan – $400-$600
Roll Bar Fan – $50-$150
Cupholder Heater – $100

 

Upgraded/New Wheels and Tires

Did you know wheels and tires are different things? Not something they teach you in gradeshcool. A tire is the rubber piece that you probably most associate with what this accessory is. However, with a tire, you also need a wheel, which is the metal part that goes inside of the tire to give it shape, control, and longevity.

Investing in a new set of tires for your golf cart will not only look pretty cool, but it can also drastically improve handling and the ride of the golf cart.

When choosing a new tire, consider these things before purchasing:

  1. Does it fit my make and model of golf cart?
  2. Will the wheel/tire size fit my golf cart?
    • Is my golf cart lifed or standard?
  3. Where will I be using my golf cart?
    • Will you be using it in rough terrain or mostly just on the street?

These three questions should help you pick out the right tire for your needs, and then you can narrow it down by look. If anyone has ever told you tires can’t be sexy, they are wrong. Just look at these tires…

How Much Does it Cost? You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 per tire to $200 per tire when replacing or upgrading your golf cart tires. Remember you need four of them!

Seatbelts

This one may not seem as exciting as some of the other cool gadgets on this list, but remember, safety IS cool! Depending on how you plan to use your golf cart, you may want to consider adding in seat belts. This mostly applies if you expect to be traveling on public streets or at speeds higher than 15mph regularly. Also, if you expect to drive your golf cart on rougher terrain, you might want to look into seat belts.

Luckily, there are many option available to easily (and affordably) add seatbelts to your golf cart. You can select a simple bar seat belt or go with a more traditional retractable seatbelt.

How Much Does it Cost? On average, prices range from $20 to $200 for 4 seatbelts but some options with added safety and comfort options can cost as much as $1,200 for a 4 pack.

Personalized Vanity License Plate

Add a little bit of personality to your golf cart with a personalized vanity license plate. You can choose any state, as these are not street legal license plates, and any personalization text to the item. They even have memorable versions of license plates from certain states such as 1990 NY and 1963 California. But don’t just take our word for it, look at the two most recent reviews for this item:

How Much Does it Cost? $20

Radio/Soundsystem

Most golf carts don’t come equipped with any radio or speaker systems. Depending on how you plan to use your golf cart, this may be the perfect investment. There are tons of options for adding on a radio or soundsystem to your golf cart that fit any budget.

The simplest option is to get a portable, waterproof, bluetooth speaker that comes with a mount to add to your roll bars. Here is a great magnetic option from Amazon. It is easy to install and easy to set up and start using.

If you are looking for something with a little more impact, you can go for a built-in speaker/sound system. There are hundreds of options on the market, some are purely bluetooth, like this Red Hawk sound bar. Others include a traditional radio connection, like this Boss Audio Golf Cart Bundle.

Keep in mind noise ordinances in your areas when selecting a sound system as well as if you will need a mechanic to install it for you.

How Much Does it Cost?

The Red Hawk bluetooth stereo above is $500

The Boss Audio radio set is $100

The magnetic bluetooth speaker is $70

Where to Buy Golf Cart Accessories

The best place to start is online. Searching for golf cart accessories online will offer you the largest selection of options and price points. It can help you understand what is out there, how other golf cart owners have modified their carts, and what interests you. After doing the initial online research, go talk to the dealer you purchased the golf cart from (if applicable) and ask what their opinion is on what you found.

Consider asking:

  1. Have you heard of this brand before? What do you know about it?
  2. Will this upgrade work with my make and model?
  3. Have you heard any feedback about adding this to a golf cart, good or bad?
  4. What would you do with your golf cart if you had the chance?

In general, many manufacturer websites have accessories available. The benefit of shopping directly from the manufacturer is you know it will fit and work with your specific golf cart. The downside is the prices are usually a little higher and the options for customization lower. Here are some links to popular golf cart brand accessory sites:

The other benefit of shopping through a specific dealer is that you can usually find a golf cart dealership store front and see the items in person before purchasing.

If you would prefer to look for accessories on third-party sites, rest assured, they still make high-quality items that will absolutely work fro your golf cart. The downside is just that you will need to put in some time and effort cross-referencing the accessory you want to buy to ensure it will work for your specific golf cart.

Here are some third-part golf cart accessory sites to check out:

You can even search on Amazon for certain golf cart accessories and don’t forget about Etsy for all your customization needs.

Golf Carts Tips and Tricks

Tricking out your golf cart with after-market upgrades is a really exciting part of the process after you purchase a golf cart (used or new). But if that’s not where you’re currently at, that’s totally cool too! If you are interested in learning more about how purchasing a golf cart work or what owning a golf cart entails, you are still in the right place. Check out some of our other articles on golf carts to see if they answer any of your burning golf cart questions. Happy carting!

The GoRollick Marketplace for Golf Carts

When you’re ready to find your next golf cart, be sure to check us out at GoRollick.com.

You can:

  • See nationwide inventory, specs, and incentive information
  • Get an upfront, transparent price on your desired golf cart
  • Receive special offers on both the golf cart as well as additional accessories
  • Take advantage of Bonus Savings plus the option to Buy From Home from select Certified Dealers
  • Shop at one of our Certified Dealers who are committed to providing an exceptional buying experience

Check out and Subscribe to the GoRollick YouTube Channel to watch reviews, test rides, and more!

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