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About WaterCar
OWNERSHIP ESSENTIALS
What is an LSV?
LSV means Low-Speed Vehicle. It fills the road-use space between a golf cart and a car. WaterCar’s maximum road speed is 25 mph.
Street-legal registration and operating rules for low-speed vehicles vary by state and local jurisdiction and may change. This information is general guidance only. Confirm current requirements with your state DMV and local authorities before registering or operating your WaterCar on public roads.
≤20 mph
CONVENTIONAL
CART SPEED
Golf cart
Built primarily for the golf course.
Public-road access varies locally.
25 mph
MAXIMUM
ROAD SPEED
WaterCar
Low-speed road travel.
Local streets, then onto the water.
55+ mph
HIGHWAY
EXAMPLES
Car
Built for local and higher-speed roads.
Including highway travel.
Road-use comparison; illustrations are not to scale. The car figure shows example highway travel speeds, not a vehicle maximum. Always follow posted limits. Some cart-shaped vehicles are certified LSVs.
THE WATERCAR DIFFERENCE
Local streets.
Open water.
WaterCar brings low-speed road travel and boating together. Plan the local route between your home and the waterfront, then make the transition onto the water.
The 25 mph figure is the road maximum. Marine performance is a separate specification. Road and vessel registration requirements also need to be checked separately.
The road rules, made clear.
Which roads can I use?
State and local rules decide where an LSV may operate. Check the entire route—including crossings, bridges and any restricted roads. A nearby golf-cart route is not automatically an approved WaterCar route.
The posted road limit and the vehicle’s maximum speed are different things. An LSV’s 25 mph maximum does not change when a road has a higher posted limit.
What makes an LSV different?
LSVs have specific federal equipment requirements. These include lights, turn signals, reflectors, mirrors, a parking brake, compliant windshield, VIN and seat belts. Rear-visibility and applicable pedestrian alert-sound requirements also apply.
A conventional golf cart is not automatically an LSV. Speed, required equipment and the vehicle’s certification all matter.
A few things worth knowing.
Is an LSV the same as a car?
It is a separate vehicle category. LSVs are not subject to the same federal crashworthiness standards as passenger cars. Choose routes suited to low-speed travel; an LSV is intended for low-speed travel on permitted roads. NHTSA explains the distinction.
What does “street legal” involve?
Verify the requirements for the specific vehicle and your location: certification documents, title and registration, insurance, driver licensing and permitted roads. For WaterCar, confirm the vessel requirements too.
The formal definition
Under 49 CFR 571.3, an LSV has four wheels, reaches more than 20 mph but no more than 25 mph in the specified one-mile test on a paved, level surface, and has a manufacturer-rated loaded weight (GVWR) below 3,000 pounds. A speed limit alone does not establish LSV certification.
Federal requirements checked October 17, 2026 against eCFR text current through October 15, 2026. Diagram references: NHTSA on golf carts and LSVs and FHWA highway speed examples.
START WITH YOUR ROUTE
See how WaterCar fits your day.
Check the streets between home and the water, then explore the model that suits how you boat.