Skip to: Content | Footer | Web Accessibility | Disability Services
Disabled wheelchair logo
Contact Information ImageTelephone: 1-800-777-0133 Hearing Impaired: TTY 1-800-368-4327

California Department of Motor Vehicles
DMV Spanish website
car image
A picture of a man and a woman using DMV Online Services
Link to online applications
Appointments
Registration Renewal
Vehicle Registration Fee Calculator
Online Driver License Renewal
Personalized Plates
Online Change of Address
Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability
Text Sizer image Decrease the text size Restore original text size Increase the text size
Enlarge Text
Click to increase the text size.
Restore Text
Click to restore original text size.
Reduce Text
Click to decrease the text size.

Low Speed Vehicle

385.5.  (a) A “low-speed vehicle” is a motor vehicle that meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Has four wheels.

(2) Can attain a speed, in one mile, of more than 20 miles per hour and not more than 25 miles per hour, on a paved level surface.

(3) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 pounds.

(b) (1) For the purposes of this section, a “low-speed vehicle” is not a golf cart, except when operated pursuant to Section 21115 or 21115.1.

(2) A “low-speed vehicle” is also known as a “neighborhood electric vehicle.”

Added Sec. 1, Ch. 140, Stats. 1999. Effective January 1, 2000.
Amended Sec. 2, Ch. 422, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 66, Stats. 2006. Effective July 12, 2006.