Updated: June 2019 –
Golf carts are a way of life for most Villagers.
Just how many golf carts are there in The Villages?
While no official numbers are maintained, most people “in the know” agree that there are more than 60,000 golf carts putting around The Villages.
Even non-golfers find it more convenient to hop in their golf cart to get around The Villages than in their cars.
It’s easier to park a golf cart too, as most of the shopping centers, entertainment venues, town squares and medical facilities are considered “golf cart approved” or “accessible”.
Many Villagers end up getting rid of one, or sometimes both family cars because the golf carts are so much cheaper and easier.
So as you can imagine, golf carts are a VERY big industry in The Villages.
There are companies that sell and service carts, companies that rent carts, companies that insure carts, and even companies that provide roadside assistance for golf carts.
Where to Buy Golf Carts in The Villages
If you’re in the market for a golf cart, here are a few places we know of that sell carts. Please note that we do not recommend or endorse any place over another, and we don’t accept advertising, so we have no preference. The best advice: narrow it down to a make/model you like and shop around.
The Villages Golf Cars has four locations throughout the community. You can find them at Lake Sumter Landing, Brownwood, Colony Plaza and La Plaza Grande. The Villages Outdoor in Wildwood also sells carts built for off-road driving.
Village Streetrod – If you’re looking to go all out and really turn heads driving through The Villages, Village Streetrod claims to have the “World’s Finest Kustom Golf Cars”, and they sure are fancy! They are located in Palm Ridge Plaza. Their Streetrod Club now has more than 900 members!
Villages Golf Cart Man – Located in Fruitland Park, The Golf Cart Man has been around almost as long as people have been buying golf carts in The Villages.
Visit his website at http://www.villagesgolfcartman.com or call 352-674-9400
Cart World Golf Cars – Located on 441 in Lady Lake, they offer sales, service, and rentals.
Visit their website at http://cartworldgolfcars.com or call 352-753-1800
ParCar USA – They offer new and pre-owned sales and service.
Visit their website at https://parcarusa.com/ or call 352-323-8006
Village Discount Golf Car – Offering sales, service, and rentals, they are located in the Santa Fe Crossing Plaza on CR466
Visit their website at http://villagediscountgolfcar.com or call 352-633-8480
Where to Rent Golf Carts in The Villages
When visiting The Villages, you might want live like a local and rent a golf cart.
If you are visiting on the Lifestyle Preview Program, your rental will come with a golf cart. However, as many people have written in to me about, you might be disappointed with the performance:
“Our lifestyle preview included a golf cart that was governed to not exceed 12MPH. What a joke! Golf carts were tailgating us and passing us left and right the entire week.”
Fortunately, many of the places listed above also rent carts. Keep in mind that several factors go in to what you will end up paying to rent a golf cart and the choices available to you.
These factors include time of year (during the busy season Jan-April many places don’t have carts available), how many seats you need (2 or 4 usually), the speed of the carts, whether or not they have enclosures (tip: you definitely want enclosures), and how long you want to rent for.
Most companies rent on a weekly or monthly basis, but some rent by the day if that’s what you need. Call and see what you can work out.
Some of the Coolest Golf Carts in The Villages
As your reward for reading this whole article, check out photos of some of the coolest golf carts running around The Villages today:
“As one of the Founders and First President of The Villages Texas A&M Club, I wanted a distinctive golf cart – hence, the Ag-Jag. Gayle picked it out and it’s been fun to drive in The Villages.” 
“Our cart is a modified 2014 Yamaha with a custom front designed to replicate the Bentley automobile. Our girls love to ride!” 
“Had our custom made mustang and trailer built with 2″ rear spacers, side lakers, set up with 8 batteries, undercarriage lighting, stereo system, dual stripping down the center of cart to trunk. On the custom trailer we had an airbrushed wild mustang painting done. We also had a custom trunk from a model A convert to mount on the back of our cart. Our cart has been featured in so many photos being taken around the square.” 
“Her name is Betty and she is great! She has windshield wipers, speedometer, odometer, radio, self-canceling signal light.” 
“We bought a 2015 club car and my son took it completely apart and repainted it. Now we have a UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN golf cart. (GO BLUE!)” 
“People tell us that our cart looks like a school bus!” 
“This Yesteryear Kart is a 4 seat facing forward. I upgraded the kart with power windows, windshield wipers, backup camera. etc.” 
“This is a 2002 clubcar with a hand-made Jeep body.” 
“We are originally from Maryland and love our Baltimore Ravens. I promised myself once we sold our Md home and moved here permanently that I would have a Ravens golf car. We did so in march this year and I ordered my Ravens golf car as a retirement gift to my husband and I. We love it, Go Ravens!” 
“My mother-in-law’s favorite ride… my ’35 Chevy!” 
“All dressed up for the Farmer’s Market at Brownwood, our handsome Golden Retriever, Buddy, loves his own seat in the golf cart.” 
“I have always loved Superman and am a big collector of Superman memorabilia so when I got my cart it made sense to trick it out as a Super Cart. Notice the Superman figure flying off the roof of the cart and the “Truth, Justice and the American Way” decal on the front window.” 
“Its a red white and blue Phantom model from Streetrod…. seats 4 looking forward. Goes in most parades here.” 
“Its blue and white like a milk truck. All NY Yankees…. Has all the years they won the world series as well as various logos and prints on it… Has NY mats etc. Everyone stops and takes pictures….that is if they are Yankees fans. I love it.” 
“We like the cart because the dogs, Ashley and Charley love to go for rides. We try to use it instead of the car. It is gas and we can ride around in The Villages all day. The wheels and underneath light up at night. It is so much fun to be in The Villages on a golf cart.” 
“We set about to make ours memorable of our former home city, NYC. We got lucky and were able to locate rate decals as well as a “N.Y.C TAXI” decal for the windshield and black and white checker stripe. We added a roof-light. We use our cart for local transportation and get hailed on every outing. It’s a great conversation piece, reminds us of good old New York and is just fun to drive and easy to meet neighbors.” 
“Being a retired soldier, I drive Jeeps, so it was just natural to get a Jeep when arriving in The Villages. It’s gas-powered and has all the extras. And since it is a smaller version of my road vehicle, a Jeep Commander, I call it ‘Little Brother’.” 
“4 seater beautiful cart. Streetrod!” 
“My cart is my baby! It is cute, fun to drive, and gets everyone’s attention, I love to drive it around the Villages and blow her oo-ga horn. Everyone smiles and waves when we meet. I have been stopped repeatedly to allow picture taking. When the grandchildren are in town, going for a ride in “Baby” is one of their vacations favorite activities.” 
“I had a 65 Red Ford Mustang and saw this 1932 Ford. Oh boy! I wanted it and I got it. I love it.” 
“We bought this cart to get around our marina in Georgia, long before we ever heard of or thought about moving to The Villages. At the time, she was just a good looking standard golf cart with no frills. When we decided to move her down with us we “dressed her up” with new paint, seat covers, side curtains, a stereo system and stainless steel running boards. We can also drop down the windshield to use as serving space for tailgating. Now known as Big Bertha, she is a great “party cart” and a favorite mode of transportation with family and friends. This picture shows her decorated in her Christmas attire for caroling and a trip to the annual Holiday Parade.” 
“No matter how tough a day I’ve had at work, a spin in my cart makes me and others smile.” 
“This Streetrod is made to scale by “Streetrod Productions” on a new Club Car chassis. It has working dual exhaust, tilt steering, radio/cd, speedometer, tail gate, ground effect lights and other add-ons. The company manufactures other models ie: 32 ford, 34 ford etc. each is it’s own custom color. The soft top reclines for the convertible effect. Great fun!” 
“Custom Chicago Bears golf cart with under carriage led lighting and running lights.” 
“It’s a 1965 replica of a Ford Mustang with original emblems. Also replica of the after market air conditioner.” 
“It is metallic purple and silver mist with silver most ghost flames. It is a 5/8 model of a ’34 Ford pickup with a soft top. Has 200 multi colored LEDs that are operator controlled, these were installed by Liquid Lights here in The Villages. Also the kart has a custom two chamber performance muffler with dual chrome 3 in exhausts installed by Jiffy exhaust at Wildwood, Florida.” 
“Best golf cart ever! Always wanted to get a Hummer, finally got it here at The Villages.” 
“Surf’s up! My California Roadster has a surfboard on the roof, which draws lots of “ohhs” and “ahhs” as well as requests for photos. It is electric, seats 4 with a rumble seat. I get 40-60 miles on a charge and love the quiet smooth performance of my cart. The crowning touch is the authentic hood ornament from a ’32 Cadillac! The California Roadster is built to scale from the design of the 32’Ford Roadster, so the hood ornament is of the right vintage. 
“Looks like a 1929 Ford.” 
“We designed it and they built it, we love it!” 
“When I had this cart built I tried to make it look as much like the 1932 Ford street rod I’ve had for 20 some years.” 
“Bought it when we moved to The Villages in March, 2011. Wife walked into the showroom, saw it, said: “I want it”! End of discussion!”