Effective April 2006, low speed vehicles
(LSVs) must be titled and registered to be
driven on certain New Jersey roadways. The
vehicles must also be properly insured, but
are not subject to regular motor vehicle
inspection. LSVs are sales tax exempt.
An LSV is a four-wheeled vehicle,
as defined in 4 CFR. s. 571.3(b),
whose attainable speed is
more than 20 miles per hour
and no more than 25 miles
per hour on a paved level
s The vehicle cannot be powered
by gas or diesel fuel and
must comply with federal
safety standards as noted
in 49 CFR s. 571.500.
The following are some general
guidelines for LSVs:
• LSVs may not be driven on roadways
with speed limits that exceed 25 mph. In
limited cases, if deemed appropriate by a
municipality or county or DOT, LSVs may be
permitted on roadways with speed limits that
do not exceed 35 mph,
• LSV operators should watch for and
abide by road signs prohibiting use even
on lower speed roads.
• LSVs may not be modified golf carts,
• An LSV must have a 17 digit Vehicle
Identification Number,
• Child restraints in LSVs must meet
the same standards as child restraints used
in passenger vehicles,
• LSVs must be operated by a person
with a valid driver license only (no permits,
provisional or suspended licenses).
• Properly title& registered and
Insured LSVS may be leased or rented for
temporary use.
• An LSV may be registered in the name
of an individual, business or government
entity, but may not be used as a commercial
vehicle.
• LSVs and their owners/operators are
subject to the same motor vehicle violations
as other vehicles and drivers except for
the regular inspection requirements.
• All LSVs shall have a safety information
decal, as provided by the manufacturer, affixed
in a conspicuous place on the rear of the
vehicle. The decal shall display in prominent
lettering ‘25 MPH Vehicle.”
• LSVs displaying only one license plate
shall have that license plate affixed on
the rear of the car
More information on this new law
will be available on the MVC
website, http://www.nj.gov/mve
The Department of Transportation
will issue guidelines on the
notice that municipalities must
provide to DOT to ban or limit
the use of these vehicles on
their road.
Additional Sources of Information
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings/lsv/lsv.html http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/EP2004/EP200446.html
A LSV Vehicle Manufacturer
http://www.gemcar.com/
