Golf Cart Insurance in the Dominican Republic: Third-Party Liability & Collision Explained

If you own or rent a golf cart in Punta Cana, Casa de Campo, Cap Cana, or any other Dominican Republic resort community, it’s more than just a fun toy—it’s a vehicle that can cause real damage if something goes wrong. With the DR now positioned as one of the top golf destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America, golf carts are everywhere, from private villas to rental fleets and hotel communities.

In this guide, we’ll explain how golf cart insurance works in the Dominican Republic, what’s similar to regular car insurance, what’s different, and exactly what documents you need to get proper coverage.

Why Golf Cart Insurance Matters in the Dominican Republic

Golf carts in the DR are used for much more than getting from one hole to the next. In many gated communities, they’re the primary way people:

• Move around the resort

• Go to the beach, marina, or restaurants

• Rent carts for short-term vacation stays

That also means they share space with pedestrians, bicycles, kids playing in the street, other carts, and sometimes regular vehicles. A single mistake can lead to:

• Injury to a third party (a guest, neighbor, worker, or passerby)

• Damage to another cart, a car, or property (walls, gates, landscaping)

• Legal claims for damages and medical bills

In the Dominican Republic, responsabilidad civil (third-party liability) is a core part of the insurance system—every motor vehicle on public roads must carry at least a minimum liability limit under Ley 146-02 de Seguros y Fianzas. Digera+1

Even when golf carts stay inside private resorts and don’t drive on public streets, the legal responsibility is the same: if you cause damage, you can be held liable. That’s where dedicated golf cart insurance or specialized buggy/golf cart policies come in.

How Golf Cart Insurance Works (And How It’s Similar to Car Insurance)

In practice, insuring a golf cart in the DR is very similar to insuring a car, just with a different type of vehicle and usage. Policies are usually built around two main pillars:

1. Third-Party Liability (Responsabilidad Civil)

This is the most important coverage and, in many cases, the minimum that resort communities or rental operators will require.

What it typically covers:

• Bodily injury to third parties you accidentally hurt while driving the golf cart

• Damage to third-party property, like other carts, cars, walls, gates, or structures

• Legal defense and court costs, if someone sues you for damages

Some Dominican insurers even offer specialized “Seguro de Buggie y Carros de Golf” products that include:

• Defined third-party liability limits in Dominican pesos

• Additional “auto exceso” (excess liability) on top of the base limit

• Legal-defense benefits and some personal accident coverages

Suramericana+1

For most golf cart owners, this is the non-negotiable coverage—you want it even if you skip everything else.

2. Collision & Comprehensive (Daños Propios)

Liability coverage protects others. Collision/comprehensive protects your own golf cart.

You can think of it as the golf-cart version of “full coverage” or “todo riesgo”:

• Collision – damage to your golf cart if you crash into another vehicle, structure, or object

• Rollover – if the cart tips over and is damaged

• Vandalism or malicious damage

• Theft or attempted theft (depending on the insurer and options)

• Fire or certain natural events if included

For this coverage, the insurer needs to know the value of the golf cart, which is why documenting the cost or market value is key (we’ll cover that in the documentation section).

Optional Add-Ons You May See

Depending on the insurer and product, you may also find:

• Passenger personal accident cover

• Medical expenses for driver and passengers after an accident

• Roadside or on-site assistance for breakdowns inside the resort or nearby roads

• Coverage for stolen personal electronics (like a phone or laptop) in some mobility products Suramericana

A good broker will help you select just what you really need based on how and where you use the cart.

What’s Specific About the Dominican Republic?

Here’s the local context that matters when insuring a golf cart in the DR:

Legal & Regulatory Background

• Ley 146-02 organizes the Dominican insurance market and includes motor vehicles and their civil liability as recognized lines of business. Digera+1

• Compulsory liability applies clearly to vehicles that circulate on public roads (cars, SUVs, pickups, etc.). If your golf cart is registered and used on public streets, your obligation will typically mirror that of a regular vehicle.

• Inside private communities, HOAs and resort administrators often require proof of liability insurance as part of their internal regulations, especially in golf and marina communities that see a lot of cart traffic.

On the insurer side, local carriers have created dedicated products for buggies and golf carts, recognizing how common they are in resort zones. Suramericana

Interaction With Homeowners/Property Insurance

If you already have a homeowners or villa policy in the DR, your civil liability section may extend to certain golf cart accidents on your property, especially when the cart is considered part of your domestic risks (for example, Seguros SURA includes pool-related and golf cart accident liability within some homeowners packages). Hernandez Peguero | Insurance

However:

• This may not cover you when driving outside your property or on common roads within the resort.

• It often doesn’t cover damage to your own cart (only liability to others).

That’s why many villa owners combine:

• A property / homeowners policy – to cover the building, contents, and general liability

• A specific golf cart policy – to cover third-party liability & collision for the cart itself

If you want help balancing both, you can review your villa or condo protection using the property insurance in the Dominican Republic guide, then add cart coverage on top. Hernandez Peguero | Insurance

Documents You Need to Insure a Golf Cart

When you place golf cart insurance through Hernández Peguero Insurance Brokers, the process is straightforward. To request a quote and issue the policy, you’ll typically need:

1. Payment Receipt and/or Sales Contract

   • This proves ownership and helps the insurer verify basic details (brand, model, year, serial/VIN).

   • If you bought the cart second-hand, a formal bill of sale or assignment document is ideal.

2. Cart Value (for Collision Coverage)

   • If you want collision/daños propios, the insurer needs an agreed value.

   • This can be based on the original purchase price (new carts) or a current market value (used carts) supported by invoices, quotations, or similar models for sale.

3. Passport of the Owner

   • For foreigners, a passport copy is usually enough to issue the policy.

   • If you have a Dominican cédula or residency card, those can also be used, but they are not strictly required if the insurer accepts foreign IDs.

4. Pictures of the Golf Cart

   • Clear photos from all sides, plus close-ups of any existing damage, help avoid disputes in case of a future claim.

   • Insurers sometimes request interior and dashboard photos (for electric carts, battery compartments may also be requested).

5. Serial Number / Chassis Number

   • Essential to uniquely identify the cart and avoid duplications.

   • This is usually on a plate or stamp under the seat, on the frame, or near the steering column, depending on the brand.

Once these documents are provided, your broker can:

• Request quotes from multiple insurers

• Confirm available liability limits in RD$ or US$

• Add collision/daños propios if desired

• Issue the policy and send you the digital certificate, which you can share with your HOA or resort administration

Typical Coverage Limits & What Affects the Price

Exact premiums depend on the insurer and your risk profile, but here’s how it usually works in the Dominican Republic:

Liability Limits

Many specialized golf cart/buggy products in the DR offer:

• Base third-party liability limits (daños a la propiedad ajena + lesiones corporales) in Dominican pesos

• Often starting around RD$500,000 for individual injury or property damage, with higher combined limits and the possibility of adding an “auto exceso” layer for extra protection. Suramericana+1

Higher limits are often recommended in premium resort communities where medical and property damages can be costly.

What Influences the Premium?

Insurers will typically look at:

• Agreed value of the cart (especially for collision/daños propios)

• Type of cart (basic 2-seater vs. lifted 4–6 seater, luxury electric models, etc.)

• Usage:

  • Private use only (your family and guests)

  • Mixed use (some rental to vacation tenants)

  • Commercial rental fleets

• Location (Punta Cana, Casa de Campo, Cap Cana, Puerto Plata, etc.)

• Claims history of the owner or fleet operator

• Chosen deductibles for collision and theft

Your broker’s job is to balance price and protection—keeping premiums reasonable while avoiding coverage gaps that could cost you much more later.

Who Should Seriously Consider Golf Cart Insurance?

You should look at dedicated golf cart insurance if you are:

• A villa or condo owner in a golf or beach community who uses a cart for daily mobility

• An expat or snowbird who spends part of the year in the DR and keeps a cart at your property

• A property manager handling multiple villas where carts are included in the rental

• A rental operator or small business offering golf carts to guests or tourists

• Anyone driving a cart on roads (public or private) where collisions with cars or pedestrians are possible

If any of the above applies, a simple liability-only policy is usually the minimum; adding collision/daños propios becomes more important as the cart’s value increases.

How Hernández Peguero Helps You Insure Your Golf Cart

As a trusted insurance broker in the Dominican Republic, Hernández Peguero works with multiple leading insurers (local and international) to structure coverage that actually fits how you live and drive. Hernandez Peguero | Insurance+2Hernandez Peguero | Insurance+2

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• We compare insurers for you – including specialized buggy/golf cart products and standard motor lines.

• We explain coverage in plain English (and Spanish) – so you know exactly what “responsabilidad civil” and “daños propios” mean in real-life scenarios.

• We coordinate with your homeowners policy – to avoid overlaps and make sure your villa, liability, and golf cart are all aligned under one strategy.

• We support you at claim time – helping with documentation, photos, and communication with the insurer so you’re not left alone in a foreign system.

You can explore more articles in our Insurance Guides & Tips for life in the Dominican Republic to understand how different coverages work together. Hernandez Peguero | Insurance

Why Choose Hernández Peguero Insurance Brokers?

When it comes to golf cart insurance, you don’t just need a policy—you need someone who understands resort life in the DR, HOA rules, and the expat reality.

With Hernández Peguero Insurance Brokers, you get:

• Local expertise in resort communities
  We work frequently with clients in Punta Cana, Casa de Campo, Cap Cana, and other gated developments where golf carts are part of everyday life—not just a luxury.

• Tailored liability and collision protection
  We help you choose appropriate third-party limits and, when needed, collision coverage based on your cart’s value, how you use it, and who drives it.

• Integration with your existing coverage
  Already have homeowners, property, or travel insurance with us? We’ll align your golf cart coverage so everything works together instead of in isolated pieces.

• Bilingual support for expats and foreign owners
  Policies, conditions, and claims can be complex in Spanish legal language. We translate everything into clear, actionable explanations so you always know where you stand.

Whether your golf cart is a simple run-around for your villa or a key part of your rental offering, we’ll help you protect it—and your liability—correctly.

Ready to Get a Quote?

👉 Contact us now:
Phone / WhatsApp: +1 849-514-9838
Email: info@hernandezpeguero.com
Website: www.hernandezpeguero.com