House Research Department
Updated: October 2008
Low-Power Vehicles
Page 14
vehicle standard. This may raise issues with federal preemption as well as the ability of vehicle
manufacturers to legally produce MSEVs.
Regulations
Under Minnesota law NEVs and MSEVs are treated similarly to passenger motor vehicles, but
titling, and vehicle equipment requirements, most golf carts would not be considered an NEV or
an MSEV that could be operated on public roads (except under the permit discussed earlier).
Both NEVs and MSEVs are considered passenger automobiles and must be
Registration
registered. They are subject to the same registration tax (based on vehicle
value, depreciated over time) as cars, pickup trucks, and vans. License
plates must be displayed on the vehicles.
A certificate of title also must be obtained, which requires a vehicle
identification number and a manufacturer's certificate of origin.11
Homemade electric vehicles and retrofitted golf carts do not qualify for
A valid driver's license or instruction permit is required, and no special
Licensing
endorsement is necessary.
Insurance requirements match that of other passenger automobiles,
Insurance
including liability coverage (which covers certain claims from another
driver) and personal injury protection under the Minnesota No-Fault
Automobile Insurance Act (which establishes minimum coverage levels for
medical, lost wages, and related expenses).12
Drivers of an NEV or MSEV are subject to the same traffic laws as
Operation
operators of other motor vehicles. Neither type of vehicle can be operated on
a street or highway with a speed limit above 35 miles per hour, except to
directly cross it. A local government can restrict use of the vehicle on its
roads.
The vehicle may only be operated on public streets and highways if it meets
Safety equipment
federal equipment standards established for low-speed vehicles. This
includes: a windshield, headlamps, tail-lamps, brake lights, front and rear
turn signals, reflectors at the rear, rearview mirrors, a parking break, a seat
11
The certificate of origin is created by the vehicle manufacturer and sent to a dealer along with the vehicle
itself. The dealer then provides the certificate to the Department of Public Safety when the vehicle is sold.
12
The minimum liability coverage is $30,000 per person for injuries, $60,000 per occurrence for injuries, and
$10,000 for property damage. The minimum personal injury protection coverage is $40,000 per person per accident
($20,000 for hospital and medical expenses, and $20,000 for other expenses such as lost wages).
