When you make an investment in a golf cart, you want to be sure that you know all of the important details. After all, knowing what to expect as a golf cart owner is the best way to be sure you’re making a smart decision when it comes to purchasing your cart. One of the main questions new golf cart owners have is exactly how long can you expect to have your golf cart.

In other words, what’s the average lifespan of a typical golf cart?

The good news is that the answer is longer than most people expect. When you purchase a new electric golf cart, you can expect your cart to run for at least twenty years. With great maintenance, getting four decades out of your golf cart isn’t out of the question. Of course, then, the same is true on the other side of the coin:

If you don’t take proper care of your golf cart and all of its maintenance requirements, getting ten years out of your cart is a stretch. 

Want to make sure you get the full twenty to forty years out of your new electric golf cart?

Here’s a list of the typical maintenance you should stay on top of so that you stretch the lifespan of your investment to the max…

Extending the Lifespan of Your Golf Cart: Essential Maintenance Checklist

• Care for your cart’s batteries. Whenever you’re not using your golf cart, remember to charge its batteries. When your cart isn’t in use, you can expect it to lose up to 3% of its battery life every single day. Why? Because the different electrical features continue to draw power constantly from the battery. So, when you’re not using your cart, especially for long stretches of time, make sure to recharge your batteries. One of the biggest battery problems you can experience with your golf cart is letting it die totally because, if and when this happens, the battery can freeze — and then there’s no recharging the battery from there. 

• Know your golf cart’s water level. When you purchase a brand new golf cart, the battery doesn’t use very much water. But, as the battery gets older, it draws more water and more quickly. It’s recommended that you check your battery’s water level at least once a week, especially during the summer. When you notice that the water level is low, top it off with distilled water. 

• Inspect tires and brakes. Golf cart tires can lose air quickly and unexpectedly, which means checking them each time before you drive is key to extending your golf cart’s life. If your tires are low, fill them up before taking your cart out. And while your brakes don’t get as much use as a car’s brakes (you don’t drive golf carts nearly as fast), it’s still important that you give your brakes an annual inspection. Look at the brake pads, drums, cables, and fluids to ensure everything is operating properly. 

Some other important tips for keeping your golf cart running properly and, therefore, extending its life include:

• Never overloading your cart with too much weight
• Taking your golf cart to a professional whenever you notice anything out of the ordinary (or if you just want an expert to do your annual inspection)
• Using the right size and type of floor mats to keep the body of your golf cart clean and safe from damage

READ MORE: 7 Tips for New Golf Cart Owners Looking to Keep Their Cart in Pristine Condition