If you own a vacation rental on Anna Maria Island, you already know the competition is fierce. Standing out takes more than just a pool and proximity to the beach—it takes offering something guests actually want and remember.
A Street Legal Golf Cart is one of the most powerful upgrades you can make to your property. It adds convenience, elevates the guest experience, and lets you charge more per night without having to renovate or redesign your home.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly why including a golf cart with your rental isn’t just smart—it’s profitable. From boosting your income to reducing guest complaints and even increasing your property’s resale value, we’ll show you how to turn one amenity into a long-term revenue stream.
Increase Your Rental Income
Including a Street Legal Golf Cart with your Anna Maria Island vacation rental is not just a luxury—it’s a revenue multiplier. Most local golf cart rental companies charge between $125 and $200 per day, or around $600 to $800 per week. By offering your own cart as part of the rental package, you can increase your nightly rate by $100 or more, or build the cost into your weekly pricing.
For example, if you raise your rate by $100 per night over a 7-night stay, that’s an additional $700 per booking. Over just 10 weeks during peak season, that adds $7,000 in revenue—without upgrading anything else on your property.
Many owners find that a well-priced golf cart can be completely paid off within 12 to 18 months. After that, the next 12 to 18 months are pure profit. And when you’re ready to refresh your offering, you can resell the cart for roughly 40% to 60% of its original value—depending on its condition—and reinvest in a new one. It becomes a simple, repeatable income-generating cycle that directly boosts your bottom line while elevating your guest experience.
Set Your Property Apart
Many vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island still do not offer a golf cart, despite how popular they are with tourists. When potential guests browse booking platforms, they’re comparing dozens of similar listings. A golf cart makes your property stand out instantly.
Imagine two similar homes, both with 3 bedrooms and a pool. One offers a golf cart included in the rental—the other doesn’t. Nine times out of ten, guests will choose the home with the added convenience. Not only do you draw more attention in search results, but you also reduce decision fatigue for guests by bundling transportation into their stay. That perceived value can be the deciding factor when someone’s comparing listings.
Improve the Guest Experience
During peak season, the streets of Anna Maria Island are packed. Tourists in oversized SUVs circle the blocks hunting for parking spots, only to squeeze into tight spaces or park several blocks from their destination. Your guests won’t have to deal with that.
Street Legal Golf carts can legally park in any regular parking space and often much closer to beaches, restaurants, and shops. Two regular Golf Carts can fit in a single traditional parking spot, giving your guests a serious advantage when navigating crowded areas.
And it’s not just about convenience. Riding a Golf Cart around the island becomes part of the vacation experience. Guests can cruise down Pine Avenue with the breeze in their hair, or drive right up to the beach access without dragging gear from a distant parking lot. That kind of relaxed mobility turns a standard trip into a memorable one—and those memories turn into glowing 5-star reviews.
Manage Risk With Smart Precautions
Like any amenity, offering a Street Legal Golf Cart involves some liability—but it’s manageable with the right precautions. Start with clear rental terms. Require guests to sign a waiver and acknowledge responsibility for any damages. Follow the guidelines of local Golf Cart Rental companies and limit drivers to those that are 21, 22, or 25 and older with valid licenses.
Insurance coverage is also readily available. You can purchase a commercial golf cart insurance policy that covers both property damage and liability.
Partnering with a property manager experienced in Golf Cart rentals adds another layer of protection. They can vet guests, enforce rules, and even handle maintenance or damage issues on your behalf. When structured properly, offering a cart is no riskier than offering a hot tub or a grill—and far more profitable.
The Competitive Edge Your Rental Needs
A Street Legal Golf Cart isn’t just an extra amenity. It’s a smart investment that sets your Anna Maria Island vacation rental apart, enhances your guests’ stay, and puts more money in your pocket. It transforms your property from a place to sleep into a complete island experience. In a crowded market, that kind of advantage matters.
If you’re serious about maximizing bookings, increasing your income, and creating memorable guest experiences that lead to five-star reviews and repeat business, offering a golf cart is one of the simplest, most effective upgrades you can make.
Ready to take your rental to the next level?
Whether you’re looking to purchase, lease, or learn more about how to integrate a Street Legal Golf Cart into your property listing, we’re here to help.
Let’s turn your rental into the one everyone wants to book.