Which golf cart dealer you choose to buy from will be as important as the model you pick. The dealer will provide the service and support to keep your vehicle running smoothly, so it is important that you find one who is reputable, stable, and can provide top-notch service.

Some important questions to ask when evaluating golf cart dealers:

• How long have you been in business?
• What kind of parts inventory do you keep on site?
• How many technicians do you have?
• Do you do on-site service?
• Do you have guaranteed response times when a piece of equipment breaks down?

When you’re visiting the dealership, ask to see the parts warehouse and service areas for yourself. This can give you a good sense of their capabilities. Look for dealerships that carry full lines of the brands you’re interested in, as well – not just one or two models.

You should work with factory-authorized golf cart dealers. Many golf cart dealers carry multiple brands and as a result hold factory authorizations from each manufacturer. The authorizations give them access to OEM parts and factory training for technicians, ensuring the quality of repairs. You can go onto the manufacturers’ web sites and look up their authorized dealers if you have any questions.

Don’t discount your own comfort level, as well. Your relationship with the sales staff is important: you should trust that they are giving you honest answers to your questions and not just trying to sell you the most expensive vehicle they can.

Utility vehicle maintenance and warranties
Maintenance is an important consideration for any vehicle. Gasoline engines require more ongoing maintenance than electric motors – things like changing spark plugs, air filters, and oil. On the other hand, electric vehicles need to have the water level in their batteries checked regularly, which is a simple but critical task. More significantly, the batteries in electric vehicles need to be replaced every couple of years at a cost of $400 to $500. The overall maintenance costs work out to be fairly similar – gasoline engines spread the cost out more, but require more frequent servicing.

The bottom line is that having this basic maintenance done regularly – on the schedule recommended by the manufacturer – can drastically extend your vehicle’s lifespan and improve its performance. Something as simple as making sure there’s enough oil in the engine and air in the tires can help safeguard your investment. With proper maintenance, you can expect about five years of use out of a gasoline engine and 10 years out of an electric motor – but manufacturers report both types lasting 15 or even 30 years in some cases.

In a commercial setting, it’s usually worth purchasing a service contract to cover this type of maintenance. Usually the dealer will be able to provide on-site service for all scheduled maintenance, although you may save money on the service contract by agreeing to bring your vehicles in to their shop. For businesses that have a maintenance crew on staff and for individual purchases, a service contract may not be worthwhile: basic automotive expertise is all that’s required for most upkeep. The dealer should still provide the parts you need.

If you purchase from an online golf car dealer, make sure you know where you’ll turn for service. The dealer should be able to provide you with authorized service locations near you.