Where to Find Your Club Car Serial Number

Determining the exact model year of your Club Car is the single most important step before buying replacement parts, lift kits, covers, or electrical components. Club Car has used different chassis and wiring harnesses over the decades.

Serial Plate Locations by Generation:

    1. Club Car Precedent (2004–Present): Located behind the passenger-side cup holder or beneath the dash trim panel on the passenger side.

    2. Club Car DS (1982–2000.5): Located just below the glove box on the passenger side dashboard.

    3. Club Car DS (2000.5–2013): Located behind the accelerator pedal or under the glove box partition.

    4. Club Car Onward & Tempo (2018–Present): Located beneath the passenger-side dash compartment or etched on the frame near the steering column base.


Tech Tip: If the barcode decal is worn or missing, inspect the aluminum frame behind the battery bucket — most Club Cars have the serial stamped directly into the aluminum crossbar.

Decoding the Club Car Serial Formula

Since 1981, Club Car has used a standardized alphanumeric serial number system. The format consists of one or two letters, followed by a two-digit year code, a two-digit production week code, and a unique manufacturing sequence number.

Example Serial Number: AQ0412-123456

  1. Prefix (AQ): Identifies the model — in this case, Club Car DS 48V Electric Regen (IQ System).

  2. First Two Numbers (04): The year of manufacture — 2004.

  3. Next Two Numbers (12): The production week — the 12th week of that year.

  4. Remaining Digits (123456): The unique manufacturing sequence.

Club Car Model Prefix Quick Reference

PrefixModel DescriptionDrivetrain
A / AAClub Car DS 36V / 48V ElectricElectric (Solid State)
AQClub Car DS Electric IQ (Curtis Controller)48V Electric IQ
AGClub Car DS Gas (Kawasaki FE290 / FE350)Gas 4-Cycle
PR / PQClub Car Precedent Electric IQ & Excel48V Electric
PDClub Car Precedent GasSubaru EX40 / EFI Gas
BL / BDClub Car Onward / Tempo Electric48V Lithium or Lead-Acid
EGClub Car Carryall Gas Utility CartGas Utility

Key Differences: DS vs. Precedent

    1. Club Car DS: Features two separate front seat backs and square-profile front cowl bumpers. The frame is traditional aircraft-grade aluminum tube.
  • Club Car Precedent: Features a rounded one-piece wrap-around front bumper, seamless 360-degree rub rail, and contoured modular seating.

How to Confirm 36V vs 48V Electric System

If you are upgrading lights, chargers, or controllers, you must verify your cart's pack voltage.

Count the fill caps on your battery set:

    1. 3 Water Caps per Battery: 6-Volt Battery (3 caps × 2V = 6V)

    2. 4 Water Caps per Battery: 8-Volt Battery (4 caps × 2V = 8V)

    3. 6 Water Caps per Battery: 12-Volt Battery (6 caps × 2V = 12V)


Multiply the single-battery voltage by the total number of batteries in the tray:
    1. 6 × 6-Volt batteries = 36-Volt System (standard on early DS models)

    2. 6 × 8-Volt batteries = 48-Volt System (standard on 48V DS & Precedent)

  • 4 × 12-Volt batteries = 48-Volt System (common on 2004–2008 Precedent)