South Carolina
Vehicle Resource Center
In 2021, South Carolina was home to more than 3.9 million licensed drivers. Many of those drivers own vehicles, and all of them must understand the laws and regulations governing driving in the state.
Ownership and Maintenance
South Carolina vehicle owners must meet specific requirements each year to maintain their vehicles legally. Drivers must learn to care for their vehicles, handle registration renewals, maintain insurance, and more.
While most US states require vehicle inspections to register and renew vehicles, South Carolina does not. Residents do not have to worry about smog or safety inspections to legally drive within the state.
Every vehicle in South Carolina that's driven on public roads must be insured by an adequate liability insurance policy. Anyone driving a vehicle that isn't adequately insured can be fined and may face serious legal penalties in the event of an automotive accident.
What is Adequate Liability Insurance?
For an insurance policy to be considered adequate, it must have the following coverage limits:
The same liability coverage figures must be applied to uninsured motorist coverage as well. That means another $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury and $25,000 in property damage.
South Carolina does not require its residents to carry underinsured motorist insurance, though, making it slightly more affordable.
Each vehicle owner in South Carolina must pay annual vehicle taxes and registration fees. These tasks are required to receive an updated registration decal that adheres to the vehicle's license plate.
Meeting Registration Renewal Requirements
To qualify to renew a vehicle registration, owners must meet each of the following requirements:
Pay Both Online
Many modern counties allow residents to pay their vehicle taxes and registration fees online through a special county web portal. When an online portal is provided, residents can visit the site, provide simple identification information, and pay both tax and registration fees. Once done, the paying resident will receive a new plate decal in the mail within two weeks of paying the fees.
Pay Both at a County Treasurer's Office
When vehicle owners do not wish to pay their taxes and registration fees online, or when they aren't allowed to pay online, they can handle both tasks at most County Treasurer's Offices. Residents must visit their county office and provide insurance information, registration info, identification, and possibly their license plate number to pay the taxes and registration fees. Most Treasurer's Office locations enable registration and tax payments, but not all of them do.
Handle Registration Online or at a SCDMV
Residents who cannot renew their registration with their County Treasurer's Office can complete the process at their local SCDMV location or through the DMV web portal.
The DMV must have a record of the resident's tax payment for the year, and the vehicle owner must be able to show they have an active liability insurance policy before they will be cleared to pay their registration fees. Once the fees are paid, the DMV will issue a decal in the mail within one day, and it should arrive in 1-2 weeks.
Use An SCDMV Express Kiosk
Residents in larger sections of South Carolina can take advantage of an SCMDV Express Kiosk to handle their registration renewal. If taxes are paid, residents can visit one of the kiosk locations, pay the registration fee, and finalize their registration renewal. Kiosks can also be used to order duplicate decals or registrations.
Every eight years, South Carolina drivers must renew their licenses. The renewal process is simple and can be completed online by mail or in person.
Renewing Online or By Mail
Drivers are able to renew every other license online or by mail. This process is fast and simple and helps drivers avoid a trip to the SCDMV.
To renew online, visit the web portal and provide your driver's license number, social security number, and birth date. Provide a Certification of Vision Examination, filled by a licensed vision professional, and pay the renewal fee.
To renew by mail, drivers must complete the form to Renew a Driver's License by Mail (447-NC) as well as the Certification of Vision Examination form. Send in the documents along with a check or money order for $25 addressed to the SCDMV.
All the documents must be mailed to the following address:
SCDMV
Alternative Media
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0035
Renewing in Person
When renewing in person, drivers must visit a local SCDMV brand, pass a vision screening, provide their original driver's license, and provide their insurance company name. Once complete, they simply pay the renewal fee and wait for the license to arrive.
Driver's License is Always Mailed
The replacement driver's license is always mailed to the address on file, no matter how it is renewed. Drivers can expect to wait up to 15 business days to receive their replacement driver's license.
Driver's License Renewal
A standard eight-year renewal fee is $25.
Registration Renewal
A standard passenger vehicle registration renewal is $40 annually. Annual taxes must be paid to renew the registration, but taxes are different for each vehicle based on its weight, value, and age.
For more information about vehicle and driver fees, see the South Carolina Government fees page.
Buying & Selling
When buying or selling vehicles in South Carolina, there are strict regulations that must be adhered to. Going through the proper steps and filing the necessary paperwork is the most effective way to ensure the sale is legal and both parties are satisfied.
Furnish a Clean Title
No vehicle sale is complete with the title. To sell a vehicle, the seller must have a clean title that's free of any liens. The back of the title must not be filled out until the buyer is present and ready to make the purchase. At that point, the buyer pays the asking price, and the seller fills out all the information requested on the back.
The title must include the following information on the back:
Sometimes A Bill of Sale is Required
If the title does not include a section for the sale price of the vehicle, then a Bill of Sale must be provided as well. The seller should have two copies of the Bill of Sale and keep one for their records while providing one to the buyer. Both the buyer and seller should sign and date the documents.
Notify the DMV that the Vehicle Sold
Immediately after selling the vehicle, the seller should fill out a Notice of Vehicle Sold (416) form and submit it to the DMV.
Cancel Vehicle Insurance
The seller should cancel their vehicle insurance policy after letting the buyer take possession of the vehicle. Maintaining an insurance policy on a vehicle owned by another individual serves no purpose.
Research the Vehicle
Before agreeing to buy a vehicle, the buyer should know everything they can about it. An easy way to gather in-depth information fast is by investing in a License Plate Search or a VIN Search through GoodCar. These search services provide in-depth information for a small fee. The information includes title brands, odometer readings, ownership history, accident history, vehicle specifications and possible features, open recalls, and more.
Verify the Title
It is the buyer's responsibility to verify the vehicle title matches the VIN of the vehicle being sold and that it does not list any liens. Also, look closely at the back of the title to see if there is a section for the purchase price. If not, a Bill of Sale will be required during registration.
Ensure There is a Bill of Sale if Required
If no vehicle purchase price section is included on the back of the title, a Bill of Sale document must be filled and signed by the seller. This document must be provided along with the title to register the vehicle.
Obtain Insurance
After purchasing the vehicle, the buyer must work with a South Carolina insurer to obtain liability and uninsured motorist insurance. Information from the policy may be required when registering the vehicle.
Title and Register the Vehicle
Along with the title and Bill of Sale (if required), the buyer must complete a Title Application Form (Form 400) to title and register the vehicle. Complete the document and bring all the paperwork to an SCDMV location to finalize everything and pay the associated fees.
Pay the Fees
All the title, tax, and registration fees must be paid by the buyer after completing the purchase deal.
Taxes
South Carolina charges a 5% sales tax or Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) on all vehicles sold. This tax rate applies to the purchase price of the vehicle up to a maximum of $500.
Registration
Vehicle registration for passenger vehicles is $40.
Title
There is a $15 title fee for new titles.
For more specifics about vehicle fees, see the South Carolina Government fees page.
Laws and Regulations
South Carolina has strict DUI (driving under the influence) laws meant to identify and punish drivers abusing drugs or alcohol and driving. Police officers watch for signs of impaired driving and then test drivers to see if they have alcohol in their system. Officers can also request drivers receive a blood test to look for other types of drugs if they are behaving erratically.
How Much Alcohol Leads to a DUI?
Any driver pulled over with a BAC of 0.08 or higher will automatically receive a DUI charge. BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Concentration, and it's a measure of how much alcohol is in a driver's blood.
A driver pulled over with a BAC of 0.05 or higher may also be charged with a DUI if he or she is behaving erratically enough, but the BAC level can only serve as one piece of evidence and is not enough to convict by itself.
Drivers who are charged with a DUI will receive fines, loss of license, and potential imprisonment. DUI charges become more severe for repeat offenders.
Get more details about SC DUI laws with this informational page from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
One of the most effective ways to stay safe while riding in a vehicle is to remain buckled with proper restraint. Everyone in a vehicle in South Carolina is legally required to be buckled with a belt or car seat. South Carolina has primary seat belt laws and will pull over drivers if any seat belt violations are spotted.
Meeting Child Safety Laws
All children aged seven and younger must be buckled into an appropriate child safety seat. The right seat depends on the child's height, weight, and age.
Rear-Facing Seat
All infants should begin in a rear-facing car seat that's appropriately fastened to a vehicle seat. The infant should remain in a rear-facing position at the back of a vehicle until its weight exceeds the limit on the seat.
Forward-Facing Seat
Children who exceed the weight or height limits of a rear-facing car seat are ready to move to a forward-facing seat. These seats use a five-point harness, and they work well for children ages 2-4. The child should remain in a forward-facing car seat until they outgrow the limits of the seat.
Booster Seat
Children who outgrow their forward-facing car seat can graduate into a booster seat. These safety seats must be used until the child is at least eight years old, and they are recommended until a child is 4'9" tall.
Window tint is regularly used by vehicle owners in South Carolina to help keep vehicles cooler, improve vision, and enhance privacy. Not all tint is allowed by South Carolina law enforcement, though. The state laws forbid specific tint options that are too dark.
What Tint is Allowed?
Under state law, the following tint options can be used:
Failure to use appropriate tint can result in fines and may lead to having to remove the tint film entirely.
South Carolina has a Lemon law that protects consumers who purchase new vehicles. The law helps ensure that new vehicles don't come with dangerous or highly inconvenient manufacturer defects. Under the law, private-use passenger vehicles that are less than 12 months old with fewer than 12,000 miles are protected.
If a vehicle is suffering from a significant defect that lowers its value or makes it dangerous, the manufacturer has a duty to repair the defect. The owner must send a certified letter to the manufacturer explaining the issue. Once the manufacturer is aware of the problem, the company must take steps to repair the issue. If the company attempts to repair the problem three or more times without success, or if the vehicle is in the garage for repairs for 30 days or more, it can be classified as a lemon.
When a manufacturer sells a consumer a lemon, it has a duty to replace the vehicle or refund the full value of the vehicle to the buyer. The consumer can take legal action against the manufacturer after the vehicle is determined to be a lemon based on the guidelines.
Useful Things to Know
See South Carolina DMV Forms
Quickly access most of the South Carolina DMV forms in one location: South Carolina DMV Forms
Driver and Vehicle Fees
See the most common driver and vehicle fees from the South Carolina DMV: Driver and Vehicle Fees
Locate a DMV
Search through all the SCDMV locations using this simple tool: SCDMV Location Search Tool
Access the South Carolina Driver's Manual
Interested citizens can see an online copy of the South Carolina Driver's Manual by visiting this link: South Carolina Driver's Manual
Locate an EV Charging Station
Many electric vehicles travel the roads in South Carolina each year. These EVs depend on access to charging stations to continue traveling. Drivers must know where public stations are. Use this search to locate nearby charging stations: South Carolina Charging Station Locator
South Carolina Crash Trends
South Carolina is home to a large number of drivers, and the state suffers from more than 1,000 fatalities due to traffic-related accidents annually. In 2020, the state recorded 1,066 traffic-related fatalities, with a rate of 1.98 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This number is high enough to keep South Carolina from being one of the safest states for drivers. Gain a full understanding of South Carolina car crash statistics from GoodCar.
Get the Latest South Carolina Vehicle Information with GoodCar
South Carolina vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.