Your steps for a South Carolina driver’s license, car insurance and vehicle registration. Whether you’re moving across state lines or arriving from another country.
Official sources checked September 29, 2026 · For personal vehicles and ordinary driver’s licenses
Moving permanently from another state? Plan for 45 days. SCDMV gives new residents 45 days to apply for an SC license and transfer vehicle registration. Start early to allow time for documents and appointments. Read the new-resident rules.
Step 01 · Prepare
Build your document folder.
Choose the checklist for your citizenship or immigration status, even if your last home was in another U.S. state. A U.S. citizen returning from overseas uses the citizen checklist; a non-U.S. citizen moving from another state uses the international checklist.
U.S. citizens
Identity and citizenship evidence, such as an unexpired U.S. passport or certified birth certificate.
Your Social Security number and documents tracing any name changes.
Current SC residential address evidence: one accepted proof for a standard license, or two from different organizations for REAL ID. Address documents must be no more than nine months old.
Your current license and the name of your SC-licensed auto insurer.
Original identity and lawful-presence documents for your specific status. Depending on your status, these may include a passport, immigration documents, I-94, green card, I-20 or DS-2019.
Your SSN, or an SSA letter stating you were denied an SSN.
SC address evidence, name-change documents if applicable, and your existing license as proof of experience.
SC auto insurer information. Use MV-94 to check your exact document combination and REAL ID eligibility.
Still waiting on bills? MV-93 includes options such as a current lease, bank statement or qualifying employment document. Check the full checklist before making a trip. REAL ID is optional for driving; it serves additional federal identification purposes.
Step 02 · Get covered
Arrange South Carolina car insurance.
Contact your insurer or compare quotes with SC-licensed insurers. Give them your new garaging address, vehicle VIN, drivers and intended use. Ask whether your existing policy can be transferred.
Explain your current license status. If you have a foreign license or no U.S. insurance history, ask which documents the insurer accepts and whether a driving-history letter from your previous insurer would help. Acceptance and pricing vary by company.
Choose coverage and confirm the effective date. Coordinate the move with your insurer to avoid a gap. Ask your former state about plate-return requirements before ending the old policy.
Keep your proof of insurance and company details. Update the insurer with your SC license number once issued.
SC minimum liability limits
$25,000Bodily injury per person
$50,000Bodily injury per accident
$25,000Property damage per accident
Uninsured motorist coverage is also required at these minimum limits. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional. Ask about higher limits, collision and comprehensive coverage; a lender or lessor may require physical-damage coverage.
Bring your checklist documents and out-of-state license to an SCDMV branch.
Take the vision test, surrender your former state’s license and pay the applicable fee. A typical eight-year license costs $25.
If your license is missing, bring a certified driving record from the issuing state. A license expired for nine months or more also requires knowledge and road tests.
Confirm your document and branch requirements. Non-U.S. citizens must use a branch serving international customers. Use that filter in the branch finder.
Check license reciprocity. Valid, unexpired licenses from Canada, France, Germany, South Korea and Taiwan are among those eligible for knowledge and skills test waivers. Check the full country/territory list. South Korea and Taiwan require a consular certification letter valid for 30 days.
Arrange translations where needed. Follow SCDMV’s translation requirements and Form 4030 for foreign-language documents.
Confirm testing before you go. If no waiver applies, plan for knowledge and road testing as well as vision screening. Ask SCDMV how your prior driving experience affects the permit process.
Start with a beginner’s permit and the required knowledge and vision tests. SCDMV’s ordinary road-test guidance lists a minimum permit period of 30 days for adults 18 and older, and 180 days for ages 15–17. Teen licensing has additional requirements. Confirm the rules for your age and driving history before scheduling.
An International Driving Permit helps translate a foreign license; it is not a standalone driver’s license or a replacement for the SC resident licensing process. Visitors and residents have different rules. Temporary students or military families may qualify for exceptions; confirm your situation with SCDMV.
Allow for mail delivery. SCDMV issues a temporary driving certificate at the branch and mails the permanent license. Keep the temporary certificate and follow its instructions. See the current license process.
Step 04 · Your county first
Pay vehicle property tax before registration.
Contact the auditor in the county where you live with your VIN and current registration to establish the tax bill. Pay the county treasurer or tax collector, then obtain the original paid receipt for SCDMV.
This is separate from DMV fees. The amount depends on the vehicle’s value and your tax district. If you live in a city spanning county lines, use your home’s county, not just the city name.
Financed, leased, or still waiting on an SC license?
Check SCDMV’s loan-specific checklist before visiting, especially if your registration is expired or the lender holds the title. Applicants without an SC credential may need Form TI-006C and supporting evidence. A lease may require power of attorney if you sign for the owner. Ask SCDMV to confirm the documents for your case.
Bringing a vehicle from outside the United States?
Check import eligibility before arranging shipment. Federal import clearance comes before state registration. A vehicle legal in another country is not automatically eligible here.
Verify the vehicle’s U.S. safety and emissions eligibility with NHTSA and EPA, including any applicable exemption or registered-importer requirement.
Arrange customs entry with CBP. Retain ownership records, CBP entry documentation (Form 7501), DOT HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 as applicable.
Ask SCDMV to confirm your imported-vehicle title packet, translations, fees and any additional verification before your visit. Then arrange SC insurance, county tax and state registration.
This guide’s transfer checklist is for a vehicle you already own. If you buy here, confirm with the dealer or SCDMV who will submit the title, what taxes and fees apply, and how to obtain valid temporary or permanent registration. Arrange insurance before driving it away.
Typical existing out-of-state passenger vehicle transfer. Confirm your exact fees before visiting.
Item
Typical fee
Eight-year driver’s license
$25
New-resident infrastructure maintenance fee
$250 / vehicle
Vehicle title
$15
Passenger-car registration / plate, generally two years
$40
County vehicle property tax
Varies
Insurance premium
Varies
The usual vehicle-only DMV subtotal is $305, before county tax and insurance. Hybrid and electric vehicles have additional fees; vehicle weight, plate choice and eligibility discounts can change the amount. Newly purchased or imported vehicles can have different tax or fee treatment. Some international licenses have shorter terms and different fees.