Reviewed and updated October 21, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every fact on this page was read that day from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles' own pages and its locations feed, and the official page each fact came from is linked where it appears.
The South Carolina DMV in one place: who does what, license and permit fees, title, registration, the IMF and the property tax, the 65 SCDMV branches with their hours and service tables, and all 53 guides.
In this guide: Who does what in South Carolina, Driver's licenses, permits and ID cards, Vehicle titles, registration, the IMF and the property tax, Offices, hours and holidays, Every South Carolina DMV guide on SearchSystems, Questions people ask about the South Carolina DMV
Who does what in South Carolina
South Carolina keeps driver and vehicle work under one roof. The Department of Motor Vehicles runs its branch offices itself and does both the driver work, licenses, permits, ID cards and the tests, and the vehicle work, titles, registration and plates, as its driver's license page and registration page set out. The one piece that is not the SCDMV's is the vehicle property tax: the county auditor bills it and the county treasurer collects it every year, and the SCDMV will not register a vehicle without the paid receipt.
Start with the South Carolina SCDMV branch list when a counter or a test is needed, the property tax guide for the county step that comes first, and the online services guide for the renewals that need no branch.
Driver's licenses, permits and ID cards
The SCDMV's fee schedule, read October 21, 2026, prices an eight year license at $25, a beginner's permit at $2.50 and each knowledge test at $2, a duplicate license at $10, and an ID card free at 17 or older and $15 from age five to 16. A beginner's permit is issued from age 15 under the SCDMV's permit page, held 180 days by a 15 to 17 year old and 30 days by an adult before the road test, and the branch screens for 20/40 vision per its vision page.
A new resident has 45 days to apply for a South Carolina license under the SCDMV's moving page, and the finished card is printed centrally and mailed within seven to 15 business days. The driver's license guide, the REAL ID guide, the permit guide and the fee guide cover each of those in turn.
Vehicle titles, registration, the IMF and the property tax
The SCDMV's fee schedule lists a title at $15, or $35 expedited in person, and most passenger registrations at $40 for two years, $38 at age 64 and $36 at 65 or with a qualifying disability, a motorcycle at $10, with $60 more for a hybrid and $120 for an electric vehicle. A purchase carries the infrastructure maintenance fee, 5 percent of the price capped at $500, and a vehicle brought in from another state a flat $250 IMF, per the SCDMV's buying page and moving page.
A buyer and a new resident each have 45 days to register, and from October 6, 2026 a temporary plate runs 60 days under the SCDMV's plate page. The registration guide, the title guide, the IMF guide and the new resident guide set out the paperwork, the county receipt first.
Offices, hours and holidays
The SCDMV locations feed, read October 21, 2026, carries 65 branches, every one with its own telephone number, 65 with a week published, 0 with Saturday hours and 63 open on Monday. Every branch keeps a Monday to Friday week, and the feed gives each one a service table saying which tests it gives and until what hour.
Road tests are by appointment in the afternoon and walk-in until 1:30 pm where offered; other visits are walk-in, with the live wait on the SCDMV Locations page. Every branch is on the South Carolina SCDMV branch list with its hours, telephone and service table.
Every South Carolina DMV guide on SearchSystems
Each guide below is written from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles' own pages and names the date its facts were read. There are 53 of them.
Licenses and IDs 12 guides
- South Carolina License Classes, Eligibility, and ServicesSouth Carolina issues driving credentials through SCDMV.
- How to Complete a South Carolina License ApplicationForm 447-NC is South Carolina's application for a noncommercial license, permit, or ID.
- Renewing a South Carolina Driver's LicenseSouth Carolina offers online, mail, and branch renewal routes, but eligibility depends on the credential, record, previous renewal method, and vision result.
- Recover a Lost or Damaged South Carolina Driving CredentialChoose the correct replacement transaction before ordering a card that was lost, stolen, damaged, or never delivered.
- Get, Renew, or Replace a South Carolina ID CardA South Carolina ID gives residents an official identity credential without a driving privilege.
- Choose and Document a South Carolina REAL IDA REAL ID star changes how your South Carolina credential can be used for federal identification.
- Use South Carolina Digital Services Without Confusing Them With a LicenseOnline DMV transactions and a phone-based identity credential are different services, and the official instructions determine what you may use.
- Update South Carolina Driver and Vehicle RecordsAn accurate DMV name and address keeps credentials, registration records, and mailed notices connected to the right person.
- Prove Identity, Lawful Presence, and South Carolina ResidenceThe DMV verifies who you are, where you live, and which document rules apply before issuing a South Carolina credential.
- Manage a South Carolina License Linked to Lawful PresenceA noncitizen credential depends on the documented status, authorized stay, and transaction requirements that apply to its holder.
- Use South Carolina Military Licensing and Vehicle ProgramsMilitary assignments, veteran recognition, and commercial experience create distinct DMV options with different evidence requirements.
- Earn and Maintain South Carolina Motorcycle PrivilegesThe motorcycle, the rider’s experience, and the examination route determine the South Carolina credential needed to ride.
Teens, seniors and testing 7 guides
- Getting and Using a South Carolina Beginner's PermitSouth Carolina calls its learner credential a beginner's permit.
- South Carolina Teen Permits, Training, and First LicensesSouth Carolina's graduated program gives young drivers increasing independence as they complete training and build experience.
- Preparing for South Carolina Driver ExaminationsSouth Carolina tests driving knowledge, vision, and practical vehicle control through separate steps.
- Choose Authorized South Carolina Driver InstructionMatch the school, course, and testing authority to the exact license requirement you need to complete.
- Plan License Renewal and Transportation as an Older DriverOlder South Carolina drivers can prepare for renewal by coordinating vision records, current documents, and practical transportation needs.
- Navigate Health, Vision, and South Carolina Driving PrivilegesMedical information, vision screening, voluntary emergency disclosures, and driving restrictions serve different purposes in South Carolina.
- Using a South Carolina Restricted Teen License CorrectlyA South Carolina Conditional or Special Restricted license allows limited independent driving.
Vehicles, titles and plates 11 guides
- South Carolina Title Applications, Liens, and Ownership ChangesA clean ownership application begins with the seller's title, the correct owners, and a documented explanation for any lien or missing record.
- South Carolina Vehicle Registration: Tax Receipt to License PlatePut the ownership papers, county payment, and insurance information in the right order before applying for South Carolina registration.
- Choosing, Displaying, and Transferring South Carolina PlatesSelect a plate that fits the vehicle and its use, then keep the registration, decal, and ownership record aligned.
- South Carolina Seller Duties: Assignment, Notice, and Plate RemovalComplete the ownership transfer and protect the former registration record when a South Carolina vehicle changes hands.
- South Carolina Vehicle Transfers After an Owner DiesRead the title relationship and any transfer-on-death designation before deciding which estate documents and signatures are required.
- South Carolina Alternatives When a Previous Title Is MissingUse the state's ownership-affidavit and limited registration-only procedures instead of assuming another state's bonded-title process applies.
- Resolve a South Carolina Vehicle Lien Before Transferring OwnershipA repair shop lien, a lender repossession, and an abandoned vehicle each require their own South Carolina ownership documents.
- Handle a South Carolina Total Loss, Rebuild, or Junk VehicleA South Carolina total-loss settlement changes the vehicle record even when the owner keeps the damaged car.
- Prepare a Foreign Vehicle for South Carolina Title ReviewA vehicle arriving from another country needs a clear ownership and identification record before South Carolina can evaluate its title application.
- South Carolina Titles for Kit Cars, Replicas, and Reconstructed VehiclesDocument the parts, construction history, and identifying number before applying to title a vehicle assembled or substantially rebuilt outside ordinary production.
- Title and Register a Motorcycle in South CarolinaMotorcycle ownership paperwork must be completed alongside the rider credential, insurance, and plate requirements for the machine being purchased.
Registration, fees and inspections 9 guides
- Renewing South Carolina Registration Through the County and SCDMVFollow the county tax payment through to the renewed decal, and identify the problems that require a separate SCDMV transaction.
- Replacing a South Carolina Plate, Decal, or Registration CardIdentify exactly which registration item is missing and select the replacement service that is currently available for it.
- Estimate South Carolina Driver and Vehicle ChargesThe total for a DMV visit depends on the credential, vehicle, tax status, payment method, and whether the transaction is late.
- Pay South Carolina DMV Charges and Request Supported CorrectionsUse the payment method required for the transaction and document any refund request with the fee, dates, and evidence involved.
- South Carolina Insurance Coverage, Electronic Verification, and LapsesMaintain the required policy and make sure the insurer's electronic report matches the vehicle on the South Carolina registration record.
- Apply for South Carolina Disability Parking Placards and PlatesChoose a personal placard, a vehicle plate, or an organization credential using the current medical certification and registration rules.
- Taking a South Carolina Vehicle Off the Road and Returning It to ServicePlan the plate, insurance, tax, and ownership steps before a car goes into storage so nonuse does not become an unexplained insurance lapse.
- South Carolina IMF for Purchases, Incoming Vehicles, and Exempt TransfersIdentify the transaction before calculating IMF, then document trade-ins, exemptions, and dealer collection without confusing the fee with annual property tax.
- South Carolina Vehicle Property Tax: Assessment, Payment, and RegistrationUnderstand the county tax bill that supports registration, including valuation, exemption applications, and refunds after a qualifying disposition.
Suspensions, DUI and records 6 guides
- Address South Carolina DUI Suspensions and Ignition InterlockThe offense date, conviction history, administrative action, and interlock requirement determine the route back to lawful driving.
- Request Review of a South Carolina Alcohol-Related SuspensionA contested administrative hearing addresses the suspension notice through a process separate from the criminal DUI case.
- Restore South Carolina Driving Privileges After SuspensionReinstatement depends on clearing each requirement on the driving record, including any period, program, evidence, examination, or unpaid fee.
- Understand South Carolina Points and Driving SuspensionsThe point total, violation dates, and type of credential determine how South Carolina evaluates repeated traffic convictions.
- Order and Understand a South Carolina Driving RecordChoose a points summary, a multiyear history, or a related document according to the information you actually need.
- Request a South Carolina Crash Report and Track Related DutiesThe official collision report, initial roadside paperwork, insurance verification, and driver history are separate records with different uses.
Commercial, trucks and special vehicles 7 guides
- Obtain a South Carolina CLP and Commercial Driver LicenseCommercial licensing combines vehicle classification, identity checks, medical qualification, training, and a staged skills examination.
- Add the South Carolina Commercial Privileges Your Work RequiresEndorsements identify specialized commercial operations, while restrictions may still limit the vehicles or loads you can handle.
- Maintain the Medical Record Supporting a South Carolina CDLCommercial drivers must classify their operation accurately and ensure required medical results reach the state through the current electronic process.
- Prepare for Commercial Truck Driving in South CarolinaA truck assignment should match the driver's license, medical status, vehicle credentials, cargo, and route before the truck leaves the yard.
- Register South Carolina Trucks, Carrier Fleets, and TrailersThe correct South Carolina commercial registration depends on vehicle weight, axle configuration, interstate travel, ownership, and the business activity.
- Title and Register South Carolina Boats and Outboard MotorsSouth Carolina boat transactions run through SCDNR, and a separately titled outboard motor can add another ownership document to the purchase.
- Understand South Carolina Off-Road Ownership and Limited Road UseSouth Carolina treats ATVs, qualifying UTVs, golf carts, and low-speed vehicles as different categories with different operating permissions.
Public records beside the South Carolina DMV
The South Carolina DMV holds licenses and titles, not court cases, arrests or deeds; those are public records kept by other offices, and SearchSystems covers them for the whole state: South Carolina court records, South Carolina arrest records, South Carolina property records, South Carolina people searches, running a background check in South Carolina and the South Carolina public records law, all from the South Carolina public records index.
Court cases, jail bookings and deeds are kept county by county. The largest in South Carolina: Greenville, Charleston, Richland, Horry, Spartanburg, Lexington, York and Berkeley.
Questions people ask about the South Carolina DMV
Who runs the DMV in South Carolina?
The Department of Motor Vehicles, at its own branch offices, for licenses, tests, titles, registration and plates; the county auditor and treasurer bill and collect the yearly vehicle property tax the SCDMV needs a receipt for.
How much is a South Carolina driver's license in 2026?
$25 for an eight year license on the SCDMV fee schedule, with a beginner's permit at $2.50 and each knowledge test at $2.
How much does a South Carolina title cost?
$15, or $35 for expedited service in person, plus the infrastructure maintenance fee on a purchase, 5 percent of the price up to $500.
What is the registration fee in South Carolina?
$40 for two years on most passenger vehicles, $38 at age 64 and $36 at 65 or with a qualifying disability, plus $60 for a hybrid or $120 for an electric vehicle and the county property tax paid first.
Do I need an appointment at an SCDMV branch?
Only for a road test, which the SCDMV gives by appointment from 2 pm to 4 pm and as a walk-in until 1:30 pm at the branches that offer it; everything else is a walk-in.
How long does a new South Carolina resident have?
45 days after a permanent move for the license and 45 days for the vehicle registration, with the $250 new resident IMF, the $15 title and the $40 registration making the SCDMV's $305 example.