Get, Renew, or Replace a South Carolina ID Card

Decide whether an identification card fits your situation

An identification card is useful when you need a state credential for everyday identity checks but do not intend to drive. Under South Carolina's ID eligibility rules, applicants must live in the state, be at least five years old, supply the necessary identity evidence, and have no valid South Carolina driver's license or beginner's permit. The card does not authorize operating a motor vehicle. Someone preparing to drive should instead consider the beginner's permit process or the appropriate license application, because an ID does not substitute for either document.

You cannot maintain an independent collection of active state credentials. South Carolina cancels previously issued licenses and IDs from another jurisdiction when issuing its own ID, and a later license or identification card from another state cancels the South Carolina credential. A valid out-of-state card must be surrendered. The Surrender Agreement explains the consequences of exchanging a license for identification and the circumstances in which an unavailable card must be reported. Review those consequences before applying if you currently possess driving privileges elsewhere.

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Assemble evidence for the person named on the application

Start with Form 447-NC, which covers identification cards as well as noncommercial permits and licenses. Provide your Social Security number, and ensure the associated legal name and birth date match Social Security's records. For U.S. citizens, the current citizens' checklist identifies acceptable evidence of citizenship, identity, birth date, residence, and any name changes. A certified government birth certificate or valid U.S. passport is an example of identity evidence. Ordinary photocopies of identity records do not take the place of originals or government-issued copies.

Your address evidence must show your current physical South Carolina home, not merely a post office box. The state's checklist accepts several categories, including qualifying utility documents, financial statements, leases, school records, and government correspondence. Documents must meet the checklist's freshness requirements, including the nine-month limit on address evidence. Assemble documents in the applicant's own name wherever required, and read the applicable category carefully rather than assuming that every item displaying an address qualifies. A residence change may make an otherwise familiar document unsuitable.

If your present legal name differs from your identity document, gather the records connecting those names. South Carolina describes the necessary chain in its identity and REAL ID guidance. A current U.S. passport or passport card in your legal name can simplify that chain when it meets the stated conditions. For a change being made now, follow the name-change procedure, including updating Social Security at least 48 hours before the DMV visit. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens should use the lawfully present noncitizen checklist instead of assuming the citizen document list applies.

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Choose the card's federal identification status

An ID can carry the REAL ID star or be issued as a standard state card. The distinction concerns acceptance for certain federal identification purposes; it does not turn an ID into permission to drive. For REAL ID, bring two qualifying proofs of physical South Carolina residence. The citizen checklist says they must come from different organizations and show the same address. A standard card generally requires one qualifying residence document. The charge for a particular card category does not increase simply because you choose REAL ID.

Consider how you actually use identification before choosing. South Carolina explains that a standard card cannot serve as the required identification for domestic commercial air travel or secure federal access. Another accepted federal credential, such as a valid passport, may meet that need. REAL ID is not required to vote, obtain hospital care, or receive federal benefits for which you qualify. If you need a starred card, establish that requirement before completing a replacement transaction, because an ordinary duplicate does not automatically upgrade an existing standard credential.

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Apply and allow for centralized production

Use the branch directory to select an office and confirm its available services. At the visit, present the application, supporting records, and any existing credential that must be surrendered. The state fee schedule and ID page show that original cards and renewals are free for applicants age 17 or older. Children ages five through 16 pay $15. The free adult card is an identification service; it should not be confused with a free driver's license or an automatic waiver of every other DMV charge.

Cards are printed centrally rather than handed over at the counter. The branch provides a temporary identification certificate, and the permanent card ordinarily arrives by mail within seven to 15 business days. The temporary certificate lasts up to 30 days and may be used for voting and other identification where accepted. A QR code allows you to follow production and mailing. If the card has not arrived within 30 days, visit a branch. Plan around this mailing period when an upcoming event requires the physical card.

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Renew online only when the record qualifies

The official online-services directory leads to the state's renewal transaction. Online ID renewal is available to qualifying U.S. citizens whose cards are within 12 months of expiration and who meet all listed conditions. Those conditions include matching Social Security information, no disqualifying violent-offender status, and an eligible previous renewal method. You cannot use consecutive online or mail renewals under the stated rule. A successful online renewal uses the photograph and signature already on file and sends an eight-year card to the recorded address.

A child's online renewal carries the stated service charge in addition to the applicable card fee. Adults age 17 and older remain eligible for the free renewal described by the department. An ID expired nine months or more requires an office visit with current residence evidence and identity evidence if the department does not already hold it. Review the dedicated ID instructions instead of borrowing the driver-license renewal rules, which include driving-related requirements that do not belong to a nondriver card.

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Replace a missing card and keep the record current

A replacement ID generally costs $10 at any age. An exception applies when someone age 17 or older is within one year of expiration: the transaction should be processed as a free renewal. The replacement instructions also limit repeated online duplicates. If you already bought an online duplicate within the previous 12 months, another online purchase is unavailable; additional evidence may be requested for repeated replacements. Report theft or identity theft to local law enforcement before following the replacement procedure.

Finally, maintain the address that controls delivery. South Carolina requires name and address changes within ten days, and its process updates related DMV records. An optional replacement card is separate from a free online address correction. Keep the temporary certificate and transaction information until the permanent ID arrives, then check the printed name, residence information, and expiration. If you later pursue driving, use the driver testing requirements and the appropriate application rather than treating your ID history as proof of a driving privilege.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How old must a child be for a South Carolina ID?
The minimum age for a state identification card is five, and the child must meet residence and documentation requirements.

Is an adult identification card free?
Original and renewed cards are free for people age 17 or older; ordinary replacements generally cost $10.

Can I hold an ID and a valid South Carolina license together?
The state does not issue an ID to someone who holds a valid South Carolina license or beginner permit.

Does choosing REAL ID require additional residence evidence?
A starred card requires two qualifying physical-address proofs, with the citizen checklist requiring different issuing organizations and the same residence.

Will the office print my permanent ID immediately?
The office issues a temporary certificate while the permanent card is produced centrally and mailed, generally within seven to 15 business days.

What happens when my ID has been expired for nine months?
Renewal must be handled at a branch with the current address evidence and any identity documentation the department requires.

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More South Carolina DMV guides

The other South Carolina DMV guides, 52 of them:

The records side of the same subject, state by state on SearchSystems: ordering a South Carolina birth certificate and South Carolina vital records.