Eligibility for South Carolina License Plates
One rear license plate is issued for one registered vehicle. Residents must title and register any vehicle upon establishing residency in the state. S.C. Code § 56-3-160 considers anyone moving for work or permanent residence a resident upon arrival.
- Residence: Non-residents may operate a vehicle registered out-of-state for up to 150 cumulative days before registration is required. S.C. Code § 56-3-150 sets this threshold. Active-duty military personnel, enrolled students, and owners keeping a vehicle in the state for at least six months per year may register using form SCDMV TI-006.
- Vehicle: Motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers operating on public roads must be registered per S.C. Code § 56-3-110. Vehicles with salvage or non-repairable titles cannot receive standard plates until retitled.
- A valid South Carolina driver’s license, beginner’s permit, or state ID is required for each applicant. Without it, form TI-006 and proof of appropriate residency condition must be submitted instead.
- Plate Categories: Military plates require DD-214 documentation and form SCDMV MV-37. Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and POW plates are fee-exempt. Special organizational and university plates are available to all residents via form MV-95.
How to Get a License Plate in South Carolina?
Before SCDMV processes any registration, county property tax must be paid. Pay at your county treasurer’s office first, then bring the original tax receipt to an SCDMV branch.
- Submit a completed title application (form SCDMV 400), out-of-state title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin, proof of insurance, your SC ID, and property tax receipt. Vehicles with liens require the lienholder to submit the title directly.
- South Carolina does not require safety inspections and emissions tests for passenger vehicles. VIN verification does not apply to standard out-of-state transfers.
- Pay $15 for the title, biennial registration fee, and infrastructure maintenance fee at the branch. Card payments incur a $1 plus 1.7% processing fee.
- You receive a plate, color sticker, and registration card. Buyers have 45 days from purchase to complete permanent registration per S.C. Code § 56-3-212.
Registration is valid on a 24-month cycle. Counties send renewal notices at least 45 days before expiration. Renewals can be done online, at the county treasurer’s office, or via the SCDMV Express kiosk.
How Much Does a License Plate Cost in South Carolina?
The biennial registration fee is moderate; the infrastructure maintenance fee at first titling is where the total increases.
- Passenger vehicles: $40 every two years. Owners aged 64 pay $38; owners 65 or older, or with qualifying permanent disabilities, pay $36. Motorcycles and mopeds cost $10; utility trailers and campers also cost $10.
- Electric vehicles add $120 to the base fee, and hybrids add $60, both charged every two years per the SCDMV fee schedule.
- IMF applies at first titling: 5% of the purchase price, capped at $500 for in-state purchases per S.C. Code § 56-3-627. Vehicles previously registered out-of-state pay a flat $250. Transfers between immediate family members are fee-exempt.
- Title transfer costs $15 standard, $35 for expedited processing in person. Personalized plates have a $30 biennial surcharge; special plates range from $20 to $70 every two years depending on design.
- Late renewal penalties increase by the number of days overdue: $10 for 1 to 14 days, $25 for 15 to 30, $50 for 31 to 90, and $75 over 90 days. S.C. Code § 56-3-840 governs these penalties.
Can I Get a License Plate Online in South Carolina?
First-time registrations and out-of-state title transfers must be done in person at an SCDMV branch. The online portal covers only renewals, duplicate registrations, and plate exchanges.
- The SCDMV online portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. County property taxes must be paid and recorded before the portal processes renewals. SCDMV mails the new sticker the next business day.
- SCDMV Express self-service kiosks handle renewals, duplicate registrations, and replacement of lost stickers without visiting a branch.
- All 66 SCDMV branches handle first-time titling and registration. The county treasurer’s office can process both property tax payment and registration renewal at once.
For mail transactions, send the completed form and payment by check or money order to SCDMV, PO Box 1498, Blythewood, SC 29016. Applications for military and personalized plates must go through the mail. If the SCDMV portal can handle your renewal, use it; the branch is intended for titling work the portal cannot process.