Lauren Phillips, Director of Driver Services

Lauren Phillips is the Director of Driver Services at the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. She was appointed to the position in January 2025 and oversees the driver’s licensing program of the State.

Lauren joins the SCDMV from SCDOT where she was the Director of Federal Affairs working with South Carolina’s Congressional Delegation to ensure the State’s needs were considered in Washington, while overseeing the agency’s grants strategy and federal and state earmark requirements. During her time at SCDOT, the State secured nearly $400 million in infrastructure grants for transformational projects. 

Her time as the Director of Driver Services marks a return to SCDMV for Lauren after she spent more than seven years as the agency’s Chief of Strategic Communications and Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs from 2016 to 2023. She worked with the State Legislature to diversify the DMV’s revenue streams, codify branding practices related to vehicle titles, codify mandatory vehicle insurance, and numerous other regulatory and policy-related items. She managed the million-dollar advertising strategy to transition customers to a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, allowing them to board domestic commercial flights.

Lauren holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism. She’s a Certified Public Manager and a graduate of the South Carolina Economic Development Institute.