News

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has won international recognition for its community service book drive to help children across the state.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is announcing several extensions of expirations to help customers affected by Tropical Storm Helene.

South Carolina is putting a renewed emphasis on safe driving in construction work zones. The SCDMV joins law enforcement and other state agencies in reminding travelers to slow down and obey all signs in construction areas, especially when crews are present.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is responding to the outage sustained by a private provider that serves vehicle dealers. The outage is disrupting business for that vendor’s customers in South Carolina and across the nation.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will hold the 2024 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week (DSEW) statewide for drivers with licenses suspended for specific reasons.

All services for IFTA/IRP online and in branch offices will be out of service from 5 p.m., May 2 until 8:30 a.m., May 6.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) is again partnering with the Original Six (O6) Foundation to support its “My First Library” campaign.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles cautions residents to be on alert for phishing scams and fraudulent communications that are disguised as communications from the agency.

An SCDMV Express kiosk has opened in Summerville, offering customers the chance to conduct some vehicle transactions in their grocery store instead of a branch office.

On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will host CDL Day at the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center.

An SCDMV Express kiosk has opened in Greer, offering customers the chance to conduct some vehicle transactions in their grocery store instead of a branch office.

The S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles has unveiled the first of its SCDMV Express kiosks, offering a new way to boost customer service. The kiosks allow customers to complete some DMV registration transactions any time a grocery store location is open instead of visiting an SCDMV branch office.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will soon offer self-service electronic kiosks inside grocery stores.

A modernized version of the commercial driver’s license (CDL) road test is being implemented for the first time in the Charleston area.

A modernized version of the commercial driver’s license (CDL) road test is being implemented for the first time in the Upstate in Seneca.

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will host CDL Day at the State Fairgrounds, located at 1200 Rosewood Drive in Columbia.

The S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles office in Lexington has been formally renamed in honor of Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Harold “Speedy” Wilson.

A modernized version of the commercial driver’s license road tests is being implemented at some S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles locations.

At the close of business June 30, 2023, the Kingstree branch office at 785 Eastland Avenue in Kingstree will no longer offer the Class E nor Class F driver's license road tests. These tests are for large non-commercial vehicles like recreational vehicles and recreational vehicles with an item towed behind it.

The General Assembly recently passed, and Governor McMaster signed Senate Bill 549, now Act #51 of 2023, which modernizes the relationship between dealerships and the SCDMV, among other actions.

On Thursday, May 25, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will host “CDL Day” at the Hugh Leatherman Port Terminal, located at 1500 Port Access Rd. in North Charleston, SC.

CDL customers can now check the status of their medical certificate online.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will hold the 2023 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week (DSEW) statewide for drivers with licenses suspended for specific reasons. The dates of this year’s event are March 6 – 10, 2023.

On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will host “CDL Day” at the State Fairgrounds, located at 1200 Rosewood Dr, Columbia, SC 29201. The event will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will no longer conduct motorcycle skills tests at the Myrtle Beach Commons branch office, located at 1330 Howard Parkway Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Due to a shortage of the type of paper used for vehicle registrations, South Carolinians who have paid their property taxes to the county in which they reside may notice that it takes longer to receive their vehicle registration cards and decals for their license plates in the mail.

The SCDMV Woodruff branch at 351 South Main Street is staying open. The agency previously announced that the branch would close on November 10, 2022, due to the current lease expiring on November 30, 2022. After further conversations with the Department of Administration and the Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation, the agency is in the process of entering into a new lease with the landlord of the existing location.

At the close of business on Thursday, November 10, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles' (SCDMV) branch in Woodruff located at 351 South Main Street in Spartanburg County will permanently close.

With less than one year before the REAL ID deadline, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) is kicking off efforts to promote REAL ID. During the initiative, SCDMV Mobile Services will offer REAL IDs in several locations across the state.

Beginning May 3, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require federally approved identification, such as a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, to board a flight within the United States or access certain federal facilities. Other federally approved forms of identification include a valid passport or military identification card. You must still have a valid US Passport or Passport Card to travel internationally.

South Carolina active or prior service members should be aware of upcoming changes to South Carolina military license plates and how to obtain them. On April 18, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will centralize the application process for obtaining a military plate. Applications for military plates will only be processed by mail at SCDMV Headquarters in Blythewood.

On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will host “CDL Day” at the State Fairgrounds, located at 1200 Rosewood Dr, Columbia, SC 29201. The event will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will hold the 2022 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week (DSEW) statewide for drivers with licenses suspended for specific reasons. The dates of this year's event are March 7 – 11, 2022, and beginning this year the SCDMV will proactively notify eligible drivers who can take advantage of the program.

Beginning January 1, 2022, vehicle and motorcycle owners can obtain a 250th Year Anniversary Revolutionary War specialty license plate. This plate is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War and is available to all South Carolina residents for the price of the regular vehicle registration. Governor McMaster signed the plate into law this past session and the plate sunsets in 2033.

As of November 15, 2021, the SCDMV will return to performing in-car road tests for regular licenses at all branch offices across the state. In an effort to provide excellent service to all customers, the SCDMV will also revert to its pre-COVID 19 schedule of afternoon-only appointments for regular license and motorcycle skills testing, allowing walk-ins to test during the morning hours.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) is changing how it offers regular driver's license (Class D) road tests in light of rising numbers of coronavirus cases across the state. Beginning Wednesday, August 25, 2021, masks are required for both applicants and examiners during all road and skills tests. This mask requirement is for non-commercial and commercial skills tests where an applicant and an examiner are co-located in a vehicle.

SCDMV customers should be aware that emails or text messages from any entity claiming to be the SCDMV, or its equivalent, that ask recipients to verify their driver’s license information to keep their record up-to-date or to pay a fine or fee by clicking on a link are fraudulent.

Due to the substantial increase in customer volume we are seeing at branch offices resulting from vaccinations and easing of COVID-19 restrictions, we are transitioning to a walk-in approach to better serve customers’ needs. The agency continues to require appointments, as it did before the COVID-19 pandemic, for CDL skills tests and regular and motorcycle license road tests. Also, dealers and business customers must comply with transaction drop-off times and limits.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending the REAL ID full enforcement date to May 3, 2023, due to circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has significantly impacted states’ ability to issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards, with many driver’s licensing agencies still operating at limited capacity. DHS will publish an interim final rule in the coming days to effectuate this enforcement date change.

Berkeley County residents should be aware of an upcoming permanent change of location to their local South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) office. At the close of business Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the Moncks Corner SCDMV branch office at 108-B Highway 52 will permanently close. On Thursday, July 1, 2021, the relocated Moncks Corner office will open for business at the new Berkeley County Administration Building located at 1003 Highway 52. Customers will continue to receive the same services at the new Moncks Corner location as they have at the Highway 52 location.

Beginning March 24, 2021, South Carolinians who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, or who have people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing drive their vehicles, will be able to add special notations linked to their license plates. This notation will only be available to law enforcement in the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles’ (SCDMV) online database.

South Carolinians who have not obtained their REAL ID can now do so a bit easier due to a recent federal law that reduces the REAL ID documentation burden. Signed at the end of December 2020 as part of a COVID-19 funding law, the REAL ID Modernization Act provides relief for all citizens who may have trouble providing physical documentation of their social security number when applying for REAL ID driver’s licenses or identification cards.

At the close of business Friday, April 2, 2021, the Greenville - University Ridge Road branch office located at 300 University Ridge Road will permanently close. A new SCDMV branch office will open Monday, April 5, 2021 at 122 Edgeworth Street in Greenville. The new location will be more spacious and used exclusively for SCDMV business

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will hold the 2021 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week statewide for drivers with licenses suspended for various reasons March 15 – 19, 2021. During this week, drivers licensed in South Carolina, who lost their driving privileges due to certain suspensions, may be able to reduce or clear the remaining time of their suspension.

Greenville residents should be aware of an upcoming change of location to their local SCMDV branch office. At the close of business Friday, April 2, 2021, the Greenville - University Ridge Road branch office at 300 University Ridge Road will permanently close. A new SCDMV branch office will open Monday, April 5, 2021 at 122 Edgeworth Street in Greenville. Customers will continue to receive the same services at the Greenville - Edgeworth Street branch office as they did at the Greenville - University Ridge Road branch office. The new location will be more spacious and used exclusively for SCDMV business.

South Carolina vehicle owners and dealers who are planning to sell or lease vehicles should be aware of an upcoming change to odometer disclosure exemptions that will go into effect on January 1, 2021. Beginning in 2021, odometer disclosures will be required on all vehicles less than twenty years old at the time of ownership transfer, affecting vehicles of model year 2011 and newer. The twenty-year period will extend from the vehicle’s date of manufacture.

South Carolinians must soon have their vision tested before being able to renew their driver's licenses. Beginning October 1, 2020, drivers must have vision examination results electronically submitted to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) or have their eyes checked in person at SCDMV branches to be able to renew any type of driver's licenses. Vision tests for first-time licenses and commercial driver's licenses continue to be required.

You can now renew your South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) beginner's permit or identification card at SCDMVOnline.com. The new transaction is available for eligible South Carolinians and is another way citizens can complete their SCDMV business from the comfort of home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Carolinians can now file complaints about vehicle dealers even faster with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). Customers now have the option to visit SCDMVOnline.com (File a Dealer Complaint) to submit a complaint about licensed dealers in South Carolina.

There are now more online options at the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). Customers who lose their registration decals for the lower right-hand corner of their license plates can now purchase replacements online. There’s also no need to visit an SCDMV branch to return your license plate after you sell your vehicle. You can do it from the comfort of home.

Extensions to expiration dates of some products the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) issues will end on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the SCDMV will resume offering skills tests for non-commercial vehicle drivers who want to obtain standard (Class D) driver’s licenses.

Starting Wednesday, May 13, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will return to operating five days a week at all but two branch office locations. Previously, SCDMV branch offices were open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Starting Monday, May 4, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will expand operations by reopening all 66 branch offices to increase convenience for customers.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) remains open during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the continuity of essential government operations and support the needs of South Carolina’s citizens.

Beginning Monday, April 6, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will resume administering motorcycle skills testing at branch offices where the service was previously offered. Motorcycle skills test will be by appointment only.

On March 26, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would extend the enforcement date of the Federal REAL ID Act of 2005 from October 1, 2020 to October 1, 2021.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) remains open, but the agency is adjusting hours of operation at select branches beginning Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

In accordance with Executive Order No. 2020-11, all SCDMV branches remain open to “ensure the proper function and continuity of state government operations.”

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will hold the 2020 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week statewide for drivers with licenses suspended for various reasons March 16 – 20, 2020.

The SCDMV will embark on a statewide tour aimed at getting more South Carolinians their REAL ID driver's license or identification card in the new year.

The McCormick branch in McCormick, SC will transition to a two-days-a-week office next year. SCDMV offices in Edgefield, Greenwood, and North Augusta will service customers every other day of the week from the McCormick area.

The SCDMV Lockwood Boulevard branch will be closing soon. Customers in the area will be able to receive services at 946 Orleans Road #7, Charleston, South Carolina 29407.

There are changes coming to driver's licenses and identification cards, commercial learner's permits and driver's licenses, and driver's license for non-US citizens.

In less than a year, South Carolinians who wish to board a domestic, commercial flight, enter a secure federal building, or visit a military installation must have a REAL ID driver's license or identification card issued by the SCDMV to do so.

Road Use Fee, formerly known as property taxes filed with the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) on Form PT-441, are now paid at the time you renew your commercial motor vehicle at the SCDMV. You will no longer have to complete a form and the system will calculate the amount due for road use fees.

Beginning Monday, July 15, 2019, the SCDMV will no longer conduct Motorcycle skills tests at the Union and Bluffton branch offices.

Beginning Monday, July 1, 2019, the SCDMV will no longer issue International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decals at Charleston - Leeds Avenue, Florence, Greenville, and Spartanburg.

Beginning Wednesday, May 15, 2019, travelers may notice a new type of temporary license plate on South Carolina roadways, which ties a newly-purchased vehicle to its owner.

The SCDMV will hold the 2019 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week statewide for drivers with licenses suspended for various reasons Monday, March 18 through Friday, March 22, 2019.

Beginning Monday, November 19, 2018, moped owners or operators must have their moped registered with the SCDMV to drive it legally on any state road. This comes as a result of Act 89 signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2017. Moped owners may visit any SCDMV branch beginning Thursday, November 1, 2018 to register their moped.

Full services are coming to the Market Common! The SCDMV branch at 1330 Howard Parkway in Myrtle Beach will offer additional transactions and counters for customers to complete their business with the agency beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

Due to traffic concerns in the area, the North Augusta branch on Ascauga Lake Road will not offer commercial driver's license (CDL) road tests nor pre-trip inspections on Friday, October 5, 2018.

Due to building damage, the SCDMV's Conway branch will not open on Monday, September 17, 2018.

The SCDMV will implement the following procedure for completing multiple transactions for dealer and business customers visiting the Charleston - Leeds Avenue branch. This procedure will become effective on Monday, August 27, 2018.

The SCDMV has unveiled a guide for parents and guardians who are teaching their children how to drive. The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program, or PSDP, introduces new drivers to weekly lessons behind the wheel as they prepare for their driving test after holding a beginner’s permit for 180 days.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) applied for funding under the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the funding that will go towards the purchase of hurricane shutters for some SCDMV branches on the South Carolina coast.

The SCDMV office, commonly referred to as “Ashley Oaks,” at 1119-K Wappoo Road in Charleston will permanently close on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.

After the most extensive renovation and expansion in the SCDMV Florence branch’s more than 35-year history, the 3102 East Palmetto Street office will reopen to the public on Monday, March 26, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.

The SCDMV will hold the 2018 Driver Suspension Eligibility Week statewide for drivers with licenses suspended for various reasons April 16 – 20, 2018.

Governor Henry McMaster was joined Wednesday, February 28 by SCDMV Director Kevin Shwedo to announce that South Carolina’s new driver’s licenses and identification cards, including those compliant with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, are now available for purchase SCDMV branches statewide.

You can now include personalized names, messages, or slogans on your favorite university's license plate for your regular vehicles.

As South Carolina experiences below normal temperatures, you're reminded that all state offices, including the SCDMV, follow the direction of the county in which that office is located during closings for inclement weather.

The SCDMV branch on East Palmetto Street in Florence will close for the fall once business ends on Friday, October 20, 2017. A temporary location will open a few miles away, but the Florence branch will not re-open until extensive renovations are complete.

The SCDMV is pleased to announce a more convenient way for South Carolina residents to do business with the agency. Most South Carolinians who have a regular (Class D, E, F, M, or any combination of the four) driver’s license, whose driving privileges are in good standing, may renew their license from the comfort of home.

During the afternoon of Monday, August 21, 2017, many parts of South Carolina will experience some of the longest periods of darkness during the total solar eclipse. The SCDMV wants to make sure you're safe and its employees are safe during this historic event.

Beginning July 1, 2017, people who purchase vehicles in South Carolina will owe a new type of fee instead of paying a sales tax. Due to legislation commonly referred to as the Roads Bill, if you buy or lease a vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, or other automobile on and after July 1, 2017 that will be titled and/or registered in this state, you will owe an Infrastructure Maintenance Fee instead of sales tax.

Governor Henry McMaster's signature on House Bill 3358 means South Carolinians can use their current, valid driver's license or identification card to enter federal buildings or visit military bases until October of 2017.

As of January 1, 2016, charter buses that travel across state lines will be required to get an apportioned bus plate (BC plate) or trip permits before crossing state lines. Charter buses will also need the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) license and fuel decal or get fuel permits before crossing state lines.

The SCDMV now accepts Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) skills test certificates as proof of your ability to operate and drive a motorcycle. The certificate may eliminate your need for a skills test at an SCDMV branch.