Yes, you can register a car in SC with an out-of-state license. The SCDMV lets you complete the registration by filing Form TI-006, a Statement of Vehicle Operation certifying that the vehicle will be located and primarily operated in South Carolina.1South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina (SCDMV Form TI-006) If you’ve just moved, you have 45 days from establishing residency to get the vehicle on South Carolina plates, and the fees for a standard passenger car come to about $305 before county property taxes.
Who Can Use This Option
Two kinds of drivers typically register a South Carolina vehicle without holding an SC credential: new residents who haven’t yet swapped their license, and people whose vehicles live in South Carolina even though they don’t.
New residents get 45 days to register any vehicle they brought with them, provided the out-of-state registration hasn’t already expired.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 Chapter 3 – Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles During that window, your out-of-state license works as identification at the counter as long as you pair it with the TI-006.
A non-resident can keep driving a properly registered and plated out-of-state vehicle in South Carolina for an accumulated 150 days before registration becomes mandatory.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 Chapter 3 – Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles Beyond that threshold, or if you fit one of the categories below, you register in South Carolina while keeping your out-of-state license:
- Active-duty military stationed in South Carolina whose vehicle stays in the state.
- Students enrolled at a South Carolina school.
- Vacation-home owners whose vehicle sits at the SC property at least six months of the year.
All of these situations use the same TI-006 form to confirm the vehicle’s presence in the state.3SCDMV. Moving To SC – Vehicle
What To Bring to the SCDMV
First-time registrations and out-of-state transfers have to be done in person at an SCDMV branch. Online services cover renewals only. Walk in without the full packet and you’ll be sent home.
- The original out-of-state title or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. If there’s a lien, bring the lienholder’s name and address.
- SCDMV Form 400, the Title and Registration Application, filled out before you arrive.4South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Completing a Title and/or Registration Application Instructions Form 400 (IS)
- SCDMV Form TI-006, the piece that lets you register without an SC license.1South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina (SCDMV Form TI-006)
- Your out-of-state driver’s license for identity verification.
- Proof of South Carolina residency, such as a utility bill or lease.
- The original paid property tax receipt from your county treasurer. Copies are not accepted.5SCDMV. Renew My Registration
- An odometer disclosure. Federal law requires it on the title or a separate form; vehicles model year 2010 or older are exempt.6eCFR. Part 580—Odometer Disclosure Requirements
Salvage or rebuilt titles from another state draw extra scrutiny, and the SCDMV can require a vehicle identification and condition inspection when the history is incomplete. Call your local branch ahead of time if that applies.
Pay Vehicle Property Tax First
This is the step that catches people out. You cannot finish registering at the SCDMV until you’ve paid vehicle property tax at your county treasurer’s office. South Carolina taxes vehicles as personal property, and the amount depends on fair market value and your county’s millage rate, so the bill varies from county to county and car to car.
Call or visit the treasurer to find out what you owe. Some counties take online payments; many don’t. When you pay, you receive a paid tax receipt, and only the original goes with you to the SCDMV.5SCDMV. Renew My Registration
Line Up an SC Insurance Policy
South Carolina requires liability coverage from an insurer authorized to do business in the state before any vehicle can be registered. The minimum limits are $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.7South Carolina Department of Insurance. Automobile Insurance
You don’t hand over a paper card. The SCDMV verifies coverage electronically, so your SC policy has to be active in the insurer’s system before you walk in. If verification fails, your registration can be suspended, with reinstatement fees running up to $400.8SCDMV. Insurance Requirements Ask your current insurer to rewrite the policy for South Carolina before your move, or shop a new carrier. An out-of-state policy won’t verify even if the limits match.
What the Fees Add Up To
On top of county property tax, the SCDMV collects several fees at titling:9SCDMV. Fees
- Title fee of $15, or $35 for expedited in-person processing.
- Registration and license plate fee of $40 for most passenger cars.
- Infrastructure Maintenance Fee of $250 for a vehicle previously registered in another state by the same owner. This is a one-time charge that replaces the state and local sales tax you’d otherwise owe.10South Carolina Department of Revenue. SC Information Letter #17-10 (Revised)
That totals about $305 before property taxes. Cash, check, and card are all accepted. Card payments carry a service fee of $1.00 plus 1.7% of the transaction.9SCDMV. Fees
At the Counter
The SCDMV agent reviews your Form 400, verifies insurance electronically, runs the title transfer through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, and collects fees. Your out-of-state title gets surrendered, and the new South Carolina title is mailed to your SC address once it clears.3SCDMV. Moving To SC – Vehicle
Plates and a registration card usually come out at the window. If permanent plates aren’t on hand that day, the SCDMV can issue a 45-day temporary plate for $10.11South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Application to Issue or Replace 45-Day Temporary Plates South Carolina doesn’t require a safety or emissions inspection, so there’s no separate step on that front.
If You Miss the 45-Day Deadline
Late registration costs you twice. The SCDMV adds escalating late fees:9SCDMV. Fees
- 46 to 60 days late: $10
- 61 to 75 days late: $25
- 76 to 135 days late: $50
- Over 135 days late: $75
Driving an unregistered vehicle on South Carolina roads is also a misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of a $100 fine or up to 30 days in jail.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 Chapter 3 – Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles A traffic stop more often ends in a fine than jail, but either way the costs compound on the late fees already running.
One Boundary To Note on the License Itself
Registering the car without an SC license is allowed. Keeping an out-of-state license indefinitely usually isn’t. If you’ve moved to South Carolina as a permanent resident, you’re required to apply for an SC driver’s license within 45 days of your move, the same window that applies to the vehicle.12SCDMV. Moving to SC – License Military members, students, and non-residents who register a vehicle here under the TI-006 process keep their out-of-state license without a problem. New residents who stay past 45 days on an out-of-state license don’t.