How to Complete Form 45-A: South Carolina 45-Day Temporary Plates

SCDMV Form 45-A is South Carolina’s application for a 45-day temporary license plate. You use it when you buy a vehicle from a private seller and need to drive it legally while your title and permanent registration are being processed. The form is completed and submitted in person at any SCDMV branch, where an employee finishes the second section and issues the plate during the same visit.¹

When to Use Form 45-A

The main reason to fill out Form 45-A is a private sale. Dealerships handle temporary tags as part of the transaction, but a private purchase leaves you with an unplated vehicle you cannot legally drive on South Carolina roads until you get a plate on it.

The form is also used to replace a temporary plate that was defective, lost, or stolen. It has a checkbox for the replacement reason, and the new plate keeps the same expiration tied to your original purchase date.¹

One limit worth knowing: a temporary plate cannot be used to test drive a vehicle or to move it before the sale is finalized. It’s only valid once the purchase is complete.¹

Filling Out Section A

The form is one page split into two sections. Section A is yours. Section B is completed by the SCDMV employee who issues the plate, so you can preview a blank copy from the SCDMV website but the actual processing happens at the branch.²

In Section A you provide:

Your full legal name as the purchaser.
Your residence address, and a separate mailing address only if it differs.
Your residency status (South Carolina resident or out-of-state).
Your SC driver’s license number or SCDMV customer number.
A phone number where the SCDMV can reach you.
The vehicle’s year, make, VIN, and gross vehicle weight.
A DOT number, if the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle.
The name of the insurance company carrying liability coverage on the vehicle.
The exact date of sale.

You print and sign at the bottom, certifying the information is accurate. The form warns that false information can lead to civil liability and criminal penalties.¹

What to Bring to the Branch

A completed form alone will not get you a plate. Bring:

A copy of the bill of sale or title assignment for the vehicle. This proves the sale and establishes the purchase date that starts your 45-day clock.
Proof of active liability insurance on the vehicle, at least at South Carolina’s minimum required amounts. Coverage must be in force before the SCDMV will issue the plate.
Your South Carolina driver’s license or ID card so the employee can verify your identity and customer number.

The buyer has to be the one purchasing the temporary plate. An individual seller cannot buy a traceable temporary plate on a buyer’s behalf.¹

Where to Submit It

Form 45-A is processed in person at any SCDMV branch. Because Section B is filled in by a DMV employee who physically issues the plate to you, this is not something you can do online or by mail. Bring your completed Section A along with the supporting documents. The employee verifies everything, finishes the form, and hands you the plate at the counter.

Rules While Driving on the Temporary Plate

The plate is valid for 45 days from the date of purchase. A few things apply during that window:

Keep the bill of sale or title showing the purchase date in the vehicle at all times.
Keep liability insurance active for the full period. A lapse creates problems at a traffic stop or after a collision.
Other states may not recognize a South Carolina temporary plate. If you plan to drive out of state during the 45 days, check the rules for the states you’ll be in.

Don’t wait until the last few days of the window to submit your permanent title and registration paperwork. SCDMV processing can take seven to 15 business days, and driving on an expired temporary plate is not legal.¹

If the Vehicle Is a Commercial Motor Vehicle

For an intrastate commercial motor vehicle, Form 45-A has an extra field where you select a regular-sized plate or a motorcycle-sized plate, and you’ll need the vehicle’s DOT number. The 45-day validity period and the same document requirements still apply. Make sure the gross vehicle weight on the form matches the title or manufacturer records.¹

What Form 45-A Is Not

Form 45-A is not a name or address change form. If you need to update your name or address on your driver’s license, the correct forms are SCDMV Form 4057 (Application for Name and/or Address Change) and Form 447-NC. An address change can be done free online with no form 45-A involved.³

1
SCDMV. Application for a Temporary License Plate (Form 45-A)
2
SCDMV. Forms and Manuals
3
SCDMV. Change My Address or Name