South Carolina Identification Card: Requirements, Fees, and Renewals

A South Carolina identification card is a state-issued photo ID for residents who don’t have a driver’s license. You apply in person at an SCDMV branch, and if you’re 17 or older the card is free. It’s valid for eight years, and you can choose between a standard version and a REAL ID-compliant version marked with a star.

Who Qualifies

Three conditions have to be true: you’re at least five years old, you live in South Carolina, and you don’t hold a valid South Carolina driver’s license or beginner’s permit.¹ You cannot hold both a license and an ID card at the same time. If you currently have a license or ID from another state or province, the SCDMV will cancel that credential when it issues your South Carolina card.²

Cards issued to anyone under 21 carry a visual marking that identifies the holder’s age at a glance.¹

Standard Card or REAL ID

Decide which version you want before you gather documents, because the paperwork differs. A standard card verifies your identity for banks, employers, and everyday government paperwork. A REAL ID-compliant card does all of that and is also accepted at TSA airport checkpoints and secure federal facilities. REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025.³

The main practical difference is proof of address. A REAL ID requires two documents from different organizations showing your current South Carolina address; a standard card requires fewer supporting documents.⁴ A REAL ID card is marked with a star in the upper corner. If you ever fly domestically, the REAL ID version is worth the extra paperwork.

Documents to Bring

Gathering the right documents is where the actual work sits. A missing paper means a second trip. For a U.S. citizen, the SCDMV wants:⁴

Proof of identity, citizenship, and date of birth: a certified copy of your birth certificate with a registrar’s signature, or a valid U.S. passport.
Your Social Security number, which the SCDMV verifies electronically. The name, date of birth, and SSN on your application have to match the Social Security Administration’s records exactly.
Proof of your South Carolina address. For a REAL ID, two documents from different sources at the same physical address, such as a utility bill, a bank or credit card statement, or a signed letter on bank letterhead.

You’ll also complete SCDMV Form 447-NC, the Application for a Beginner’s Permit, Driver’s License, or Identification Card (Non-Commercial Credential).⁵ Everything on the form has to match your supporting documents.

Lawfully present non-U.S. citizens can also get a South Carolina ID card. Instead of a birth certificate, you bring immigration documents that establish your legal presence, listed on Form MV-94, and cards issued to holders with temporary status may have a shorter validity tied to the authorized stay.⁶

How to Apply

Your first ID card application has to be completed in person at an SCDMV branch. You can find your nearest office and schedule an appointment through the SCDMV website; appointments cut wait times noticeably compared to walking in.

A service agent will review your Form 447-NC and your documents. Once everything clears, you’ll have your photo taken and pay any applicable fee. The SCDMV accepts cash, personal check, money order, credit or debit card, and Apple Pay.⁷

You leave with a temporary paper receipt that acts as proof of your application. The permanent card usually arrives within about a week, with an official window of 7 to 15 business days from the application date.⁸

What It Costs

If you’re 17 or older, your original ID card and renewals are free. Applicants between ages 5 and 16 pay $15 for an original card.¹

A replacement for a lost or damaged card costs $10 at any age. There’s one exception: if you’re 17 or older and within one year of the expiration date, the replacement is free and processed as a renewal.²

Renewals, Replacements, and Changes

Your card expires eight years after it’s issued.¹ Renewals can be done through the SCDMV’s online services, saving a trip to the branch.⁹

If you move or legally change your name, South Carolina law gives you 10 calendar days to update your record with the SCDMV, and the rule applies to ID card holders, not just license holders.¹⁰ A name change requires the original document that authorized it, like a marriage certificate or court order. Address changes use Form 4057.¹¹

Optional Card Designations

Veterans can request a veteran designation on the front of the card by presenting a DD Form 214 or an equivalent discharge document showing honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions service.

The card can also display an autism symbol or up to three permanent medical conditions, in each case with documentation from a licensed South Carolina physician.¹ That information is exempt from public records requests and is released only to law enforcement, emergency medical services, hospital personnel, or the cardholder.

What Else Happens With Your Application

Two things get triggered automatically, and both catch applicants off guard.

If you’re a male U.S. citizen or immigrant between 18 and 25, submitting the application counts as consent to register with the Selective Service System, and the SCDMV forwards your information electronically. Males under 18 are told on the application that submitting it authorizes the SCDMV to register them when they turn 18; the applicant or a parent can decline.¹²

The DMV is also a voter registration site under the National Voter Registration Act. When you apply for or renew an ID card, you’ll be offered the chance to register to vote or update your registration in the same visit.¹³

1
South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 Chapter 1 Section 56-1-3350 – Issuance of Special Identification Cards
2
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Identification Cards
3
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. United States Citizens Checklist MV-93
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South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Forms and Manuals
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South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Lawfully Present Non-US Citizens
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South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. More Payment Options Come to SCDMV Offices
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South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Central Issuance of Credentials Frequently Asked Questions
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South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Online Services
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South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 Chapter 1 Section 56-1-230 – Notification of Change of Address or Name
11
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for Name and/or Address Change – SCDMV Form 4057
12
South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 Chapter 1 Section 56-1-125 – Registration With Selective Service System
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SC Votes. Register to Vote