Registration FAQs

Here you'll find several of the most frequently asked questions regarding registration in South Carolina. Be sure to visit the rest of our Registration and Titling sections, as well as South Carolina's Title and Registration Web pages.

The online forms you'll find in this section are available using the free Adobe Reader.

I heard that I don't have to have automobile insurance in South Carolina. Is this true?

South Carolina offers drivers an "Uninsured Motorist" option to drive legally without insurance. If there are no convictions or offenses against your driving record, you can apply for the privilege to drive without insurance. The cost of this privilege is $550 per year, and does not release you from financial responsibilities in a wreck. This is not an insurance policy; the registration just allows you to legally drive without insurance.

Can I drive my golf cart around my neighborhood?

Yes, with restrictions. You must first register your golf cart with the DMV, providing proof of liability insurance. The restrictions for driving a golf cart include:

• You may drive during daylight hours only.

• Each driver of the cart must possess a regular driver's license.

• You can only drive on secondary streets or highways within two miles of your home.

• Only the owner(s) of the golf cart may drive it.

• You must carry the golf cart registration papers with you when you drive it.

• If you sell the cart, you must write the DMV about the sale, including the name and address of the new owner.

Can I renew my tags online?

Yes. But you must first pay your property taxes through your County Treasurer, who will then notify the DMV that you've paid.

When you register online you will need to have the name and address of your insurance company available. You can pay by VISA, MasterCard, or Discover card.

I was involved in a traffic accident. How do I get a copy of the police report?

Complete Form FR-50 and submit two copies of it by mail to the following address. The report fee is $6, so be sure to enclose that with your request.

• SC Department of Motor Vehicles

• Financial Responsibility Office

• P.O. Box 1498

• Blythewood, SC 29016-0040

I just moved to South Carolina. What do I need to register and title my boat?

If you moved here from a state that titles watercrafts, you'll need to bring in the current title with your name on it. South Carolina provides an online list of titling states.

You'll also need your current registration card or number, a picture or tracing of the Hull Identification Number (HIN), the Watercraft/Outboard Motor Application, and the $10 fee.

I haven't received my registration or title from the state. It's been two months. What should I do?

Contact your local DMV office if you haven't received your paperwork after six weeks. The local office will decide what steps you should take next.

How do I get a duplicate title?

Complete Form 400. If time is not an issue, pay $15 and you'll receive the title in four to six weeks. To expedite the process, pay $35 and you'll receive it in seven to 10 business days.

My license plate fell off my car. How do I get it replaced?

Complete Form 452 and submit it in person at your local DMV office. The fee for a replacement tag is $6.

How do I get a duplicate registration?

You'll need to complete Form 3090. You can apply for a duplicate registration in person, online, or by mail. The fee is $1.

Does the DMV offer any sort of special registration for nonoperational vehicles?

No. Should you decide to cancel the registration on a vehicle, surrender your plates at a DMV location. If you're going to cancel the insurance, wait until after you've turned in the plates.

I’ve heard the IRS honors a tax deduction that has to do with my vehicle registration fees. Is this true?

Yes. The scoop is that the IRS counts a vehicle registration fee that's based on your vehicle's value as a personal property tax, which is deductible. This is true even if your state calls the fee a "registration fee" or a "vehicle use fee." Check out page 146 of the IRS's Publication 17 for more details.

But before you start entering your registration fees on line 7 of the 1040A form, double check to make sure your state calculates the car registration fee based on the car's value. For example, if your state charges you 1% of the car's value each year as a vehicle fee, and you pay $100 based on your car's value ($10,000), then you can deduct $100. If your state charges you for 1% of the car's value, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous fees, then you can still only deduct the $100. The fees might be itemized on your vehicle registration card or registration renewal form.

Other states ignore the car's value and charge only based on the vehicle weight; in those cases, you can't take the deduction.

If you aren't sure about whether the state charges this fee or you can't find the fee, contact your local motor-vehicle office. If you have questions about taking the deduction, call a tax professional or the IRS.