I'm a new resident in South Carolina: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from South Carolina. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in South Carolina

Each rule comes from the South Carolina driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Deadline to switch your license

  45 days after permanently moving to South Carolina

  What the manual says

  • The 45-day deadline

    If you permanently move to South Carolina with a valid out-of-state license or ID, you must apply for an SC license or ID within 45 days of moving to the state. You must turn in your out-of-state license or ID when you get an SC license or ID. When South Carolina issues you a license or ID, any driver’s licenses and ID cards previously issued to you by another state or province are cancelled.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Vision test; knowledge and road tests also if your out-of-state license expired over nine months ago.

  What the manual says

  • What to bring and the tests

    Bring proof of identity, citizenship and date of birth, your Social Security number, and proof of your current physical SC address dated within nine months of its issue (two proofs for a REAL ID). In addition to the required documents, you must pass a vision test. If your out-of-state license has been expired for more than nine months, you must also pass the knowledge and road tests. If you do not have your out-of-state license to turn in, you must provide a driving record from that state as proof of driving.

  Source: [3] [2]

• Liability insurance

  Vehicle owners must certify liability insurance when applying for or renewing a license; drivers must carry a valid insurance card.

  What the manual says

  • Insurance

    If you own a vehicle, you must certify that you are insured by an automobile liability policy when you apply for or renew a license.

  • Drivers must carry a valid license, the vehicle registration, and a valid insurance card for the class of vehicle they are driving.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 1-3

  Source: [4]

• Change of address

  Within 10 days of the move

  What the manual says

  • Changing your address

    You must change your name or address within 10 days of the move. You may change your address online, at an SCDMV branch or by mail with the Application for Name and/or Address Change (SCDMV Form 4057).

  Source: [5]

• How long the license lasts

  Eight years when a US citizen renews online or by mail

  What the manual says

  • Online renewal gives a US citizen an eight-year license.
  • Renewal by mail also gives a US citizen an eight-year license.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 1-15, 1-16

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  Conditional/special restricted licenses: alone 6 a.m.-6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving); with licensed driver 21+ until midnight; later supervised.

  What the manual says

  • Conditional and special restricted licenses: when you may drive

    You may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight savings time). You may drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 from 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight savings time) to midnight. You may drive after midnight to 6 a.m., but you must be supervised by a licensed individual listed in SC Code section 56-1-100(A) (1-7).

  Source: [3] [6]

• Passengers for teen drivers

  Conditional license: max two passengers under 21 without licensed adult 21+; special restricted: same, except family or students to/from school.

  What the manual says

  • A conditional license holder cannot have more than two passengers under 21 unless with a licensed adult at least 21.
  • The only exception to the two-passenger limit is transporting family members or students to and from school.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 1-7, 1-8

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Zero tolerance: no alcohol allowed; BAC 0.02% or more means immediate suspension, at least three months.

  What the manual says

  • Zero tolerance laws mean a driver under 21 may have no alcohol in the circulatory system.
  • For drivers under 21, a BAC of 0.02 percent or greater means an immediate suspension of the privilege to drive.
  • The privilege is suspended immediately for at least three months.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 3-6, 3-7

• Refusing a chemical test

  Refusal can lead to license suspension; under 21, immediate loss of driving privileges for at least six months.

  What the manual says

  • Refusing implied consent testing can lead to suspension of your license and driving privileges.
  • A driver under 21 who refuses the tests immediately loses driving privileges for at least six months.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 3-7

• Seat belts

  Driver and all passengers must use belts or child restraints; police may stop you for unbelted occupant clearly in view.

  What the manual says

  • The manual tells drivers to make sure every passenger uses a safety belt or child restraint.
  • Under the primary law, an officer with a clear, unobstructed view of an unbelted or unrestrained occupant may stop the driver.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 4-5, 4-6

• Child safety seats

  Under 2: rear-facing; then forward-facing; age 4+ and outgrown: booster in rear seat; adult belt from 8 if it fits.

  What the manual says

  • An infant under age two must be secured in a rear-facing car seat.
  • After outgrowing the forward-facing seat, children at least age four must use a booster seat in a rear seat.
  • A child at least age 8 may be restrained by an adult safety belt if the belt secures the child properly.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 4-7, 4-8

• Phone use while driving

  Holding or supporting a phone, and texting, are banned; earpieces and wrist devices for voice are allowed.

  What the manual says

  • The Act bans physically holding or supporting a mobile electronic device with any part of the body.
  • The Act bans reading, writing, or sending any form of text, including emails.
  • The law does not restrict earpieces or wrist worn devices used for voice-based communications.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 3-5

• School buses

  Two-lane road: stop for a stopped school bus; four-lane highway: oncoming traffic need not stop; behind the bus, always stop.

  What the manual says

  • A driver on a two-lane road is required to stop for a stopped school bus.
  • On a four-lane highway with at least two lanes each way, a driver meeting a stopped school bus from the opposite direction does not have to stop.
  • A driver must always stop on any highway when behind the bus.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 7-9, 7-10

• Move Over law

  Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle: slow down, change lanes away from it if safe, otherwise proceed cautiously.

  What the manual says

  • You should slow down and yield the right-of-way by changing to a lane away from the emergency vehicle when that is safe.
  • If a lane change is unsafe, slow down and continue with caution at a speed safe for traffic conditions.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 10-15

• Right turn on red

  Right turn on red allowed unless a sign prohibits it; be prepared to yield to pedestrians.

  What the manual says

  • The manual permits a right turn on red except where a sign prohibits it.
  • The manual says that when turning right on red you must be prepared to yield to pedestrians.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 6-3, 10-2

• Left lane and keeping right

  On multi-lane roads, the left-most lane is for passing slower vehicles.

  What the manual says

  • On multi-lane roads the left-most lane is the one to use for passing slower vehicles.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 7-15

• Points and suspension

  Age 17 and older: license suspended at 12 or more points; points halve after one year.

  What the manual says

  • A 17 or older driver whose total reaches 12 or more points has the license suspended.
  • Points drop by half after one year from the violation date on the ticket, so four points in June become two the next June.

  Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (2026 (posted April 2026)), page 1-19, 1-18

Official steps for moving to South Carolina

• The 45-day deadline

  If you permanently move to South Carolina with a valid out-of-state license or ID, you must apply for an SC license or ID within 45 days of moving to the state. You must turn in your out-of-state license or ID when you get an SC license or ID. When South Carolina issues you a license or ID, any driver’s licenses and ID cards previously issued to you by another state or province are cancelled.

  Source: [1] [2]

• What to bring and the tests

  Bring proof of identity, citizenship and date of birth, your Social Security number, and proof of your current physical SC address dated within nine months of its issue (two proofs for a REAL ID). In addition to the required documents, you must pass a vision test. If your out-of-state license has been expired for more than nine months, you must also pass the knowledge and road tests. If you do not have your out-of-state license to turn in, you must provide a driving record from that state as proof of driving.

  Source: [3] [2]

• Out-of-state beginner’s permit

  You may practice driving with your unexpired out-of-state beginner’s permit in South Carolina. A new resident may exchange an out-of-state permit. If your out-of-state beginner’s permit has expired, you must take the vision and knowledge tests to get an SC beginner’s permit. The time you held a valid out-of-state beginner’s permit counts toward the 180-day period (under 18) or the 30-day period (18 and older).

  Source: [7]

• If you live here only temporarily

  If you are moving to South Carolina temporarily, you are not required to get a South Carolina driver’s license, but you must have your valid out-of-state license to drive here. A permanent resident of another state can use a valid out-of-state driver’s license to drive in South Carolina.

  Source: [3] [2]

• Your vehicle

  You have 45 days to transfer your vehicle registration to South Carolina.

  Source: [2]

• License from another country

  South Carolina waives the knowledge and skills tests for a first-time applicant who has an out-of-country driving credential from a country, US territory or freely associated state that has a formal reciprocity agreement with South Carolina. For driver’s licenses, only these have formal reciprocity agreements with South Carolina: American Samoa, Canada, the Federated States of Micronesia, France, Germany, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, South Korea, Taiwan and the US Virgin Islands. South Korea and Taiwan require their citizens to get a certification letter from their consulate; the letter is only valid for 30 days from the date on the letter. Visitors from non-English-speaking countries are strongly advised to get an International Driving Permit from their home country. The SCDMV International Customers page has more.

  Source: [3] [8]

Sources

1. Driver’s License (web page) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
2. Moving to SC (web page) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
3. South Carolina Driver’s Manual (2026 edition) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
4. Insurance Requirements (web page) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
5. Address or Name Change (web page) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
6. Teenage Drivers (web page) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
7. Beginner’s Permit (web page) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
8. International Customers (web page) (dmv.sc.gov) — South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles