Moving to South Carolina? Transfer Your Driver's License Within 45 Days
How long do you have to get a South Carolina driver's license after you move?
If you move to South Carolina from another state to live, you must apply for an SC license or ID within 45 days of moving. Go to an SCDMV branch, turn in your old license, pass a vision test and pay $25 for an eight-year license. You need knowledge and road tests only if your old license is expired by nine months or more.
Where these South Carolina moving rules come from
The 45-day rule, the documents, the fee and the test rules come from the SCDMV Moving to SC page. The 45-day and military 90-day rules are in sections 56-1-20 and 56-1-35 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 1. REAL ID, the temporary certificate and the mail time come from the SCDMV Driver's License page. Other details come from SCDMV Forms MV-93 and MV-94 (Rev. 06/2026), the SCDMV vision test, fees, beginner's permit, road test and non-U.S. citizen pages, and the South Carolina Driver's Manual (April 2026). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the SCDMV (scdmvonline.com) before you drive.
What is the 45-day rule for new South Carolina residents?
If you have a valid license or ID from another state and you move to South Carolina for good, apply for an SC license or ID within 45 days of moving. State law also says that you must turn in your out-of-state licenses within 45 days of becoming a resident, unless the law exempts you. Test yourself with our free question on the new resident license deadline.
The 45 days also apply to your car. You have 45 days to transfer your vehicle registration, and you must register in South Carolina any vehicles that you own.
Do you need an SC license, or can you keep your old one?
How to switch your out-of-state license to South Carolina
- 1Gather your documents
Collect your papers before you go (see the list below). U.S. citizens can find every accepted document on Form MV-93. Non-U.S. citizens use Form MV-94.
- 2Go to an SCDMV branch
Apply in person at a branch. If you are not a U.S. citizen, go to one of the 30 branches that issue licenses and IDs to lawfully present non-U.S. citizens.
- 3Pass the vision test
The eye test at the branch checks for 20/40 vision or better.
- 4Turn in your old license and pay
Hand over your out-of-state license or ID card and pay $25 for an eight-year license. The SCDMV also checks your driving history in other states.
- 5Take your temporary certificate
You leave the branch with a temporary certificate that you can use to drive for up to 30 days. Your card comes by mail in seven to 15 business days.
What to bring to the SCDMV when you move to South Carolina
- Proof of identity, U.S. citizenship and date of birth, for example a government-issued birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport. Non-U.S. citizens bring the documents on Form MV-94.
- Your Social Security number. The SCDMV checks it with the Social Security Administration, so the number, date of birth and name must match your Social Security record.
- Proof of a current, physical South Carolina address dated within nine months of its issue. A REAL ID needs two proofs of address.
- Proof of a legal name change, if your name changed.
- The name of your auto liability insurance company. The company must be licensed to do business in South Carolina.
- Your out-of-state license or ID card.
REAL ID or standard license in South Carolina
| Choice | What it looks like | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| REAL ID | A license with a star | Needs two proofs of SC address. If you turn in a REAL ID from another state, you still give the documents for an SC REAL ID. |
| Standard license | Marked "Not for Federal Identification" | You can drive and vote with it. For a domestic commercial flight, a secure federal building or a military installation, you need other ID, such as a valid U.S. passport or military ID. |
Do you have to take the knowledge test and road test?
Not if your out-of-state license is valid: then you take only the vision test. If your out-of-state license is expired by nine months or more, you must also pass the knowledge and road tests. The Driver's Manual says "more than nine months", so ask the SCDMV if your license expired close to that date.
You cannot use manuals or other testing aids in the knowledge test. For the road test, bring a safe vehicle with a valid license plate, registration card and insurance card. Only you and the SCDMV employee may be in or around the vehicle. Our South Carolina road test guide covers the test tasks and retest waits.
What if you have an out-of-state beginner's permit?
You may practice driving in South Carolina with your unexpired out-of-state beginner's permit. After a permanent move, you may exchange it for an SC beginner's permit. If it has expired, you must take the vision and knowledge tests to get an SC permit.
With a valid out-of-state permit, you can take the vision and skills tests for an SC license after you hold a permit for 180 days if you are under 18 (apply on the 181st day), or 30 days if you are 18 or older (apply on the 31st day). The time on your out-of-state permit counts.
Moving to South Carolina from another country
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must pass the knowledge and skills tests unless your driving credential is valid and comes from another U.S. state or from a country with a formal reciprocity agreement with South Carolina. You also take the vision test. Read our guide to a foreign driver's license in South Carolina for the list of countries and the other steps.
Key takeaways
- Apply for an SC license or ID within 45 days of moving to South Carolina, and turn in your old license. Military members and dependents who become residents have 90 days.
- Bring proof of identity, your Social Security number, proof of an SC address and the name of your SC auto insurance company to an SCDMV branch.
- Pass the vision test and pay $25 for an eight-year license. Knowledge and road tests apply only if your old license is expired by nine months or more.
- Choose a REAL ID (two proofs of address) or a standard license, and register your vehicle within 45 days.
- Next step: practice on the free South Carolina Class D practice test to review the South Carolina road rules before your branch visit.
More questions from new South Carolina residents
Can I keep my old state's license and also get a South Carolina license?
No. South Carolina law allows only one valid driver's license at a time. You turn in your out-of-state license when you get the SC license, and the SCDMV cancels licenses and ID cards from other states and provinces. If another state later gives you a license or ID, your SC license or ID is cancelled.
How much does a South Carolina license cost for a new resident?
An eight-year driver's license costs $25, and most licenses that South Carolina issues are valid for eight years. A REAL ID costs the same as a standard license. If you must take the knowledge test, each attempt costs $2. The SCDMV fee list also has a one-time $250 fee for a vehicle that was registered in another state.
What if I lost my old license?
If your out-of-state license or ID was lost or stolen, bring a certified copy of your driving record from the state that issued it. The SCDMV accepts it as your proof of driving. Ask that state's licensing agency for the record before your branch visit, and bring it with your identity, Social Security and address documents.
Do military members have to switch to a South Carolina license?
Not if you are here only for a while: you can drive on your valid out-of-state license. If you or your dependent become a permanent resident, state law gives you 90 days to apply. With a valid license from another state or a U.S. territory, you take no exam except the vision test. Active-duty members can skip the vision screening with a Leave and Earnings Statement no more than 31 days old and an unexpired military ID.
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