Can You Register a Car in SC With an Out-of-State License?

You can register a car in SC with an out-of-state license. The SCDMV lets you complete the registration by filing Form TI-006, a Statement of Vehicle Operation certifying that the vehicle will be located and primarily operated in South Carolina.¹ New residents have 45 days from establishing residency to get it done, and the SCDMV fees for a standard passenger car come to about $305 before county property taxes.

Who Can Use This Route

Registering a vehicle in South Carolina without an SC license is a normal path for a few specific situations. The most common is a new resident who is still inside the 45-day window to swap over both the license and the registration. During that window, your out-of-state license works fine as ID for the registration transaction.²

The TI-006 route also covers people who legitimately keep an out-of-state license long-term but have a car that lives in South Carolina:

Active-duty military stationed in the state.
Students enrolled at an SC school.
Vacation-home owners whose vehicle sits at the SC property for at least six months of the year.

Non-residents who don’t fit those categories can drive a properly plated out-of-state vehicle here for an accumulated 150 days before South Carolina registration becomes required.²

What Form TI-006 Does

The TI-006 is the piece that replaces the SC license during the transaction. You sign it to certify that the vehicle is or will be physically located and primarily operated in South Carolina.³ All three of the categories above use the same form. Fill it out before you arrive and bring it with the rest of your paperwork.

Line Up Insurance Before You Go

South Carolina will not register a vehicle without active liability insurance issued by a company authorized to do business in the state. The minimum limits are $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 total per accident, and $25,000 for property damage — the 25/50/25 shorthand you may see on a quote.⁴

The SCDMV verifies coverage electronically, so a paper card is not enough on its own. Your SC-compliant policy needs to be active in the insurer’s system by the time you walk in. If verification fails and your registration ends up suspended, reinstatement can run as high as $400.⁵ Your old state’s policy will not verify, even at identical limits. Call your carrier to rewrite the policy for South Carolina, or shop a new one, before your visit.

Pay County Property Tax First

This is where new residents most often get sent home. You cannot finish your registration at the SCDMV until you have already paid vehicle property tax at your county treasurer’s office. The amount depends on the vehicle’s fair market value and your county’s millage rate, so it varies widely.

Call or visit your county treasurer to find out what you owe. Some counties take online payment; many require you to come in. Once you pay, keep the original paid receipt. The SCDMV only accepts the original, not a copy.⁶

Documents To Bring to the SCDMV

First-time registrations and out-of-state transfers have to be done in person at an SCDMV branch. Missing paperwork means a second trip. Bring:

The original out-of-state title, or the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. If there is a lien, bring the lienholder’s name and address.
SCDMV Form 400, the Title and Registration Application, with sections 1, 2, and 3 filled out ahead of time.⁷
SCDMV Form TI-006, signed.¹
Your out-of-state driver’s license, for ID.
Proof of SC residency, such as a utility bill or lease.
The original paid property tax receipt from your county.
An odometer disclosure, required by federal law when title transfers. Vehicles model year 2010 and older are exempt.⁸

If your out-of-state title is branded salvage or rebuilt, or the vehicle’s history is incomplete, the SCDMV can require a vehicle identification and condition inspection. Call your local branch beforehand to confirm what extra documentation applies.

What the SCDMV Charges

On top of your county property tax bill, the SCDMV collects:⁹

Title fee: $15, or $35 if you want expedited processing (in person only).
Registration and license plate: $40 for most passenger cars.
Infrastructure Maintenance Fee: $250 one-time charge on a vehicle previously registered in another state by the same owner. This replaces the sales tax you would otherwise pay.¹⁰

That’s roughly $305 for a standard passenger car before property tax. The SCDMV takes cash, checks, and cards. Card payments carry a $1.00 fee plus 1.7% of the amount charged.⁹

South Carolina does not require a safety or emissions inspection for registration, so there is no separate inspection to schedule. Plates and a registration card are usually issued at the counter. If permanent plates aren’t available the same day, the SCDMV can issue a 45-day temporary plate for $10.¹¹ Your new SC title arrives by mail after it clears.

The 45-Day Deadline and Late Fees

New residents have 45 days from establishing residency to register the vehicle, and the out-of-state registration must still be valid when you do it.² Miss it and the SCDMV adds a late fee that grows with time:⁹

46 to 60 days late: $10
61 to 75 days late: $25
76 to 135 days late: $50
Over 135 days late: $75

Driving an unregistered vehicle on SC roads is also a misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of a $100 fine or up to 30 days in jail.²

The License Is a Separate Deadline

If you’re a new resident, the SC driver’s license has its own 45-day clock running alongside the registration deadline.¹² Registering the car does not extend or satisfy that requirement. Many people handle both on the same visit, which is why bringing your full identity and residency documents the first time saves a return trip. Military members, students, and part-year residents keep their out-of-state license and simply use the TI-006 route for the vehicle.

1
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina (SCDMV Form TI-006)
2
South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 56 Chapter 3 – Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles
3
SCDMV. Moving To SC – Vehicle
4
South Carolina Department of Insurance. Automobile Insurance
5
SCDMV. Insurance Requirements
6
SCDMV. Renew My Registration
7
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Completing a Title and/or Registration Application Instructions Form 400 (IS)
8
eCFR. Part 580—Odometer Disclosure Requirements
9
SCDMV. Fees
10
South Carolina Department of Revenue. SC Information Letter #17-10 (Revised)
11
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Application to Issue or Replace 45-Day Temporary Plates
12
SCDMV. Moving to SC – License