Motor Vehicles

State laws vary when it comes to motor vehicle insurance requirements, licensing and registration. The term "vehicle" generally includes automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trailers, and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight. Servicemembers and their families will need to understand their state’s laws regarding  registration and licensing before moving to a new state. Visit the USA.gov Motor Vehicle Services page for links to state-specific websites.

South Carolina state law requires you to  sufficient automobile liability insurance under a company licensed to do business in the state and a valid driver’s license to operate a vehicle.Although you are in the military, your vehicle must also be propertly registered in the state.

Servicemembers and Dependents temporarily stationed in South Carolina are NOT required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license if this is not their home state. However, to drive in this state, you must have a valid license from your home state. If you are active duty Servicemember, Dependent, or Department of Defense (DOD) employee stationed outside of South Carolina due to military orders, you must renew your South Carolina driver's license online.

Visit the state Department of Motor Vehicles website here for more information on insurance, licensing, and registration: https//scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services/Military.

When moving moving to South Carolina from out-of-state, you have 45 days to register your vehicle if you so choose. Active-duty military- not domiciled in Soth Carolina - are NOT required to register a vehicle in South Carolina.

While on active-duty military orders in South Carolina, a Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina (SCDMV Form TI-006) form is required, along with valid identification and the following:

• Military identification card
• Orders indicating duties in SC
• Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) showing deployment in SC 

Property Tax

Normally, persons registering a vehicle in South Carolina must first pay any personal property tax due on the vehicle. However, nonresidents Servicemembers (i.e., Servicemembers who are legal resident of another, but reside in South Carolina due to military orders) who wish to register their vehicles in South Carolina may avoid these taxes by taking a recent LES showing  their home of record state to the local County Auditor's office. A tax exemption form/receipt will provided to allow registration at the DMV. Spouse of active-duty Servicemembers are also relieved  from personal property taxes on their motor vehicle, pursuant to the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA). A LES must be filed with the Auditors Office each year.

 Nonresident soldiers ( a soldier who is a legal resident of another state but who is placed in South Carolina pursuant to a military order) who wish to register their vehicles in South Carolina may avoid these taxes by taking a recent LES (showing the soldier's home state) and a copy of orders stationing that soldier in South Carolina to the local County Auditors office.

The local tax office will then provide the soldier a tax exemption form to take to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to allow registration. There is also a DMV Registration form which the vehicle owner must complete prior to registration in South Carolina. You may pick up this form at any local DMV office.

If a nonresident soldier elects to register his vehicle in South Carolina, the county auditor will send a bill for the personal property tax due on the vehicle each year the soldier remains in the state. To requalify for exemption from this tax, a soldier must again follow the procedures outlined in the preceding paragraph.

If a nonresident soldier purchases a car in South Carolina, he/she may avoid paying sales taxes (maximum $300) by completing a Nonresident Military Tax Exemption Certificate. These forms are available from the car dealer, the South Carolina Tax Commission or the Client Services Division of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.These forms are available from the car dealership.

Servicemembers who are residents of South Carolina are not exempt from infrastructure maintenance  fees (IMF) (formerly sales tax) when buying vehicles.

Vist the Richland County Auditor's Office website here for more information:

https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Department/Taxes/Auditor/Property#Vehicles

Insurance

South Carolina requires that all automobile be duly insured. This means that each vehicle must carry at least the minimum level of liability insurance: $25,000 bodily injury to each person $50,000 for all person in one accident, and $ 25,000 property damage for each accident. South Carolina also requires that motorist carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage. The minimum levels of uninsured motorist coverage are the same as above i.e., 25/50/25) Visit the South Carolina Department of Insurance website here for more information: https://www.doi.sc.gov/588/Automobile-Insurance.

The South Carolina  DMV will electronically verify your insurance coverage.When a policy cannot be verified, an individual's license and registration may be suspended. If suspended, vehicle owners face up to $400 in fees for reinstement.

Motorists are requirment to always maintain proof of insurance coverage in their vehicle. Law enforcement will request to see proof of insurance when a vehicle is stopped and issue a ticket if proof is not provideed. If issued a ticket, the mororist  has 30 days to provide proof of insurance. Failure to provide proof within 30 dys may result in license suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee.

Visit the South Carolina DMV website for more information here:

https://scdvonline.com/Driver-Service/Drivers-License/Insurance-Requirement.

License Plates and Driver's Licenses

Military personnel and Dependents are NOT required to obtain South Carolina driver's licenses or plates if they have valid ones from other states. Procedures related to expired plates and licenses will vary based on the state of origin. If your driver's license has expired for more than nine months, you can renew it in the same way you would renew your license within two years prior to renewal.

If your driver's license has expired for at least nine months, the process differs slightly. If stationed outside of South Cartolina for no more than 90 continunous days on active duty and your license expires, SC considers it to be valid as long as  (1) you area Servicemember or Dependent, and (2) you are serving outside the state or it expired within 90 of you beginning to serve outsided of the state. On these situations, renewal is the as same as thought your license were vaid, but you must visit a SC DMV branch within 90 days of your return to the state of discharge to waive required knowledge/road tests.

Proper documentation is require to renew an expired driver's license. These include:

• vaid military identification card
• copy of military orders showing dates  outside of South Carolina
• a copy of DD214 if discharged
• copy of  military orders and DOD identification if DOD employee

If you do not have a driver's license, you must pass a written examination and a road test within 90 days of your arrival. A learner's permit may issued at the age of 15 and an unrestricted license at the age 16.

The department of Highways and Public Transporation is located at 1630 Shop Road. For more information, you may contact them at 803-737-8350 or general information at 803-737-1767. The toll free number is 800-442-1368. Hours of operationare 8:30- until 5 P.M., Mon, Tue, Thur, and Fri. Wed 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m..

Motorcycles

 Motorcycles owned by Servicemembers or their Dependents that are driven on post must be registered at the Safety Office, located at 3420 Sightseeing Division Ave, on Beauregard Street. The Safety Office can be reached by phone at (803) 751-2541.

State and installation requirements must be followed by all motorcycllists; this includes, attending a free, day-long course administered by the Safety Office.

The installation also require a motorcyclists to:

• wearing a helmet with visor
• wearing bright colored clothing during daylight hours
• wearing gloves and a long-sleeved shirt

Citations issued for traffic and moving violations on post are handled through the U.S. Magistrate Court. An offender can either pay their fine or go before a Magistrate for resolution of the violation.

Within the city of Columbia and on Fort Jackson,the speed limit is 30mph, unless otherwise posted. Right turns on red are permitted, and speed limits on interstate and other highways are strictly enforced. Additionally, state law mandates that when windshield wipers are in use, headlights must also be turned on.

Fort Jackson military police enforce all traffic and on-post violations. Parking is not allowed on grass areas and in reserved parking lots on the installation. Citations are given for vehicles playing loud music on post. Music should not be heard at a distance of more than 125 feet (42 yards). Fort Jackson Regulation 385-10 requires all personnel riding bicycles on the installation to wear an approved bicycle safety helmet.

Seatbelts and Child Restraints

South Carolina has a compulsory seatbelt law, which also applies when driving on Fort Jackson. Additionally, children ages 4 and under traveling in a vehicle's front seat must be secured in restraining devices approved by the National Safety Products Council. Children ages 5 and under traveling in the back seat must  be in a restraint. Children 6 years and older traveling in the back seat must wear seatbelts.

Fort Jackson is a hands-free installation; violators will be cited.

Military personnel and their family members are not required to obtain South Carolina driver's licenses or license plates as long as they have valid ones from other states. Expiration of a service member's driving license is different depending upon its state of origin.

If you do not have a valid driver's license, you must pass a written examination and a road test within 90 days of your arrival. A learner's permit may be issued at the age of 15 and an unrestricted license at age 16.

The Department of Highways and Public Transportation is located at 1630 Shop Road. For more information, you may contact them at 803-737-8350 or general information at 803-737-1767. The toll free number is 800-442-1368. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Mon, Tue, Thur and Fri. Wed 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

State and local laws regulate the operation of motor vehicles, and these laws can vary by location. Many states regulate the following:

• Seatbelt use
• Child safety seats
• Motorcycle operation
• The use of cellphones and other digital devices while driving

Learn more about motor vehicle laws in your state at the Distraction.gov State Laws page.

You and your passengers must always wear seatbelts while driving, you will be ticketed and issued heavy fines if seatbelts are not secured. State law requires that all children under 5 years of age be properly restrained in child seats. Some states also require younger, smaller children to sit in the back seat.

Motorcycles and their operators are subject to special laws. If you own and operate a motorcycle, you must comply with those laws. Visit the State Department of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Many States and local jurisdictions have strict laws about the use of cell phones and other digital devices while driving. Research these laws on the State Department of Motor Vehicles website. Tickets will be issued and fines assessed for violating these laws. Play it safe and always use a “hands free” device if you must use a cell phone or other PDA while driving. Hands-free devices must be used while operating a motor vehicle on ALL military installations worldwide.