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. Service members and their families will want to understand their state’s laws on registration and licensing before moving to a new state. Visit the scdmvonline.com website for more information.

Military Waivers for Commercial Driver's Licenses

You may hear a road test referred to as a skills test.

The SCDMV allows qualified military service members to waive the commercial skills test and/or knowledge tests to get a commercial driver's license based on their commercial motor vehicle experience and/or training. Someone who already holds a CDL cannot use this program to upgrade their CDL.

If your driver's license has been expired for at least nine months, the process is slightly different depending on your situation. If you are stationed outside of South Carolina for no less than 90 continuous days on active duty and your license expires, SC considers the license valid as long as at least one of the following is true:

• You're a military service member.
• You're a dependent of a military service member.
• You're a DOD employee.

This rule only applies if your license expired during one of the following:

• You're serving outside of the state.
• You're serving outside the state and it expired within 90 days of the start of that service.

If you're a DOD employee and have a driver's license that's been expired for nine months or more, visit an SCDMV branch within 90 days of discharge and present all of the following documents to avoid taking the knowledge or road tests:

• Valid DOD ID
• Copy of military orders supporting temporary service outside SC

https://scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services/Military

A valid automobile registration issued by the member's home state is recognized by South Carolina with certain limitations. A service member who is not a resident of South Carolina generally will not be required to pay personal property tax on any vehicle located within this state.

If a non-resident desires to register a vehicle in South Carolina, the individual must prove their nonresident status by presenting a copy of their leave and earnings statement to the Sumter County Treasurers Office. The vehicle must be registered in the member's name only to qualify for the exemption status.

A vehicle registered in both the member's and spouses name is subject to one-half the required taxes unless both are military and neither a resident of South Carolina. The vehicle must be registered in the member's name only to be tax exempt. If registered solely in the family member's name, it is taxable.

Driver's License

South Carolina law allows non residents who have a valid driver's license from the home state to drive in South Carolina with this license as long as they maintain permanent residence in their home state.

Overseas registration and driver's license: If a service members comes from overseas and has registration and driver's license from overseas, South Carolina will allow the member reasonable time to obtain either South Carolina registration and driver's license or the same from the home state. The service member should take care of the matter as soon as possible after reporting to Shaw.

Registration & Licensing Requirements

South Carolina State law requires you to have sufficient liability insurance and a valid driver’s license in order to operate a vehicle. The term “vehicle” generally includes automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trailers and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight. Further, your vehicle must be properly registered. Even though you are in the Military, you may be required to register your vehicle in-state and obtain an in-state license within a few months of moving. Access complete information on insurance, driver’s licensing, and where and how to register your vehicle by visiting the State Department of Motor Vehicles website.

State Laws

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.

You can drive using these licenses, however; if you commit a driving offense in South Carolina while driving on a license from this state, you WILL be issued a court summons or asked to pay the fine on the spot. Failure to pay on the spot will result in your arrest. You will remain in jail for 10 days or until you can post bond.

This does not affect military members, but does affect non-military family members and DOD civilians. Please check with the Department of Motor Vehicles for requirements for civilian family members and DOD civilians on obtaining a South Carolina drivers license while you are stationed at Shaw Air Force Base if your are from one of these 5 states.

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.