South Carolina License Plate Lookup

Before you get your license plate, you can look it up online. The license plate search enables you to find important information. You can learn about the last owner of the vehicle, ID, registration information, etc.

License Plates in South Carolina

Residents of SC can choose among several types of license plates. The main types of plates are Standard, Specialty, Disability, and Temporary.

_{Specialty plates in South Carolina}

Sometimes, to get specialty plates in SC, the residents must submit documentation. This is to prove the enrollment in the specific field. The cost of specialty plates varies. The type of the plate determines its fee.

• Sports License Plates
  All the residents of SC, who want to support their sports teams, can choose Sports License plates.

• Collegiate License Plates
  Collegiate plates offer support to the state’s educational institutions.

• Charitable Plates
  The drivers can choose Charitable plates for their vehicles. Moreover, by doing this they will support the local charity foundations.

• Military License Plates
  These types of plates are offered to the military personnel. In other words, this is to show how much the state honors their services, awards, and vast experience.

• Occupational License Plates
  The vehicle owners from certain fields obtain Occupational plates. They are issued to firefighters, emergency medical technicians, etc.

• Classic Car License Plates
  The owners of classic or vintage cars can get Classic Car license plates.

_{Personalized License Plates}

There are a number of requirements to follow if you want a personalized license plate. Remember that:

• It cannot include more than 7 characters
• For motorcycles, you can use not more than 6 characters
• The plate can include both numbers and letters
• The numbers should be unique
• Vulgar or indecent language is strongly prohibited
• You cannot use symbols on your personalized license plate

In your application, you can submit three choices for your license plate. You can get the first available option from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Usually, the plates are ready within 2-6 weeks. In case it takes longer, you can contact the DMV office or visit it in person.

Note that:

• You have to pay an extra fee for your personalized plate, in addition to the fixed fee for the vehicle registration
• After placing the order of a personalized plate, you are not entitled to a refund
• By making the choice of the plate and paying the fees, you cannot make any changes
• SCDMV may reject your application for one or more reasons. Check our SC banned license plates page for more details.

_{Disability License Plates}

Disability plates are available for people who have certain health issues. People get them if they have:

•  permanent disabilities
•  temporary conditions

The plates are also available for disabled veterans and for vehicles that transform people with disabilities. With these license plates, vehicle owners can park their cars in special parking spots.

Vehicle registration and license plates

If you have purchased a vehicle or just moved to South Carolina, you need to register your car. For this, you have only 45 days. You can register and title your car at the same time. The procedure is possible in person and by mail.

If you want to register the vehicle in person, visit the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. To make the registration happen, you need to submit:

• A completed application form
•  Insurance company name
•  Payment receipt

You can also register the vehicle online. Just send the mentioned documents to the indicated address. The registration is valid for two whole years.

If you are not a South Carolina resident, there is no need to register your car.

You do not need to register your vehicle if

• it is registered in another state
• your stay will last less than 150 days
• you do not have a permanent shelter in SC

License plate transfer to another vehicle

If you want to transfer your license plate to a new vehicle, you need to visit the South Carolina DMV office. For this you need to submit:

• A completed application form
• Car insurance company name
• A sign-over title for used cars
• A Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin if the car is new
• A payment receipt

The payment is accepted in cash, by checks, credit and debit cards. If you buy a used car carry out a license plate lookup to check for accidents, titles, etc.

How to replace a lost license plate?

If you have lost your South Carolina license plate or if it is damaged or stolen, you should replace it. In case you want to replace the same license plate, you can submit an online application.

To replace your license plate online, you need to have a car registration certificate and a valid Visa or a Master card. The replacement fee is $6.

Do you want to replace the old license plate with a new one? For this, you will need further instructions. You can contact the DMV office to learn the details of the procedure.

For stolen license plates or stickers contact the local police. It is not obligatory to file a police report for your stolen plate. It is for your own protection. To replace the stolen plate, you can show up at the SCDMV office for plate replacement.

During the procedure, you will also need to provide reasons for the replacement, because the fee varies according to the replacement reason.

_{Replacing Standard plates with Specialty plates}

Do you want to replace your Standard plate with a Specialty one? There are a number of requirements that you will have to meet:

• Firstly, you will need to pay all the applicable fees for the replacement
• Secondly, the registration sticker of the vehicle should be expired or expire within 90 days
• Thirdly, you will need to submit the registration proof of the current car

Registration Renewal

You have several options to renew your registration. If you want to do it online, first check whether it is possible in your county. Here is the list of the counties that enable vehicle owners to renew their registration online:

• Spartanburg
• Lexington
• York
• Richland
• Greenville
• Charleston
• Pickens
• Darlington
• Berkeley
• Dorchester
• Beaufort
• Chester

However, if you are from another county that is not on the list above, you can still renew your vehicle registration by mail. For renewing the registration online or by mail, you must submit the license plate number, insurance policy number, and a valid Master, Visa, or Discover Card.

You can also renew your vehicle registration in person. For this, you will need to visit a DMV office near your location with the following documents:

• Your driver’s license
• Vehicle Insurance data
• Your vehicle’s registration certificate
• Payment

_{How do I check the status of my license?}

Do you want to check your license status? It is not a problem. Now you do not have to travel to the DMV office to find out the status of the license. Of course, visiting the office is one of the options. Still, you can check it online. To find the necessary information, you only need your license plate number, date of birth, and social security number. Entering the data you will receive all your driving records.

If for any reason your license is suspended, you will need to visit the DMV office.

Do not drive a car with a suspended license. This way you can prolong the period of the status suspension.

When do I turn in my license plate in SC?

In South Carolina turning in the license plates is obligatory. In case you do not transfer your license plates to another vehicle, you need to turn them in at the DMV office.

_{You will have to cancel your registration and return the plate in several cases}

1. First, if you want to cancel the car insurance, you also need to return the license plate.
2. Second, if you have already sold your car and do not plan to use it on another vehicle, you have to return the plate.
3. At last, long-lasting repair works of your vehicle are another reason you should return the plate.

In South Carolina, you have 30 or 60 days to transfer the plate to another vehicle. If you fail to transfer it to another car, you will have to turn it in.

When you return your license plate to South Carolina, you may receive a refund. This especially happens when you return it in about 6 months or less. This way, you may get back half of the registration fee.