Last Update: September 17, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in South Carolina

Vehicle registration records in South Carolina are maintained by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). A registration may require review after a change of residence, a legal name change, the purchase or sale of a vehicle, relocation into the state with a vehicle licensed elsewhere, or the loss or damage of a registration card, decal, or license plate. Because the department links each registration to a certificate of title and to the owner's address of record, these related records are frequently updated together. The procedures below follow the guidance implemented by the SCDMV and the registration provisions of Chapter 56-3 of the South Carolina Code.

South Carolina Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

A registration update is in order when any of the following occurs:

• The address of record has changed, since renewal notices, registration cards, and other documents are mailed to the address the department has on file.
• A legal name has changed through marriage, divorce, or a family court order, because the name on the title and the name on the registration must be consistent.
• A vehicle has been purchased or leased, since a vehicle must be titled before it can be registered.
• A vehicle licensed in another state has been moved into South Carolina.
• A license plate is to be transferred from one vehicle to another of the same type and classification, or exchanged for a new plate.
• A vehicle has been sold or disposed of, which requires notice to the department and surrender of the plate.
• A registration card, expiration year decal, or license plate has been lost, stolen, or damaged.

Where to File a South Carolina Vehicle Registration Change

Registration functions are not administered at the county level in South Carolina; the SCDMV processes vehicle records directly. Transactions are completed at SCDMV branch offices or by mail. Before any registration is issued, the owner must pay the vehicle property tax to the county and present the paid receipt to the department. A registration cannot be issued until the vehicle is titled, and title applications are likewise filed through the department's branch offices or mailed to SCDMV Titles and Registration, PO Box 1498, Blythewood, SC 29016. Applications accepted by mail or at a branch include the Title and/or Registration Application, and fees are set out in the SCDMV fee schedule.

When a vehicle is sold, the seller completes the sale notification process by filing a Notice of Vehicle Sold (SCDMV Form 416), which protects the seller until the buyer completes the transfer of ownership.

South Carolina Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

The department maintains a single address of record for each customer, which is used for all correspondence, including registration renewals. An address change may be submitted through the online address change transaction, which adds, updates, or removes the addresses of record on file with the DMV. The change may also be made with the Application for Name and/or Address Change (SCDMV Form 4057) by mail, or in person at any branch office. Any change or addition to the address on file prompts a confirmation mailer to the previous address, so accurate records also protect against misplaced notices.

Keeping the mailing address current is particularly important because renewal notices are sent no later than 45 days before a registration expires, as provided in Section 56-3-195 of the South Carolina Code.

South Carolina Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change is handled as a single, related set of updates across the license, the certificate of title, and the registration, because the names on all three records must agree. The SCDMV name change procedure requires documentation in the form of a marriage license, a divorce decree, or a court order issued by a county family court; under department policy, a marriage provides one opportunity to adopt a married name, and any further variation requires a court order.

For the vehicle records, a completed Title and/or Registration Application (SCDMV Form 400) must be submitted with the name-change documentation. When a lien is recorded against the vehicle, no change to the names or the relationship of the owners on the title may be made without the lienholder's involvement, and the department treats names joined by "and" differently from those joined by "or" for signing purposes.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a South Carolina Registration Record

Correction of a registration record and correction of a title record are distinct transactions. When the registration card or decal must be replaced, the department accepts the Application to Replace License Plate or Expiration Year Decal (SCDMV Form 452). A duplicate decal may also be purchased at a branch. Lost, stolen, or damaged plates can be replaced or exchanged online, provided the registration is in good standing and the address on file is correct.

When the information on the certificate of title itself must be corrected, the title record is revised through the title application process rather than the registration process, using SCDMV Form 400, which is submitted at a branch office or by mail. South Carolina issues a certificate of title before any registration, so title corrections necessarily precede any registration work tied to the corrected record.

South Carolina Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

The following deadlines govern registration-related changes in South Carolina:

• 45 days from purchase — A purchaser must register a newly acquired item with the department within 45 days of its purchase date under Section 56-3-212.
• 45 days for new residents — The owner of a vehicle moved into South Carolina from a state where it is properly licensed and registered has 45 days to license and register the vehicle in South Carolina; an expired foreign registration shortens that window.
• 45 days maximum for temporary plates — Temporary license plates issued to casual buyers are valid for no more than 45 days under Section 56-3-210 and may be required when a plate is not transferred.
• Operation during the 45-day period — Before a newly acquired but unregistered vehicle is operated on the state's highways, the owner must either transfer a plate from another vehicle under Section 56-3-1290, purchase a new plate and registration, or secure a temporary plate, as required by Section 56-3-212.
• Biennial registration — Most passenger vehicles are registered on a 2-year cycle, and renewal notices are mailed no later than 45 days before the expiration date under Section 56-3-195.

The department also requires proof of liability insurance for registration. Under Chapter 56-10 of the South Carolina Code, a person whose application for registration and licensing has been approved must maintain the required coverage for as long as the vehicle remains registered.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in South Carolina?

Contact Information

South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
10311 Wilson Boulevard, Blythewood, SC 29016
Phone: (803) 896-5000
Official Website: South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles