Laws and Benefits for Veterans and Military Drivers in South Carolina
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The State of South Carolina offers a range of benefits to active duty members of the military, their families, and veterans. These range from license renewals to special license plates honoring military service.
Exemption from licensing and registration taxes and fees
South Carolina does not currently offer any tax credits or fees for licenses or registrations by veterans or military personnel. All standard fees and taxes apply, although they vary from one county to another. While fees vary from one location to another, there are some standard fees that can be assessed. For example, registering a standard passenger car costs $24. Please note that this may not be the case for your county, so you should check with the county clerk.
With that said, the state provides accommodations for those who are out of state and need to renew their registration. This can be done online for residents of certain counties, including York, Spartanburg, Beaufort, Chester, Darlington, Berkeley, Pickens, Richland, Lexington, Greenville, Charleston, and Dorchester. Residents of these counties can renew online here.
For out-of-state military personnel, South Carolina offers license renewals. However, to be eligible for this renewal, you must be out of state for at least 30 days before your license expires. For drivers in this situation, your expired license will be valid as long as you are out of state. When you return to South Carolina, you will have 60 days to renew it.
Veteran driver's license badge
In 2012, South Carolina introduced a program that allows veterans to add their service designation to the front of their license plate. This also applies to novice permits as well as non-driver IDs. It costs 1 dollar. However, if the license is renewed or replaced, the cost of the renewal/replacement must also be paid. To be eligible for this appointment, you must be honorably discharged and provide the District Clerk with a Form DD-214. Please note that South Carolina does not cover anyone other than the veterans themselves, and no other form will be accepted as evidence of an honorable discharge. It is also important to note that this process cannot be completed online - it must be done in person at the DMV office.
Military badges
South Carolina offers a variety of military badges of honor to veterans. These include the following:
- National guard
- Retired National Guard
- Marine League
- Survivors of the Invasion of Normandy
- Disabled Veterans
- Purple Heart Recipients
- United States military retirees
- Former prisoners of war
- Medal of Honor recipients
- Survivors of Pearl Harbor
Please note that each military honor plate requires a veteran to provide proof of their service. In addition, fees may apply, but you should check with your county to see what may apply to you.
It's also important to note that many of these tags are eligible for parking, including fee waivers. For example, disabled veterans, Purple Hearts, and Medal of Honor recipients can park for free in front of municipal meters. However, this does not apply to other car parks.
Waiver of military skills exam
If your military experience has included driving military vehicles, you may be eligible to opt out of a skill test when applying for a CDL (commercial driver's license). However, please note that the requirements here are strict and you can apply for a waiver of the skill test part. You will still need to pass a knowledge test.
You must be either an active duty member of the military or within 90 days of an honorable discharge.
You must have a valid SC driver's license.
You cannot have more than one license in the last two years.
You are not eligible if your license has been suspended or revoked for any reason within the previous two years.
You must download, complete, and submit Form DL-408A CDL Proficiency Test Waiver Application for Military Members, which can be found here.
Driver's License Renewal During Deployment
South Carolina military personnel do not need to renew their license while serving, unless they are in the state. If you are in-state at the time of deployment, follow the standard steps for all drivers. If you are out of state, your license is valid until you return to the state and then you have 60 days to renew it.
Driver's license and vehicle registration of non-resident military personnel
The State of South Carolina does not require non-resident military personnel or eligible family members (spouses and children) to register their vehicle with the state or obtain a South Carolina license. However, the state requires that you have a valid license and registration in your home state.
