These guidelines establish standards for accepting documents submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles by all applicants applying for a first time SC BEGINNER’S PERMIT, DRIVER’S LICENSE or ID card and all applicants previously licensed in SC who are returning to SC after having been licensed in another state. It is DMV’s responsibility as a licensing state to verify the accuracy and authenticity of any document furnished to us by any applicant applying for a credential.

There are several laws that require the department to collect personal information from an applicant:

• Name and Date of Birth (Section 56-1-80 and 56-1-90)
• Social Security Number (Section 56-1-90)
• Citizenship (Section 56-1-40(7) and 56-1-80)
• Residency (Section 56-1-40(7) and Section 56-1-80(c)

Our goal as an agency is to ensure that the customer is provided with as much information to assist him/her when applying for a credential. It is not the department’s intent to refuse to issue a credential to a customer who possesses acceptable documents. However, when a person applies for a SC credential, it is DMV’s responsibility to verify that the applicant is who he or she claims to be. Our license specialists are charged with examining the presented documents to make sure that they are authentic. With all of this in mind, the attached lists of documents have been expanded to ensure our customers have been provided every opportunity to comply with South Carolina laws and procedures.

If you are a United States citizen applying for a first time beginner's permit, driver's license or identification card, you must provide documentation showing proof of your identity and citizenship, proof of your social security number and proof of residency in South Carolina. If you are applying for an ID or beginner’s permit, you do not need to provide proof of insurance. If you are applying for a driver’s license, you must provide automobile liability insurance information from an insurance company licensed to do business in South Carolina.

If you are a new resident moving to South Carolina from another state, you must also meet these same requirements.

Different documents are required to prove identity, social security number and citizenship. For a listing of all acceptable documents to obtain a SC Driver’s license or beginner’s permit, click here for Form MV93 Checklist for First Time Issuance of Driver’s License, Beginner’s Permit or Identification Card.

You may provide any document from the Proof of Citizenship/Proof of Identify, Name and Date of Birth section on Form MV93 Checklist for First Time Issuance of Driver’s License, Beginner’s Permit or Identification Card.

If you do not have a birth certificate and wish to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate, contact State Office of Vital Records at the Department of Heath and Environmental Control (DHEC).

You must provide proof of your Social Security number and, if possible, your original social security card. The name on your social security card must match the name on your identity documents. All Social Security Cards will be checked for authenticity under a black light in the DMV office. If you do not have your original social security card, you may substitute any of the  documents listed under the Proof of Social Security Number section on the MV-93 Checklist for First Time Issuance of Driver’s License, Beginner’s Permit or Identification Card, provided that the document includes your name and social security number.

The following documents on the list of acceptable documentation will be accepted in lieu of a Social Security Card only after the information can be verified through an online social security check:

• Letter from the Social Security Administration
• Payroll stub with employer’s name, your name and your social security number
• Original W-2 Form with employer’s name and address and your name, address and social security number

• To prove you are a resident of South Carolina, you must provide any of the documents listed under the Proof of Residency section on the MV-93 Checklist for First Time Issuance of Driver’s License, Beginner’s Permit or Identification Card.  The documentation must contain both your name and physical address. Post Office mailing addresses are not acceptable.

Before a driver’s license can be issued or renewed, you must furnish current automobile liability insurance information. You must provide the company name of your automobile insurance company, which must be authorized to do business in South Carolina. If you or any relative in your household does not own a vehicle, you must indicate that fact on your application.

If you are under 18 years of age, you must have a parent or legal guardian sign your application to accept responsibility for you.  If you are an emancipated minor, you must submit proof of emancipation with a court order, marriage certificate or active military orders. Only an original document or certified copy will be accepted.

If you are a new resident to South Carolina, you must meet the same requirements as any other United States citizen. In addition to your out-of-state driver’s license or ID card, you must provide proof of identity, proof of your social security number, proof of residency and, if applying for a driver’s license, your automobile liability insurance information. Before you obtain your SC credential, you must surrender all out-of-state licenses and/or identification cards. If you have lost your out-of-state beginner permit, driver’s license or identification card, you must also complete an affidavit of lost permit or license along with your South Carolina application. Click here for MV-93 Checklist for First Time Issuance of Driver's License Beginner's Permit or Identification Card.

If you have a valid driver's license from another state and your documents have been verified, you may be issued a South Carolina driver’s license by passing the vision test and surrendering your out-of-state license. If your out-of-state license has expired by 9 months or more, you must successfully complete the knowledge, skills and vision tests.

If you are an applicant from a United States Territory (Puerto Rico-PR, Virgin Islands-VI, American Samoa-AS, Guam-GU), you must provide the same documentation as any other United States citizen.

International customers are citizens of US protectorates, immigrants, refugees, asylees, and other non-immigrants who are granted temporary entry into the United States. International customers who are not US citizens can only obtain a SC driving credential or ID at one of the following service centers:

International Customer Offices

Bluffton DMV, 15 Sheridan Park

Charleston DMV, 3790 Leeds Avenue

Conway DMV, 4103 Highway 701 North

Florence DMV, 3102 East Palmetto Street

Greenville DMV, 15 Saluda Dam Road

Greenwood DMV, 510 West Alexander Extension

Greer DMV, 610 Arlington Road

Irmo/Ballentine DMV, 1016 Broadstone Road

Lancaster DMV, 1694 Pageland Highway

Laurens DMV, 390 Fairgrounds Road

Myrtle Beach DMV, 1200 21st Avenue North

North Augusta DMV, 1913 Ascauga Lake Road

Orangeburg DMV, 1720 Charleston Highway

Rock Hill DMV, 305 Hands Mill Road

Seneca DMV, 13009 South Radio Station Road

Shop Road DMV, 1630 Shop Road

Spartanburg DMV, 1625 Southport Road

If your name has changed since birth, you must provide all legal documents (adoption records, marriage certificate, certificate of naturalization, court ordered name change) supporting all name changes from birth to present. 

South Carolina waives the requirement for knowledge and skills testing for first time applicants from those countries that have established a formal reciprocity agreement with South Carolina, as long as the applicant’s out-of-country driving credential has not expired.

For a country to establish reciprocity with South Carolina, the Department must receive a formal request from that country or the consulate for that country. At the present time, ONLY the following countries have formal reciprocity agreements with South Carolina.

PLEASE NOTE: The reciprocity agreements covering knowledge and skills testing DO NOT change the requirements to show appropriate documentation. International customers from Canada, France, Germany and Mexico, as well as from the Protected Territories, must follow the same application process as other International customers.

Form MV-94 International Customer Checklist for Issuance of Driver’s License, Beginner’s Permit and Identification cards lists the documentation requirements for the most common immigration and visa statuses.