Supporting the Relocation, Travel, and Lifestyle Needs of the American Military Family

Please check SC Department of Motor Vehicles website under "Contacts/ Links" for complete information. Also provided is a toll-free telephone number for use outside of South Carolina.

Military personnel and their family members are not required to obtain South Carolina driver's licenses or license plates as long as they have valid ones from other states.  Expiration of a service member's driving license is different depending upon its state of origin.  Upon arrival in South Carolina, it is recommended that you contact the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation at 803-251-2940 (or the above-listed numbers) to determine the laws governing your current license.  If you do not have a valid driver's license, you must pass a written examination and a road test within 90 days of your arrival. A learner's permit may be issued at the age of 15 and an unrestricted license at age 16. The department is located at 1630 Shop Road.

Vehicle Registration on Post: Fort Jackson is an open installation which no longer requires automobile registration, but you may obtain a decal for your vehicle if you plan to travel often to posts which do require one .All motorcycles owned by soldiers or their family members that are driven on post must be registered at the safety office, Building T2371, at the corner of Hill Street and Ft. Jackson Blvd.  Motorcyclists must also meet state and installation requirements and attend a free, day-long course administered by the Safety office.  Installation requirements for motorcyclists include wearing a helmet with a visor, bright colored clothing during daylight hours and a reflective vest during dark hours, and gloves and a long-sleeved shirt.





The following is a memo from SJA on Fort Jackson:

MEMORANDUM FOR Incoming Personnel

SUBJECT: South Carolina Vehicle Registration, Property Tax and Automobile Insurance Information.

1. Welcome to Fort Jackson, S.C. South Carolina law requires all vehicles remaining in the state for over thirty days to be registered and licensed by the state. However, if a soldier is not a legal residence of South Carolina and he/she owns a vehicle which is legally registered in another state, he does not have to comply with the requirement to register his vehicle in South Carolina.

2. Normally, persons registering a vehicle in South Carolina must first pay any personal property tax due on the vehicle. Nonresident soldiers ( a soldier who is a legal resident of another state but who is placed in South Carolina pursuant to a military order)who wish to register their vehicles in South Carolina may avoid these taxes by taking a recent LES(showing the soldier's home state) and a copy of orders stationing that soldier in South Carolina to the local County Auditors office. The local tax office will then provide the soldier a tax exemption form to take to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to allow registration. There is also a DMV Registration form which the vehicle owner must complete prior to registration in South Carolina. You may pick up this form at any local DMV office.

3. If a nonresident soldier elects to register his vehicle in South Carolina, the county auditor will send a bill for the personal property tax due on the vehicle each year the soldier remains in the state. In order to re-qualify for exemption from this tax, a soldier must again follow the procedures outlined in the preceding paragraph.

4. EXCEPTIONS TO TAX EXEMPTION: Leased vehicles are not entitled to tax exemption. In addition, for vehicles which are owned by the service member, if the vehicle is jointly titled with someone who does not meet the exemption criteria (for example a non-military spouse), then the auditor will issue an exemption of only one-half (1/2) of the taxes assessed and the remaining one-half (1/2) must be paid prior to registering the vehicle. Please note that South Carolina residents are not eligible for the tax exemption.

5. If a nonresident soldier purchases a car in South Carolina, he/she may avoid paying sales taxes (maximum $300.00) by completing a Nonresident Military Tax Exemption Certificate. These forms are available from the car dealer, the South Carolina Tax Commission or the Client Services Division of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. A commissioned officer of higher rank in the soldiers chain-of-command (not an officer of JAG) must sign the form acknowledging that he has reviewed the soldier's records to verify that the soldier is not a resident of South Carolina and is stationed in South Carolina pursuant to military orders. The form does not require notarization. It is the soldier's responsibility to see that the forms are submitted in a timely manner. The exemption form should be returned to the automobile dealer as soon as possible, who in return must file the exemption form to the Department of Revenue within ten (10) days of the date of purchase. Remember, however, that only four-wheeled passenger vehicles and motor bikes may qualify for this exemption. Sales taxes on vehicles such as pick-up trucks will have to be paid.

6. If you live in Richland County, the address and telephone of the county auditor are: Richland County Auditor's Office, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia, S.C. 29204.PH: 803-748-4955. If you live in another county, contact the South Carolina Tax Commission, Sales and Tax Division, 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, S.C. 29214 PH: 803-737-5000.

7. South Carolina requires that an automobile operating on its streets and highways be duly insured. This means that each vehicle must carry at least the minimum level of liability insurance:   $15,000 bodily injury to each person  $30,000 bodily injury for each accident  $ 5,000 property damage for each accident

South Carolina also requires that motorist carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage. The minimum levels of uninsured motorist coverage are the same as above.

8. The South Carolina Highway Department issues a fine in the amount of $400.00 to any motorist caught driving after his automobile insurance has lapsed for five consecutive days. In order for the motorist's driving privileges to be reinstated, he must pay the $400.00 fine, and also pay a penalty of $5.00 per day for each day he is uninsured.

9. If there are any questions concerning these matters, you may contact the Client Services Division at 803-751(DSN734)-4287. Normal duty hours are from 9:00 a.m. to  4:00 p.m. each weekday. Forms pick-up and notarizations are available on a walk-in basis.