Living Here | Driving in the Carolinas
Driving in North Carolina
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES BRANCHES
DRIVER’S LICENSES
You must be 18 or older to obtain an N.C. license or learner permit. New residents must obtain a license within 60 days of establishing permanent residence. To apply, you must take the tests at a driver’s license office. Bring identification. For an original license, you must have two acceptable forms of identification. Call the office or check the website for the full list. If you surrender a valid license from another state, you must pass the written, sign and vision tests. The driving test is at the discretion of the examiner.
Bring proof of liability insurance, which can include insurance documents such as DMV form DL-123; an original liability insurance policy binder; or an insurance card with name, policy number, issue and expiration date.
Licenses are issued for five or eight years, depending on the driver’s age. Ages 18 through 65 will be issued for eight years. Ages 66 and older will be issued for five years.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
You must register at an N.C license plate agency. New residents must register within 30 days of moving from your prior state of residence or when N.C. employment is accepted, whichever occurs first. You need a title properly assigned and notarized to you. If any liens are shown on the front of the vehicle’s title, you will need a lien license. Give odometer reading and insurance information. For the full list of requirements, go to www.ncdot.org/dmv.
Source: N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles
Driving in South Carolina
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES BRANCHES
DRIVER’S LICENSES
When moving from another state, you must apply for an S.C. driver’s license. A valid license from another state is good for 90 days. Military personnel (and their dependents) and students temporarily in South Carolina are not required to obtain an S.C. license but must have a valid license from their home state. To qualify for an S.C. license, you must pass the eye exam given at all DMV offices or submit a statement of visual acuity from an eye specialist.
You must be 15 years old and have a beginner’s permit for at least 180 days, you are then eligible to get a conditional driver’s license, 16 years old for a special restricted license and you may obtain full driving privileges when you are 17 years old, if you have had your special restricted license for one year and have no traffic offenses or been involved in any at-fault accidents. An S.C. license is valid for 10 years and must be renewed by your birthday in the 10th year. Persons who are 65 years of age or older will be issued a five-year license. Bring identification when applying.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
You must transfer your out-of-state vehicle registration within 45 days of moving to South Carolina. The first time you register your vehicle, you must provide the name of your insurance company. SCDMV will verify your coverage electronically. If the policy cannot be verified, your driver’s license and vehicle registration may be suspended.
The new EZ Title and Registration Online Service allows you to initiate the transferring of a South Carolina title and the registration for a vehicle purchased from another individual or business (not a dealer). Visit website.
If you are a new resident and have a policy with a national insurance company, be sure to change your address with the company before you register in South Carolina.
You must have the following to transfer your out-of-state vehicle title and registration: paid vehicle property tax receipt from the S.C. county in which you reside; out-of-state vehicle title and registration; if there is a lien on your vehicle, bring the name and address of the company that holds the lien; liability insurance company information; completed Form 400, the application for certificate of title/registration.
Source: S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles
This story was originally published September 26, 2014 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Living Here | Driving in the Carolinas."