Drivers who are moving to South Carolina—or swapping homes within the state—can change their address in person at any local DMV branch. In-state moves have the additional option of completing an address change online or through the mail.
Changing your address with the DMV is a commonly forgotten moving task, but luckily one that is just as easy to finish. In South Carolina, this usually requires a trip to the DMV and a call to your insurance provider to avoid having any lapsed coverage.
To help you dot all the i’s that come with moving and car ownership, we've put together the steps needed. From in-state moves to out-of-state transfers—here’s what you’ll need to do to change your address with the DMV in the Palmetto State.
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Start earning nowHow to change your address on a South Carolina driver’s license
With the modern amenity of online tools, notifying the South Carolina DMV of your change of address has never been easier. In fact, it can be accomplished in the comfort of your own home if you’re changing addresses within the state.
If you’re moving within South Carolina
Whether you’re leaving Greenville
for Bluffton
’s Lowcountry vibe, or you’re just trading up from an apartment to a house in Charleston
, you’ll need to make sure you notify the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) that your address has changed. You can do this one of three ways when moving within the state:
Mail a completed Form 4057
to the enclosed address
You are required to complete a change of address with the South Carolina DMV within 10 days of establishing residency. Once your address has been updated, SCDMV will apply the change to your driving records, and new vehicle registration cards with the updated address will be mailed to you.
While you don’t have to get a new license with an updated address for an in-state move, you can purchase an updated replacement license for $10 through SCDMV’s license replacement portal
. Updating your address without receiving a replacement license is free of charge.
If you’re moving to South Carolina from another state
While moving to South Carolina from out-of-state will require a trip to the DMV, the steps to notify the DMV of your address change are fortunately quite simple.
Before you go, you’ll want to make sure you bring your valid driver’s license from your former state of residence. You’ll need to turn this license in—along with any other ID cards from your previous state—before SCDMV will issue you a South Carolina license.
If you had a REAL ID in your previous state, you will need to bring this along with you. You will also need to bring documents that detail the following:
Proof of identity, citizenship, and date of birth—valid US passport or birth certificate
Social Security number—Social Security card or W-2 form
Current SC address—utility bills (you will need two proofs for a REAL ID)
You can find a full list of acceptable documents for your out-of-state address change on SCDMV’s website
. Once you are at the DMV, you will need to pass a vision test
and pay a $25 fee (for a standard 8-year license). If your out-of-state license is more than nine months expired, you will need to pass a knowledge and road test and you will need to bring a driving record as proof of past driving. If you own any vehicle, you will need to transfer your vehicle’s registration to South Carolina within 45 days of establishing residency.
Other steps for a South Carolina change of address
Before you move to your new South Carolina address, you’ll also want to make sure you notify the United States Postal Service. You can easily do so through USPS’ change of address form
, which will forward your mail, offer you the chance to update your voter registration, and send you up to $750 in coupons for a $1.10 verification fee. Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning nowHow to notify your insurance company of your South Carolina change of address
Letting your insurance company know about your change of address is another crucial step in the moving process.
In most cases, this will require a quick call with your insurance agent. Some companies have apps and online portals to allow changes of address, as well—but if you’re ever unsure that the information has gone through properly, always call just in case!
Why notifying your insurance company of a change of address is so important
If your insurance company doesn’t know you moved, your insurance renewal and bills may get sent to the wrong address, leading to a dangerous (and illegal) lapse in coverage.
Like most states in the country, South Carolina requires drivers to maintain a legal liability coverage minimum. These are as follows:
$50,000 per accident bodily injury liability
Drivers who don’t meet these coverage requirements risk getting charged with a misdemeanor for driving without proof of insurance—an offense punishable with hefty fines, license and registration suspension, and even possible imprisonment.
In addition to this, insurers use your zip code to calculate risk, which influences how your rates are determined. Therefore, failing to change your address with your insurer can lead to inaccurate rates—which can be considered fraud.
Bottom line: To avoid significant penalties that will lead to severely inflated rates on your home, auto, and renters insurance, be sure to update your insurer on your change of address!
How to find affordable car insurance in South Carolina
Whenever you make a move to a new address, it’s always recommended by experts to do some car insurance comparison shopping to ensure you’re getting the best rates.
Finding cheap rates with quality coverage may seem as stressful and tiring as boxing up your entire home, however—Jerry
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See a plan you like? Simply select it through the app and Jerry’s expert brokers will help cancel your old plan to get you started on your new coverage seamlessly.
The average user ends up saving more than $800 a year on car insurance
. “Jerry
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