SR22 State

How to get your license reinstated in South Carolina

Checked against official South Carolina sources · Last reviewed October 5, 2026

Getting a suspended South Carolina license back means clearing every suspension on your record, paying a reinstatement fee for each one, and, in some cases, having an SR-22 filed. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) handles reinstatement. [1][2][3][4]

SR-22 required?
Yes
Base reinstatement fee
$100
Keep SR-22 for
3 years

Step by step

  1. Find out what you owe

    SCDMV's online services let you pay reinstatement fees and check whether you qualify for a payment plan. If you have questions about your suspensions, call SCDMV at 803-896-5000. [2][5]

    Online Services ↗

  2. Ask about a route restricted license

    For some suspensions, such as points, false insurance, or an accident judgment, you may get a route restricted license. It lets you drive to and from work or school and to ADSAP or court-ordered drug programs. It costs $100, you apply by mailing Form DL-127, and you can usually get only one in your lifetime. [2]

    License Reinstatement ↗

  3. Have your insurer file an SR-22, if required

    Many suspensions based on a conviction, and unpaid crash judgments, keep your license suspended until you file proof of insurance. Your insurer files the SR-22 electronically with SCDMV. SCDMV can release the requirement after 3 years from the date it was first required, if you have no new suspendable conviction. [1][6]

  4. Pay every reinstatement fee

    The fee is $100 for each suspension, unless another amount applies. You can pay online, at any SCDMV branch, or by check or money order mailed to SCDMV Driver Records, PO Box 1498, Blythewood, SC 29016-0028. To pay online, your card's billing address must match the address SCDMV has on file. [3]

    Pay Reinstatement Fees ↗

  5. Ask about the payment plan

    If you owe at least $200 and have met every other requirement, you may qualify for a 12-month payment plan. You pay a $40 fee and a 10% deposit, and, after signing an agreement and passing any required tests, you get a 12-month temporary license. If you don't finish paying within 12 months, your license expires and your remaining suspensions come back. A new violation ends the plan. [7]

    Verify Payment Plan Eligibility ↗

After a DUI arrest or conviction

  1. Act within 30 days of the notice of suspension

    If you refused a test or had a BAC of .15 or more, you have 30 days from the notice to request a hearing with the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings. The statute sets a $200 filing fee, unless the hearing office's rules set another amount. You can also get a $100 temporary alcohol license or enroll in the Ignition Interlock Device Program in that time. [2][8]

  2. Enroll in ADSAP

    If you don't request a hearing, or the suspension is upheld, you must enroll in the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP). You must be attending or have finished ADSAP before your license can be restored. [8]

  3. Plan for an ignition interlock

    For DUI violations on or after May 19, 2024, you must install an ignition interlock device to clear a DUI or felony DUI suspension. The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services runs the program. [2]

  4. Know when no SR-22 is needed

    A suspension for refusing a test or for a BAC of .15 or more doesn't by itself require you to file proof of insurance. [8]

Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm your own requirements with South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) before you drive.

SR-22 rules in South Carolina · If your SR-22 lapses · Reinstatement in other states

Sources

  1. SCDMV - Insurance Companies (ALIR and SR-22 filing) (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  2. SCDMV - License Reinstatement (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  3. SCDMV - Pay Reinstatement Fees (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  4. SCDMV - Facts About Driving Uninsured (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  5. SCDMV - Online Services (pay reinstatement fees, verify payment plan eligibility) (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  6. S.C. Code Title 56 Chapter 9 - Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act (incl. 56-9-20, 56-9-500 to 56-9-630) (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  7. SCDMV - Verify Payment Plan Eligibility (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  8. S.C. Code Title 56 Chapter 5 - Uniform Act Regulating Traffic (incl. 56-5-2951) (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)

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