Insurance Requirements

Current South Carolina law requires that at the time a driver's license is issued for the first time and a driver's license is renewed,   drivers must certify on the driver's license application (DL 447) that they are insured by an automobile liability policy. If an applicant does not own a vehicle or a vehicle is not in the household of the applicant, the applicant can check off on the application accordingly. The applicant declaring liability insurance certifies personal automobile liability insurance and not liability insurance of an employer.

Owners are required to provide proof that the vehicle being operated is insured. If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer and unable to provide proof that the vehicle you are operating is insured, you may be issued a citation and be subject to a fine or imprisonment.

If issued a citation, you will be required to provide proof within thirty (30) days that the vehicle you were operating was insured to avoid an indefinite suspension of your driver’s license.

Presently, the minimum limits for SC are "15/30/10".

At the time of an accident, South Carolina Law requires that the investigating officer issue a Notice of Requirement (Form FR-10) to verify that liability insurance is in effect at the time of an accident. When the investigating officer issues the form, the owner is responsible for providing proof (via insurance company) that the vehicle involved in the accident was insured. Failure to provide insurance verification to the department within fifteen (15) days from the date of the accident will result in suspension of the owner's driver’s license and/or registration privileges.

South Carolina Law requires that insurance companies notify the department within ten (10) days when a liability insurance policy is cancelled. The Notice of Cancellation of Policy (Form FR-4) is forwarded to the department and then forwarded to the owner. The owner is required to update the department with current insurance information or surrender the vehicle plate/registration. Failure of the owner to submit verification that the vehicle is currently insured or advise the department of the current disposition will result in the suspension of the vehicle plate/registration. If suspended, the owner may be required to pay a reinstatement fee up to $400.00.