Reinstatement Requirements

Suspension Type Suspension
Period		 Reinstatement
Fee		 SR-22 ADSAP
Driving Under the Influence        
First Offence (Note 1) 6 months
Second Offence 1 year
Third Offence (Note 2) 2 years
Fourth and Subsequent
Offences (Note 2)		 License Revoked
Driving While Suspended        
Original Suspension for Fixed Period Same time as
original suspension		  
Original Suspension is Indefinite 3 months  
Original Suspension for Failure to Pay a Traffic Ticket 30 days    
Felony DUI 3 years plus time served
Operating Uninsured 30 days  
Failure to Maintain SR-22 Insurance(Note 3) Indefinite  
Failure to Pay a Traffic Ticket(Note 4) Indefinite    
Notes:
  1. The number of offenses is determined by the number of driving under the influence violations that occur within a 10-year period.
  2. If the suspensions occured within a five-year period, the suspension period will be extended an additional year for a 3rd Offense DUI, and terminated for a 4thoffense DUI. After seven years, the driver may petition the circuit court for a reinstatement for driving privileges. The following requirements must be met before the petition can be filed:
    1. The driver must not have had any driving under the influence or driving under suspension violation within the past seven years.
    2. The driver must have completed ADSAP.
  3. SR-22 insurance is not required if the three-year requirement period for the original suspension has ended. The reinstatement fee is not required if the new certificate of SR-22 insurance shows no lapse in coverage.
  4. You must provide a notice of payment from the court that issued the original ticket. Send your notices of payment to The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Driver Records, P.O. Box 1498, Columbia, SC 29216. If the notice shows payment prior to the suspension date, the $100.00 reinstatement fee will not be required.

Provisional Driver's License

Individuals suspended for first offense driving under the influence or unlawful alcohol concentration will be eligible for a provisional license if they meet the following criteria:

  1. They must have or have had a South Carolina driver’s license or be exempt under South Carolina Code of Laws 56-1-30.
  2. They must have no other suspensions following the driving under the influence or unlawful alcohol concentration suspension except implied consent, implied consent under 21, BAC of .02 or greater, BAC of .15 or greater deriving from the same incident.
  3. They must have enrolled in the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program.
  4. They must have a certificate of SR-22 insurance on file with the Department of Public Safety.
  5. The cost for a provisional driver’s license is $100.00.

SR-22 Insurance Certificate

A form SR-22 insurance certificate is required three years from the ending date of the suspension for which it is required. SR-22 is also required during the six months when an individual is issued a provisional driver's license. SR-22 must be obtained for the class license the driver seeks such as a motorcycle license or passenger vehicle license. The SR-22 Certificate must be on file at the DMV before the license can be reinstated or a provisional license issued.

Reinstatement Fees

A $100.00 reinstatement fee is required for each suspension, if the suspension is not cleared before the suspension became effective.

ADSAP

The Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program is a program certified by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services. Completion of this program is required following Driving Under the Influence suspensions. ADSAP enrollment must be on file with DMV before obtaining a Provisional License. ADSAP completion must be on file with DMV before your driving privileges can be restored. To enroll in ADSAP or for more information, call the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.

Re-examinations

The knowledge and road tests are required if the individual's driver's license has expired or if re-examination is required by law following a suspension period before driving privileges may be reinstated. There is a charge of $2.00 to complete the knowledge portion of the re-examination.

DMV Contact

For additional information, address all correspondence to:

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver Records
Post Office Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0028
or call (803) 896-5000

© 2004 - South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles - All rights reserved