| Information contained here is that important information that
you usually find out about after you have spent time and money doing it the wrong way, or
worse, when you are ticketed for not doing it right.
Motor Vehicle Registration
If you have a valid registration issued by your home state, South
Carolina will recognize it with certain limitation. Contact the Highway Department
office at Sumter or Columbia and verify your situation.
A service member who is not a resident of South Carolina generally
will not be required to pay personal property tax on any vehicle located within the state.
If a non-resident desires to register a vehicle in South Carolina, the individual
must prove their nonresident status by presenting a copy of their leave and earnings
statement (LES) to the Sumter County Treasure's Office (If living in Richland County, for
instance the city of Columbia, this is conducted at the Richland County Treasurer's
office, located in the County Court house, or if Living in Lexington County, in the
Lexington County Courthouse.)
The Vehicle must be registered in the member's name only to qualify
for exemption status. A vehicle registered in both the member's and spouse's name is
subject to one-half the required taxes unless both are military. The vehicle MUST be registered solely in the military member's name to
be fully exempt from the tax.
Driver's License
South Carolina law allows nonresidents who have a valid driver's
license from their home state to drive in South Carolina with this license as long as they
maintain permanent residence in their home state. Check with your home state for its
licensing requirements when stationed outside of the home state.
Insurance
State law says all South Carolina drivers must be insured. You're
required to buy Liability coverage, which pays for damage you do to other people and their
property, and Uninsured Motorist coverage, which protects you if you're in an accident
with an uninsured driver.
Base Registration
All privately owned vehicles must be registered with the security police
within 72 hours of arrival at Shaw AFB. Pass and registration is located in the
support center, and the visitor control center at the main gate. The following items
are required for registration:
- Current State Registration Certificate
- Current state driver's license
- Proof of Insurance
Base registration stickers from a member's
previous military installation may be retained as long as the above requirements for base
registration are met. Again, registration must be accomplished within 72 hours of
arrival at Shaw AFB.
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