, you can get a trackable temporary license plate from any dealer that is enrolled in the state’s EVR program. Your temporary plate will last for 45 days.

Nobody wants to bring their brand new car home, only for it to collect dust in their garage until they can get permanent license plates. Thankfully, in South Carolina, you can drive your car right after you buy it—as long as your dealer gives you a trackable temporary plate!

So, how do you go about getting temporary plates in South Carolina?

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Does South Carolina issue temporary plates?

Yes. South Carolina offers trackable temporary plates that are valid for 45 days.

If you’re still waiting for the transfer of your car’s title, temporary plates are a must-have—they’ll give you the freedom to drive on any South Carolina road while you wait for permanent plates. Plus, the application fee is only $5!

Do temporary South Carolina license plates work well?

South Carolina’s temporary plates are an awesome way to get behind the wheel of your car before you get your official metal plates.

Up until 2019, South Carolina had problems with fraudulent temporary plates. They were easily forgeable, and many drivers kept using their plates well after they had expired—for months, or even years!

In 2019, South Carolina introduced new

trackable temporary license plates

. These plates require more information from the dealer, including a code that ties the buyer to their vehicle. Since the introduction of the trackable plates, fraud has plummeted—so it’s safe to say that the new plates are working.

MORE:

Car Loan in South Carolina 2022

How to get a temporary license plate in South Carolina

To get a temporary license plate in South Carolina, you’ll need to work with the same dealer that you bought the car from and the SC DMV. If you see an online service that claims it’ll get you temporary plates, be careful—it’s probably a scam!

Temporary plates in South Carolina

Either you or your dealer will need to complete a

Form 45-A

before you can get your hands on 45-day temporary plates.

If your dealer completes the form, you’ll simply need to sign it and provide basic information (for example, your name, license number, and car VIN). Then, the dealer will work with an EVR Provider or the SC DMV to get your temporary plates.

If you complete the form yourself, you’ll have to provide much of the same information, including your name, license number, and car make/model. Next, it’ll be up to you to take the form to a

South Carolina DMV location

so it can be processed. You’ll also need to bring one of these three things:

The vehicle’s title

The bill of sale

The lease contract

And that’s all there is to it! Once you’ve brought your completed Form 45-A and proof of the sale, you’re on your way to getting temporary plates. Best of all, the application fee is just $5!

Can I drive a car without plates if I just bought it in South Carolina?

Yes! As long as you have temporary license plates, proof of insurance, and either the car’s title or its bill of sale, you’re good to go.

Remember, South Carolina temporary plates only last 45 days, and they’re only valid on SC roads—so you should install your permanent plates first thing when you get them.

MORE:

How to find temporary car insurance in South Carolina

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How to find affordable car insurance in South Carolina

If you’re on the verge of buying a new car (or if you just drove one off the lot!), we’re sure that you’re sick of filling out paperwork. Fortunately, we’ve got the perfect way for you to find cheap insurance for your new car—no paperwork or phone calls required.

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