Convicted of driving your own uninsured car in South Carolina
Ownership changes the outcome of a no-insurance ticket here. Found guilty while driving a vehicle you own? Your license and registration stay suspended until SCDMV receives a $700 uninsured motorist fee. You must also have your insurance company file a Certificate of Insurance (SR-22) for three years. That period starts with the date of suspension, according to SCDMV's page on driving uninsured.
A guilty finding in a car you do not own plays out differently. The same page lists a 30-day license suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee for that driver.
ALIR: how SCDMV spots a canceled policy
SCDMV launched Automobile Liability Insurance Reporting, or ALIR, in 2004. It collects liability data from insurers licensed in South Carolina and matches it against driver and vehicle records. That is how the agency flags registered vehicles below the minimum coverage. The SCDMV insurance company page says insurers file the SR-22 Certificate of Insurance through this same system.
When an owner cancels a policy, the insurer notifies SCDMV. With no new coverage on record, you get a letter giving your insurer 20 business days to verify coverage electronically. Miss that window and your driving privilege, plate and registration are suspended. Reinstating can cost up to $400.
One way out of that trap: turn in your plate and registration at a branch before you cancel. SCDMV says you will not be penalized if you do.
Paying the $100 per suspension, or splitting it
A $100 reinstatement fee applies to each suspension unless the law sets another amount, per the SCDMV fee page. You can pay at any branch office, online, or by check or money order to SCDMV Driver Records in Blythewood.
Several suspensions add up fast. If you owe more than $200 in reinstatement fees, you may qualify for the SCDMV Payment Plan. The license reinstatement page also lists a route restricted license for some suspensions, including accident judgments, false insurance certification and points. It costs $100 if approved.
New DUI rules since May 19, 2024
Two changes hit DUI and DUAC suspensions for violations dated on or after May 19, 2024. DUAC means an unlawful alcohol concentration. You now need an ignition interlock device to clear the suspension. The six-month provisional license is no longer issued for a first offense at a BAC of .14 or less. Both rules appear on the SCDMV reinstatement page above. Our DUI insurance guide covers how coverage works after a conviction.
The liability floor behind a South Carolina SR-22
The South Carolina Department of Insurance sets the minimum at $25,000 for one person's bodily injury and $50,000 per accident. Property damage needs $25,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist coverage is not required. SCDMV adds that your insurer must be licensed to do business in this state.