South Carolina · statute · S.C. Code tit. 56, ch. 19 · 66 active provisions
For the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 21, Title 16, the following terms are defined as follows: (1) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means vehicles of the fire department, police vehicles, and the ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations designated or authorized by…
The Department of Motor Vehicles is hereby vested with the power and is charged with the duty of observing, administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 21 of Title 16.
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall examine and determine the genuineness, regularity and legality of every application for registration of a vehicle or for a certificate of title therefor and of any other application lawfully made to the Department and may in all cases make investigations as may be deemed necessary…
The Department of Motor Vehicles may take possession of any certificate of title, registration card, permit, license or registration plate issued by it (a) upon expiration, revocation, cancellation or suspension thereof, (b) which is fictitious or (c) which has been unlawfully or erroneously issued.
Whenever the Department of Motor Vehicles is authorized or required to give any notice under this chapter or Chapter 21 of Title 16, unless a different method of giving such notice is otherwise expressly prescribed, such notice shall be given either by personal delivery thereof to the person to be so notified or by dep…
Whenever any application to the Department of Motor Vehicles is accompanied by any fee as required by law and such application is refused or rejected, the fee shall be returned to the applicant. Whenever the Department through error collects any fee not required to be paid under this chapter, the fee may be refunded on…
All fees and penalties collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or Chapter 21 of Title 16 shall be placed in the state general fund for the administration of this chapter and for other department purposes."
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall prescribe and provide suitable forms of applications, certificates of title and all other forms requisite or deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 21 of Title 16.
A person aggrieved by an act or omission to act by the Department of Motor Vehicles under this chapter or Chapter 21 of Title 16 is also entitled to a review thereof by the circuit court in accordance with laws of this State relating to appeals.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale or mortgage in this State any vehicle of a type required to be registered and licensed in this State, or any mobile home, unless a certificate of title has been issued therefor and is currently valid; but this provision shall not apply to South Carolina deal…
No certificate of title need be obtained for: (1) A vehicle owned by the United States unless it is registered in this State; (2) A vehicle owned by a manufacturer or dealer and held for sale, even though incidentally moved on the highway or used for purposes of testing or demonstration, or a vehicle used by the manufa…
Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, every owner of a vehicle which is in this State and for which no certificate of title has been issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles shall make application to the Department for a certificate of title of the vehicle.
(A) An application for a certificate of title for a vehicle in this State must be made by the owner to the Department of Motor Vehicles on the form it prescribes and must contain or be accompanied by: (1) if the owner is an individual: (a) the South Carolina residence address of the owner and mailing address, if differ…
The Department of Motor Vehicles, upon receiving an application for a first certificate of title, shall check the identifying number of the vehicle shown in the application against the record of stolen and converted vehicles required by Section 56-19-850 to be maintained by the Department.
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall file each application received and, when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity and that the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a certificate of title, shall issue a certificate of title of the vehicle.
(A) Any liens or encumbrances on a motor vehicle or titled mobile home must be noted on the printed title or electronically through the Department of Motor Vehicles' Electronic Title and Lien System. The department shall transmit the lien to the first lienholder and notify the first lienholder of additional liens. This…
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall refuse issuance of a certificate of title if any required fee is not paid or if it has reasonable grounds to believe that: (1) The applicant is not the owner of the vehicle; (2) The application contains a false or fraudulent statement; or (3) The applicant fails to furnish require…
When the theft or conversion of a vehicle is reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Sections 56-19-810 or 56-19-820, until the department learns of its recovery or that the report of its theft or conversion was erroneous, it must not issue a certificate of title for the vehicle. A title may be issued…
Each certificate of title issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles shall contain: (1) the date issued; (2) the name and address of the owner; (3) the names and addresses of any lienholders, in the order of priority as shown on the application, and dates of the liens, or if the application is based on a certificate of…
A distinctive certificate of title shall be issued for a vehicle last previously registered in another state or country, the laws of which do not require that lienholders be named on a certificate of title to perfect their security interests. The certificate shall contain the legend, "THIS VEHICLE MAY BE SUBJECT TO AN…
The certificate of title issued to the first owner of a new vehicle must be designated by the letter suffix "A" after the title number. Titles issued to subsequent owners of such a vehicle must be designated "B", "C", "D", and "E" in the order of ownership. Titles issued to subsequent owners shall contain no letter suf…
A certificate of title issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles is prima facie evidence of the facts appearing on it.
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain a record of all certificates of title issued by it.
The certificate of title must be mailed to the first lienholder named in it or given to the lienholder's authorized agent or, if none, to the owner.
If a certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed or becomes illegible, the owner or legal representative of the owner named in the certificate, as shown by the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall promptly make application for and may obtain a duplicate upon furnishing information satisfa…