South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) Customer Service

Phone Number & Contact Info

South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV)'s Best Phone Number

803-896-5000
Calls Customer Service·Most popular South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) number
Q:

How do I talk to a live human at South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV)?

A:Press 3.
Q:

Does South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) offer 24 hour customer service?

A:Not at this number; hours here are Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 8:30am-5pm, Wed 9:30am-5pm EST. The least busy day is Thursday, and the most busy day is Tuesday.
Q:

How long will I wait on hold?

A:The average hold time is 2 minutes. The longest hold times are on Wednesday, and the shortest are on Friday. How is this calculated?

How do I get through the phone menu to a live person?

GetHuman researchers routinely call this South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) phone number to document the phone system.
Here is how our research team describes the way the South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) phone system greets you: "You have reached the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. It's a great day in South Carolina. Please have your driver's license number or your customer number, which is located on your vehicle registration card just above your name. For a vehicle inquiry, please have the vehicle title or tag number. If you're not currently a South Carolina DMV customer, press 1. If you need information on titling and registering your vehicle or getting a driver's license status, press 2. If you have questions about title, registration plates, or buying or selling a car, press 3. If you have paid your vehicle property tax and have not received your decal or have a decal-related question, press 4. If you received a letter concerning the driver's license violation or suspension, have questions about license reinstatement, or have other driver's license-related questions, press 5. If you have questions about IRP or IFTA, press 6. If you have questions about a commercial driver's license, press 7."
Here is our latest tip for weaving through the phone menu to get to a real person the fastest: Press 3

What are the hours and when should I call?

South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) operates the call center for this 803-896-5000 phone number Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 8:30am-5pm, Wed 9:30am-5pm ET. The short answer is that you should call on a Thursday. This observation and the following section are based on analysis of a sample set of 138 calls made in the last 90 days using our free, web-based phone (see above).
An important note: busy times vs hold times vs best time to call
When we refer to busy or less busy times, we are talking about the volume of calls. The busiest times are when the most people are calling this South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) phone number (least busy times have fewer people calling). This high call volume does not necessarily mean that you will have a long hold time when you call. Companies like South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) staff their call centers differently based on the time of day and day of the week, so you may experience a shorter wait on hold at the busiest of times. When we refer to the best time to call, we are referring to the optimal combination of lower call volume and shorter wait times.

The least busy time to call

The least busy day to call South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) is Thursday. The most busy day to call is Tuesday. Again, this is based on a sample of 138 calls made with our AI-powered, web-based phone in the last 90 days.

The shortest wait on hold

We measured the shortest hold times to be on Friday. The longest wait in the queue on average occurs on Wednesday.

The best time to call South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV)

In summation, the best day to call South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) is Thursday. This is not the day with the shortest wait on hold in the phone system, but we still recommend it for its ideal combination of low call volume and short hold times. Plus we believe that South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) staffs the call center well on Thursday.

Calling this South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) Customer Number

Aug 11, 2023

The South Carolina DMV has a rather lengthy wait time to be connected, but the service provided helps make up for that. When I called, I was warned that the call volume was higher than normal and I would need to expect a longer-than-average wait.

I was directed to a menu with several options and driver's license questions right at the beginning, so I immediately hit that button to get started. When I did, I was again told to expect a longer wait and that I could visit the South Carolina DMV's website if I didn't want to keep waiting. I ended up waiting about 10 to 15 minutes before getting a new message that I was caller No. 6 and would have my call answered soon.

Shortly after, I did get my call answered and was asked for my driver's license number. I told her that I wasn't in their system yet, as I was a new resident of South Carolina and wanted to know how long I had before I needed to get my new driver's license. She told me I had 45 days from the date of my move.

I then asked her what items I would need to bring to get my new license. She said that I would need either my birth certificate or passport, my Social Security number, my out-of-state driver's license and two forms of mail. She then confirmed that I would only need the number and did not have to bring the card. I then asked her what kind of cost my license would carry, and she told me it was a flat $25 fee. With all my questions answered, I thanked her for her assistance, and she wished me a pleasant day.

Overall, I thought the wait time was long, but nothing can be done about that, and they do a nice job providing an update when you get close to your turn. They also provide alternate means of seeking help, so most people do not have to wait in line.

When I got connected to the representative, I found her to be knowledgeable and friendly, able to answer all of my questions with clear, assertive language. I felt that she clearly knew what she was talking about and had all the information needed to assist me throughout the process. Based on this interaction, I would feel very comfortable calling the South Carolina DMV if I needed customer assistance.

Adam has been tirelessly trying to help customers find the best tips and tricks to get through phone trees and writing many guides for prickly customer service problems. He's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inside Edition and Bloomberg.

Why Customers Call South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV)

If you have time to do a bit of reading before you call South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV), we recommend you read over some of our problem-specific articles.

Can I renew my vehicle registration online?

Yes, you can easily renew your vehicle registration online through the South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) website. The online renewal process is quick, convenient, and available to all eligible vehicle owners in the state. To renew your vehicle registration online, you need to provide certain information such as your license plate number, vehicle identification number (VIN), and insurance details. Additionally, you may be required to pay the registration renewal fee using a valid credit or debit card. Once the online transaction is complete, you will receive a confirmation and your renewed registration sticker will be mailed to your address on file. This online option saves time and eliminates the need for a visit to a DMV office.

What is the penalty for driving without insurance in South Carolina?

Driving without insurance in South Carolina can result in severe penalties. If found guilty, the consequences may include fines, suspension of your driver's license, and vehicle impoundment. First-time offenders may face a fine of up to $550 or a 30-day suspension of their license and registration until proof of insurance is provided. Subsequent offenses result in harsher penalties, with potential fines reaching $1,000, possible license and registration suspension, and mandatory SR-22 insurance filing. It's important to note that driving without insurance not only puts you at risk but also endangers others on the road. To avoid these penalties and ensure your safety, it is crucial to always maintain valid auto insurance coverage in South Carolina.

How long does it take to receive a new license plate in the mail?

The amount of time it takes to receive a new license plate in the mail from the South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) can vary. Generally, it takes approximately 7 to 10 business days for the new license plate to arrive. However, please note that this is an estimated timeframe and there may be delays due to various factors such as high demand, processing times, or the need for additional documentation. Additionally, certain specialty or personalized license plates may have longer processing times. It is recommended to apply for a new license plate ahead of time to allow for any potential delays and ensure you receive it in a timely manner.

Top South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) customer service problems

Click the link above to get answers to just about any South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) customer service question, including step by step guides for the most complex issues. You can also detail a new issue and get answers instantly.
Information about why customers call South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) is extracted from issues that customers have reported to GetHuman.
South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) issues reported to GetHuman

More South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) Customer Service Contacts

There are of course other ways to contact South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) customer service besides the phone. Below we list the best ones, by medium.

South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) Customer Help Desk / Web Support

scdmvonline.com - Customer Service
Online customer service support
As a last, sometimes only, resort- South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) customer service can be accessed through their website. This can entail digging through help articles before finding a form and "being allowed" to submit a problem to their team, and rarely leads to a real-time conversation, which is why GetHuman does not recommend this unless it's the only way.

Conclusion and closing notes

This is South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV)'s best phone number, the real-time current wait on hold and tools for skipping right through those phone lines to get right to a South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) agent. This phone number is South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV)'s best phone number because 828 customers like you used this contact information over the last 18 months and gave us feedback. Common problems addressed by the customer care unit that answers calls to 803-896-5000 include Local services, File a report, Complaint and other customer service issues. Rather than trying to call South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) first, consider describing your issue first; from that we may be able to recommend an optimal way to contact them via phone or web. In total, South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) has 1 phone number. It's not always clear what is the best way to talk to South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV) representatives, so we started compiling this information built from suggestions from the customer community. Please keep sharing your experiences so we can continue to improve this free resource.

GetHuman does not provide call center services or customer support operations for South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV). The two organizations are not related. GetHuman builds free tools and shares information to help customers of companies like South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV/RMV). For large companies that includes tools such as our GetHuman Phone, which allows you to call a company but skip the part where you wait on the line to get a live human rep. We continue to work on these tools to help customers like you (and ourselves!) navigate the messy phone menus, hold times, and confusion with customer service. As long as you keep sharing it with your friends and loved ones, we'll keep doing it.

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