DMV License and Registration Bill - Multiple Code Amendments
Summary
South Carolina Governor signed H3856 on April 7, 2026, enacting comprehensive amendments to the South Carolina Code of Laws governing driver licensing, vehicle registration, dealer operations, and title transfer procedures administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill modifies approximately 15 code sections including license issuance requirements, special identification card documentation, permanent license plate issuance for rental trailers, dealer plate thresholds, wholesale auction licensing fees, driving instructor permit schedules, dealer performance point systems, corporate fleet definitions, and electronic title system requirements for lien recordings and vehicle ownership transfers.
What changed
H3856 makes substantive amendments across multiple titles of the South Carolina Code, most notably replacing the term "blood type" with "information" in license applications, establishing specific documentation requirements for blood type notation on special ID cards, expanding license plate issuance to rental trailer owners, increasing wholesale motor vehicle auction license fees and revising expiration dates, reducing the motor vehicle sales threshold required for dealer plate issuance, and implementing comprehensive electronic title system requirements mandating that certain entities use DMV electronic systems for recording liens and performing title transfers. The bill also revises driving instructor permit expiration schedules, modifies the dealer performance points system by eliminating certain violations and adding new ones, and updates corporate fleet vehicle definitions.
Vehicle dealers, driving instructors, wholesale auction operators, and fleet vehicle owners in South Carolina must prepare for updated licensing procedures, new fee structures, and mandatory electronic title system compliance. Dealers face modified point violation schedules and revised sales thresholds for dealer plate eligibility, while all entities recording liens or performing vehicle title transfers must ensure alignment with the new electronic title requirements. The bill's provisions regarding cause of action for inaccurate identification information also create potential civil liability exposure for DMV operations.
What to do next
- Review internal dealer and wholesaler licensing procedures for compliance with new fee schedules and sales thresholds
- Update electronic title system processes to comply with new lien recording and ownership transfer requirements
- Verify that all staff responsible for license or ID card issuance are trained on updated blood type documentation requirements
Penalties
The bill establishes a cause of action for inaccurate information on identification cards or driver records, and modifies dealer point violation and suspension provisions that may result in administrative penalties for non-compliant dealers.
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / South Carolina / H3856 Signed by Governor H3856 H Signed by Governor 2026-04-07
Department of Motor Vehicles
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 56-1-80, Relating To Applications For Licenses Or Permits, So As To Delete The Term "blood Type" And Replace It With The Term "information"; By Amending Section 56-1-3350, Relating To Issuance Of Special Identification Cards And Veteran Designations On Drivers' Licenses, So As To Provide Documentation That Must Be Submitted On Applications For A Person's Blood Type To Appear On A Special Identification Card, And To Provide A Cause Of Action Based On Inaccurate Information Contained On Identification Cards Or Drivers' Records; By Amending Section 56-3-20, Relating To Definitions, So As To Define The Term "rental Trailer"; By Amending Section 56-3-785, Relating To Issuance Of Permanent License Plates To Certain Owners Of Trailers And Semitrailers, So As To Provide For The Issuance Of License Plates To Owners Of Rental Trailers, And To Make Technical Changes; By Amending Section 56-3-2320, Relating To Dealer And Wholesaler License Plates, So As To Revise The Number Of Motor Vehicle Sales That Must Be Made Before Dealer Plates May Be Issued; By Amending Section 56-15-560, Relating To Applications For Wholesale Motor Vehicle Auction Licenses And Fees, So As To Revise Expiration Dates For The Licenses And Increase The License Fees; By Amending Section 56-19-10, Relating To Definitions, So As To Revise The Definition Of The Term "bus"; By Amending Section 56-23-85, Relating To Driver Instructor Permits, So As To Revise The Expiration Dates For The Permits And Provide A Schedule Of Fees; By Amending Section 56-37-30, Relating To Establishment Of The Points System For Evaluating Performance Records Of Dealers, So As To Eliminate Certain Conduct That Results In Point Violations And Add Additional Conduct That Results In Point Violations; By Amending Section 56-37-70, Relating To Suspensions Of Licenses, So As To Provide The Department Of Motor Vehicles May Notify Certain Persons By Certified Mail Or Electronic Tracking; By Amending Section 56-3-1010, Relating To Terms And Their Definitions Associated With Corporate-owned Fleet Motor Vehicles, So As To Revise The Definition Of The Term "fleet"; By Amending Section 56-1-40, Relating To Persons Who May Not Be Licensed Or Have Their Licenses Renewed, So As To Make Technical Changes, To Provide This Provision Applies To The Issuance Of Identification Cards, To Establish The Maximum Period Drivers' Licenses And Identification Cards Are Valid, To Provide A Fee For Identification Cards, And To Provide The Department Of Motor Vehicles Certain Discretion When Granting Extensions To Drivers' Licenses And Identification Cards; By Amending Section 56-3-210, Relating To The Issuance Of Temporary License Plates, So As To Increase The Maximum Period The License Plates Are Valid; By Repealing Section 56-5-2585 Relating To Exempting Purple Heart Recipients From Paying Parking Meter Fees; By Amending Section 56-19-10, Relating To Protection Of Titles To And Interests In Motor Vehicles, So As To Provide Additional Terms And Their Definitions; By Amending Section 56-19-265, Relating To Liens Or Encumbrances Recorded On Motor Vehicles Or Mobile Homes, So As To Require Certain Entities To Utilize The Department Of Motor Vehicle's Electronic Title System, And To Revise The Provisions That Establish The Procedures To Transfer Vehicle Ownership, Apply For And The Release Of Liens, And Perform Other Activities Necessary To Title Certain Vehicles; To Amend Section 56-19-370, Relating To Procedures For The Voluntary Transfer Of Certain Vehicles By Dealers, So As To Revise The Conditions That Allow The Prosecution Of Dealers For Improperly Titling Or Registering Vehicles; And By Amending Section 56-19-680, Relating To The Satisfaction Of Security Interests In Vehicles For Which Certificates Of Titles Are In The Possession Of Lienholders, So As To Revise The Procedures Whereby Lienholders' Interests Are Released, And To Provide A Penalty For The Failure Of Lienholders To Forward Certain Certificates Of Title To The Department Of Motor Vehicles. - Ratified Title
Bill Details
State South Carolina
Session 126th General Assembly
Chamber House
Official Source www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnu...
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Sponsors
Shannon Erickson (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-07 Signed By Governor 2026-04-01 Ratified R 123 2026-04-01 H Roll call Yeas-110 Nays-0 2026-04-01 H Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled 2026-03-31 S Read third time and returned to House with amendments 2026-03-26 S Roll call Ayes-37 Nays-0 2026-03-26 S Read second time 2026-03-26 S Amended 2026-03-26 S Committee Amendment Adopted 2026-03-19 S Committee report: Favorable with amendment Transportation 2025-04-30 Scrivener's error corrected 2025-04-09 Scrivener's error corrected 2025-04-09 S Referred to Committee on Transportation 2025-04-09 S Introduced and read first time 2025-04-09 H Read third time and sent to Senate 2025-04-08 H Roll call Yeas-97 Nays-0 2025-04-08 H Read second time 2025-04-08 H Amended 2025-04-04 Scrivener's error corrected 2025-04-02 H Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and Public Works 2025-01-30 H Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works 2025-01-30 H Introduced and read first time
Votes
2025-04-08 House: Passage Of Bill Yea: 97 Nay: 0 2026-03-26 Senate: 2nd Reading Yea: 37 Nay: 0 2026-04-01 House: Concur In Senate Amendments Yea: 110 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2025-01-30 H Education and Public Works 2025-04-09 S Transportation
Bill Text Versions
2025-01-30 Introduced 2025-04-02 Comm Sub 2025-04-04 Comm Sub 2025-04-08 Amended 2025-04-09 Amended 2025-04-30 Amended 2026-03-19 Comm Sub 2026-03-26 Comm Sub Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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