Replacing a Lost License

South Carolina requires that you report a lost or stolen driver's license to the police. Only one replacement license will be issued in any 12-month period.

You can apply for a replacement, or duplicate, Class D license online or in person at your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Travelers

If you lose your license while out of the state, either in this country or out, you'll follow the same procedures explained below for replacement; you can request a duplicate license by mail or online. The DMV will mail your license to you within 15 business days. You can request a change of mailing address, so the DMV will mail the license to you wherever you are located. Just be sure to change your address back once you return to the state.

How to Apply for a Duplicate

To apply online, visit South Carolina's Duplicate Driver's License Web site. The replacement fee is $10, which you can pay with a VISA, MasterCard, or Discover card.

Note that you can apply online only if your license is current and not suspended.

Currently, South Carolina does not offer online replacements for beginner's permits, commercial licenses, or identification cards, so you must apply in person to replace these lost or stolen credentials.

To apply in person, complete two forms: an Affidavit of Lost or Stolen License and a Form DL-447, which is the application for a South Carolina license. Both of these forms are available online using the free Adobe Reader.

Take the completed paperwork, the $10 fee, and proper identification to your local DMV office.

Need more information? Check out our Other License Information section.