Suspended license in South Carolina: points, other causes, and how to reinstate

How the points system works

Most states assign points to moving violations and suspend the license when the total inside a set window crosses a threshold. The threshold, the window and how long each violation keeps counting are all set by the state.

South Carolina's point system assigns points by law to certain traffic violations; convictions in this or any other state are posted to the SCDMV record. Twelve points indicates disrespect for the traffic laws and disregard for safety, and the SCDMV may suspend the license for up to six months depending on the total; points are reduced by half after one year from the violation date.

Points period stated by the agency: 2 years. Points from violations in the twelve months up to and including the last violation count at full value, points from twelve to twenty-four months before it count at half value, and points from violations more than twenty-four months before the last violation are not counted. The SCDMV states points are reduced by half after one year from the violation date. Violations used for a suspension are disregarded for any later suspension.

“If you hold a beginner's permit, conditional or special restricted driver's license and you accumulated six or more points, your driving privileges will be suspended for six months for Excessive Points.”

“those accrued from twelve to twenty-four months preceding the last violation shall be counted at one half their established value and those resulting from violations which occurred more than twenty-four months prior to the last violation shall not be counted.”

Check points or the driving record: dmv.sc.gov

Traffic school and point reduction

Any driver who has accumulated points has them reduced by four on proving to the SCDMV that the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or its equivalent was completed after the points were assessed (S.C. Code § 56-1-770). The SCDMV states the course must be eight hours of classroom training taken in South Carolina after the violation date, cannot be completed online unless it is the National Safety Council's virtual classroom, and must be completed before a suspension begins; once a suspension begins the reduction does not cancel it. Some SCDMV-certified driving schools are certified for the four-point reduction.

“If you take the Defensive Driving Course because your license is in danger of being suspended, you must complete the course before the suspension begins. Once the suspension begins, the point reduction will not cancel the suspension.”

Other reasons a license is suspended, and what ends each one

These are the causes the licensing agency itself lists on its suspension pages, with what it requires to lift each one. Court-imposed suspensions and DUI suspensions are covered on the state's DUI pages.

Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension

Reinstatement fee: $100. A $100 reinstatement fee is required for each suspension on the driving record that has not been reinstated, unless another amount is required (S.C. Code § 56-1-390). A route restricted driver's license costs a separate $100.

“A $100 reinstatement fee is required for each suspension unless another amount is required. You can pay reinstatement fees at any branch office.”

1. Meet all conditions of the suspension

   The SCDMV states there are many different types of suspensions and that all conditions of each suspension must be met; questions go to 803-896-5000 or an SCDMV branch.

   “To participate in the program, customers must meet all conditions of the suspension(s) and visit an SCDMV branch during DSEW to complete the Driver Suspension Eligibility Application (SCDMV Form DL-601A) and pay all fees.”

2. Pay the $100 reinstatement fee for each suspension

   Fees can be paid online (the credit-card address must match SCDMV records and a current South Carolina address is needed), at any branch office, or by mail with the customer or driver's license number.

   “If paying by mail, please include your customer number or driver's license number in the correspondence.”

3. Check the record and points

   A free online points summary and a purchasable three- or ten-year driving record are available from the SCDMV.

   “You may get a summary of your driving record points for free online. This will tell you how many points are on your driving record.”

4. Payment plan if fees are owed

   S.C. Code § 56-1-395 provides a reinstatement fee payment program allowing a license valid for up to twelve months while fees are paid, for listed suspension types; the SCDMV offers a Verify Payment Plan Eligibility link on its reinstatement page.

   “A person who is a South Carolina resident, is eighteen years of age or older, and has had his driver's license suspended may apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain a license valid for no more than twelve months to allow time for payment of reinstatement fees.”

Official page: dmv.sc.gov

After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in South Carolina.

Driving during a non-DUI suspension

Available · Route Restricted Driver's License (special restricted driver's license, S.C. Code § 56-1-740(B)). A person employed or enrolled in a college or university while suspended under the point system may apply for a special restricted license to drive to, from and during work or school; the SCDMV lists Points among eligible suspensions, issues it once in a lifetime (more than once for child support or driving-under-suspension cases), charges $100, and it is valid for the length of the suspension. Application is by SCDMV Form DL-127 by mail.

“You may only receive one route restricted license once in your lifetime. The suspensions below are eligible for this license:”

For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in South Carolina.