South Carolina Driving Records

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

A South Carolina driving record — sometimes called a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) — is the official summary of your license history maintained by the SCDMV. Drivers, insurers, employers, and courts request these reports for different reasons, and the SCDMV publishes three primary versions matched to those uses.

Types of driving records

3-Year Driving Record — covers the most recent three years of activity. Most often requested for personal review and for some insurance underwriting.
10-Year Driving Record — extends back ten years and is usually required for CDL applications, employment, and some legal proceedings.
Certified Driving Record — either 3-year or 10-year, with an SCDMV seal certifying authenticity. Required for court submissions, formal employment processes, and any time the receiving party demands a notarized or sealed document.

What the record includes

South Carolina driving records show:

Full legal name and date of birth.
License number, class, status (valid, suspended, revoked), and expiration.
Endorsements (motorcycle, hazmat, school bus) and restrictions (corrective lenses, daylight only).
Convictions for traffic violations within the report's window — see SC point system for assessed points.
Suspensions, revocations, and reinstatements.
DUI convictions and reinstatement compliance under SC DUI laws.
Crash involvement (limited details on personal records; full details available to law enforcement).

Records do not show parking tickets, civil judgments, or non-moving violations that didn't reach a court conviction.

How to request your record

The SCDMV offers four channels for record requests:

Online — fastest option through the SCDMV portal. Pay by credit or debit card and download a PDF immediately. Online requests are non-certified by default; a separate flag is available for certified records.
In person — at any SCDMV branch. Bring photo ID and the request fee. Certified copies are printed on the spot with the SCDMV seal.
By mail — submit Form DLR-2 (Request for Motor Vehicle Records) with payment to the SCDMV address printed on the form. Processing takes 7-10 business days plus mail time.
By third party — employers, insurance companies, and authorized agents can request records on a driver's behalf with a signed release form (Form DLR-2A or equivalent).

Fees

3-year non-certified record — $6.
3-year certified record — $8.
10-year non-certified record — $8.
10-year certified record — $10.
Bulk requests by approved employers and insurers — separate negotiated rates.

Common reasons to pull your record

Pull your record before:

Renewing auto insurance — the carrier will pull its own copy, but knowing what they'll see helps you negotiate.
Applying for a new driving job (rideshare, delivery, trucking, or fleet).
Registering your CDL with a new motor carrier.
Contesting a recent traffic ticket where you suspect the conviction was mis-recorded.
Reinstating a suspended license — see SC reinstatement.
Moving to another state and presenting your driving history to the new state's DMV.

Disputing inaccurate information

If you find errors on your South Carolina driving record — a conviction that was actually dismissed, a suspension that was lifted but never updated, or a typographical error in your name or license number — submit a written dispute to the SCDMV with supporting documents (court disposition, dismissal order, corrected court record). The SCDMV's record-review unit typically responds within 30 days. Errors that originated in another state's record can take longer because the SCDMV has to coordinate with the issuing state.

Privacy and access

Under federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) rules, South Carolina releases full driving records only to the driver, authorized agents, law enforcement, courts, and certain qualifying organizations. Insurance carriers and employers must demonstrate a permissible use to obtain the record. Public access to non-personal information is more limited than in some states.

For a national perspective, see our national driving records guide.