# Vehicle registration plates of South Carolina

The U.S. state of South Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917. As of 2023, plates are issued by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1975.

## Passenger baseplates
### 1917 to 1975

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first South Carolina license plate that complied with these standards.
| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1917 | Embossed black serial on light yellow plate; "SC 17" at right | none | 12345 | 5001 to approximately 41000 | |
| 1918 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SC 18" at left | none | 12345 | 5001 to approximately 61000 | |
| 1919 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "S.C. 1919" centered at bottom | none | 12-345 | 5-001 to approximately 73-000 | |
| 1920 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "S.C. 1920" centered at bottom | none | 12-345 | 5-001 to approximately 98-000 | |
| 1921 | Embossed red serial on black plate with border line; "S.C. 1921" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1922 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SC 22" at right | none | A12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1923 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SC 23" at right | none | A12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1924 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "24" and "SC" monogram at right | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1925 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SC" monogram and "25" at right | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1926 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "SC" at right, with letters separated by embossed Sabal palmetto containing debossed "26" | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1927 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "SC" at right, with letters separated by embossed Sabal palmetto containing debossed "27" | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1928 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1928" at bottom | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | First use of the full state name. |
| 1929 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1929" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1930 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1930" at bottom | Vertical "IODINE" at right | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | The slogan referred to the high amounts of iodine found in South Carolina's produce. Similar slogans were used through 1933. |
| 1931 | Embossed green serial on gray plate with border line; "S.C.", slogan and "31" at bottom | "THE IODINE STATE" between state abbreviation and year | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1932 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "S.C.", slogan and "32" at top | "THE IODINE STATE" between state abbreviation and year | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| January – October 1933 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SC 33" at right | "THE IODINE PRODUCTS STATE" at bottom | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| November 1933 – April 1934 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "SC · EXPIRES APR 30 · 34" at top | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| May – October 1934 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "SC · EXPIRES OCT 31 · 34" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| November 1934 – April 1935 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "SC · APRIL 30 · 35" at top | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| May – October 1935 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 35" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| November 1935 – April 1936 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "SC · APRIL 30 · 36" at top | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| May – October 1936 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 36" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| November 1936 – October 1937 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 37" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1937–38 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 38" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1938–39 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 39" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1939–40 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 40" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1940–41 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 41" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1941–42 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 42" at top | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1942–44 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 43" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | Revalidated for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| 1945 | Embossed yellow serial on green plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 45" at top | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1946 | Embossed silver serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 46" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1947 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 47" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1948 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 48" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1949 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 49" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1950 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 50" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1951 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 51" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1952 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 52" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1953 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 53" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1954 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 54" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1955 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 55" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1956 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 56" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1957 | Embossed white serial on blue plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 57" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1958 | Embossed blue serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 58" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1959 | Embossed white serial on blue plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 59" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1960 | Embossed blue serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 60" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1961 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 61" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1962 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 62" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1963 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 63" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1964 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 64" at bottom | none | A-123456 AB-1234 | First letter corresponds to weight class | Two-letter serial format introduced for each weight class, though the one-letter format continued to be used. |
| 1965 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 65" at top | none | A-123456 AB-1234 | First letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1966 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 66" at bottom | none | A 123456 AB 1234 | First letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1967 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "1967" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A 123456 AB 1234 | First letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1968 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "AUTO" centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" at bottom left and "68" at bottom right | none | A 123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1969 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "1969" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A 123456 AB 1234 | First letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1970 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top | "300 YEARS" centered at bottom, with "1670" to the left and "1970" to the right | A 123456 AB 1234 | First letter corresponds to weight class | Commemorated the 300th anniversary of the settlement of South Carolina. |
| 1971 | Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1971" centered at bottom | none | A 123456 AB 1234 | First letter corresponds to weight class | |
| 1972 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1972" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately TOW 250 | For each three-letter series, only the numbers 101–250 were issued. This practice continued through 1975. |
| 1973 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1973" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately VEP 250 | |
| 1974 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1974" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately WJC 250 | |
| 1975 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1975" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately WRC 250 | |

### 1976 to present

| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1976 – December 1979 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; red Sabal palmetto and blue cannon screened in the center; "1775" and "1783" screened in blue on either side of cannon; red band screened at bottom containing "SOUTH CAROLINA" in white in the center | "1776 Bicentennial 1976" screened in blue at top | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to WZZ 400; AAA 401 to WZZ 500 | Commemorated both the US Bicentennial and the Revolutionary War. Numbers 101–400 issued for each three-letter series first, followed by 401–500 from 1978. |
| January 1980 – December 1984 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; white state seal on pale blue state shape screened in the center; "South Carolina" screened in blue centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to YZZ 500 | Numbers 101–500 issued for each three-letter series. |
| January 1985 – December 1989 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; pale blue Sabal palmetto screened in the center; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened in red at top | none | ABC 123 | AAA 501 to ZZZ 999 | Numbers 501–900 issued for each three-letter series, with 901–999 added in 1988. |
| January 1990 – December 1997 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; Carolina wren on yellow jessamine vine screened at top; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened in brown centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to YZZ 500; AAA 501 to YZZ 900 | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1990 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time South Carolina has been so honored. Numbers 101–500 issued for each three-letter series first, followed by 501–900 from mid-1991. |
| January 1998 – October 2007 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; light blue mountain graphic screened at top and sides and Sabal palmetto in the center; "South Carolina" screened in light blue centered at bottom | "Smiling Faces. Beautiful Places." screened in black at top | 123 ABC | 101 AAA to approximately 900 XBJ | Numbers 101–900 issued for each three-letter series, with 901–999 added in late 2007 at the XCR series. Letters I, O and Q not used, and U used only from 2002 onwards, beginning with the NKU series. |
| October 2007 – June 2008 | As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed | "Smiling Faces. Beautiful Places." screened in black at top | 123 ABC | 101 XBK to approximately 999 XXM | Numbers 101–900 issued for each three-letter series, with 901–999 added in late 2007 at the XCR series. Letters I, O and Q not used, and U used only from 2002 onwards, beginning with the NKU series. |
| July 2008 – January 2016 | Screened black serial on multicolored sunset background with state flag motif at center | TRAVEL2SC.COM | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to LZD 799 | Letter O not used in serials; this practice continued until October 2023. |
| February 2016 – October 2023 | Screened black serial on white and blue background with state flag motif at center | While I Breathe, I Hope. | ABC 123 | LZD 800 to XMV 999 | |
| October 2023 – present | Screened black serial on white and blue background with state flag motif at center | While I Breathe, I Hope. | ABC 123 | YAA 101 to YCL 659 | New serial font. Letter O used. Plates from this edition also feature a very small number on the bottom center from the manufacturer. |
| October 2023 – present | Screened black serial on white and blue background with state flag motif at center | While I Breathe, I Hope. | 123 ABC | 101 AAA to 588 AWX (as of July 25, 2024) | New serial font. Letter O used. Plates from this edition also feature a very small number on the bottom center from the manufacturer. |

## Optional plates

| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| February 2003 – October 2007 | Embossed black serial on light blue and white gradient plate; national and state flags on gold flagpole screened in the center; "South Carolina" screened in blue centered at bottom | "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in gold centered at top, with gradient gold stripe below | 123 4AB | 100 1AA to approximately 400 0DT | No cost. |
| October 2007 – December 2015 | As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed | "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in gold centered at top, with gradient gold stripe below | 123 4AB | 400 1DT to approximately 999 9HQ | No cost. |
| January 2016 – present | Screened black serial on white plate; national and state flags on gold flagpole screened at left; "South Carolina" screened in black centered at bottom | "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in black centered at top, with blue stripe above and red stripe below | 1234AB | 1001HR to 8008RR (as of September 18, 2023) | No cost. |

## Non-passenger plates

| Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| Dealer | January 2016 – present | Screened black serial on reflective white plate; "South Carolina" screened at bottom; "Dealer" screened at top with blue stripe above and red stripe below | X123456 | X622001 to X681169 (as of November 9, 2022) | Issued annually from 2008 to 2015. X123456 serial format used during this period, with the first digit after the 'X' corresponding to the last digit of the year of expiration (9 for 2008, 0 for 2009 and so on up to 6 for 2015). Serials on the current plate continue from where those on the 2015 plate left off. |
| Disabled | January 2010 – present | Screened black serial on reflective graphic plate with Sabal palmetto against a light blue and white gradient sky; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened at bottom and International Symbol of Access at left | 123456W | 1001W to 305568W (as of July 22, 2023) | |
| Motorcycle | 1995–2000 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top | Z12345 | Z10001 to Z99999 | Serials ZA0001 through ZA9999 and Z/A10001 through Z/A99999 reserved for antique motorcycles. |
| Motorcycle | 2000–07 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top | ZB1234 | ZB0001 to ZZ9999 | Serials ZA0001 through ZA9999 and Z/A10001 through Z/A99999 reserved for antique motorcycles. |
| Motorcycle | 2007–08 | As above, but with state name and letters in serial screened rather than embossed | Z/B12345 | Z/B10001 to approximately Z/B40000 | Serials ZA0001 through ZA9999 and Z/A10001 through Z/A99999 reserved for antique motorcycles. |
| Motorcycle | 2008 – April 2015 | As above, but with all elements screened | Z/B12345 | Z/B40001 to Z/C99999 | Serials ZA0001 through ZA9999 and Z/A10001 through Z/A99999 reserved for antique motorcycles. |
| Motorcycle | May 2015 – present | Screened black serial on reflective white plate; "South Carolina" screened at top with blue stripe above and red stripe below | Z/B12345 | Z/D10001 to Z/G72412 (as of February 16, 2022) | Serials ZA0001 through ZA9999 and Z/A10001 through Z/A99999 reserved for antique motorcycles. |
| Truck | 1996–2008 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "TRUCK" at top and bottom respectively | P123456 | P100001 to approximately P393500 | |
| Truck | 2008 – April 2015 | As above, but with elements screened rather than embossed | P123456 | P393501 to approximately P500000 | |
| Truck | May 2015 – present | Screened black serial on reflective white plate; "South Carolina" screened at bottom; "Property Carrying" screened at top with blue stripe above and red stripe below | P123456 | P500001 to present | |

## Special plates

| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Text | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| | Manufacturers' Plate | | Screened black serial on white plate | Motor Vehicle Manufacturer | AB 1234 | AA0001 to MA2314 (as of January 2019) | |