reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 9 - Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act › Section 56-9-600. Substitution of other adequate proof.

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall consent to the cancellation of any bond or certificate of insurance or the Department shall direct and the State Treasurer shall return the money or securities to the person entitled thereto upon the substitution and acceptance of other adequate proof of financial responsibility pursuant to this chapter.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-750.3; 1952 (47) 1853.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 9 - Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act › Section 56-9-610. Other proof may be required; suspension pending filing of proof.

Whenever any proof of financial responsibility filed under the provisions of this chapter no longer fulfills the purposes for which required, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall require other proof as required by this chapter and shall suspend the license and registration or the nonresident's operating privilege pending the filing of other proof.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-750.4; 1952 (47) 1853.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 9 - Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act › Section 56-9-620. Cancellation or return of proof; waiver of requirements of filing proof.

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall upon request consent to the immediate cancellation of any bond or certificate of insurance, or shall return to the person entitled thereto any money or securities deposited pursuant to this chapter as proof of financial responsibility, or the Department shall waive the requirement of filing proof, in any of the following events:
(1) At any time after three years from the date the proof was required when, during the three year period preceding the request, the Department has not received record of a conviction or a forfeiture of bail which would require or permit the suspension or revocation of the license, registration, or nonresident's operating or registration privilege of the person by or for whom the proof was furnished;
(2) In the event of the death of the person on whose behalf the proof was filed or the permanent incapacity of the person to operate a motor vehicle; or
(3) In the event the person who has given proof surrenders his license and registration to the Department;
Provided, however, the Department shall not consent to the cancellation of any bond or the return of any money or securities in the event any action for damages upon a liability covered by the proof is then pending or any judgment upon this liability is then unsatisfied or in the event the person who has filed the bond or deposited the money or securities has, within one year immediately preceding the request, been involved as an operator or owner in any motor vehicle accident resulting in injury or damage to the person or property of others. An affidavit of the applicant as to the nonexistence of these facts or that he has been released from all of his liability or has been finally adjudicated not to be liable for the injury or damage shall be sufficient evidence thereof in the absence of evidence to the contrary in the records of the Department.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-750.5; 1952 (47) 1853; 1959 (51) 567; 1978 Act No. 467 Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 9 - Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act › Section 56-9-630. Re-establishment of cancelled or returned proof.

Whenever any person whose proof has been cancelled or returned under item (3) of Section 56-9-620 applies for a license or registration within a period of three years from the date proof was originally required, this application shall be refused unless the applicant shall re-establish the proof for the remainder of the three year period.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 46-750.6; 1952 (47) 1853; 1959 (51) 567; 1963 (53) 501.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-10. Security required on registered vehicles.

Every owner of a motor vehicle required to be registered in this State shall maintain the security required by Section 56-10-20 with respect to each motor vehicle owned by him throughout the period the registration is in effect. No certificate of registration may be issued or transferred to an owner by the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles unless the owner or prospective owner produces satisfactory evidence that the security is in effect, including the name of the owner's automobile liability insurer, and his signed statement, subject to this state's perjury statutes, that insurance is in place as required by this section.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-190 [1962 Code Section 46-750.110; 1974 (58) 2718; Am, 1987 Act No. 166, Section 19] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-10 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1473; 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, Section 121K; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 218.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-20. Type of security required.

The security required under this chapter is a policy or policies written by insurers authorized to write such policies in South Carolina providing for at least (1) the minimum coverages specified in Sections 38-77-140 through 38-77-230 and (2) the benefits required under Sections 38-77-240, 38-77-250, and 38-77-260. However, the director or his designee may approve and accept another form of security in lieu of such a liability insurance policy if he finds that such other form of security is adequate to provide and does in fact provide the benefits required by this chapter.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-200 [1962 Code Section 46-750.120; 1974 (58)2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-20 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1474; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 219.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-30. Automatic suspension of registration upon lapse or termination of security.

If at any time the security required of any person under Section 56-10-20 lapses or terminates, the certificate of registration of the motor vehicle for which the security was in effect and the owner's driving privileges are, as of the date the security lapses or terminates, automatically suspended and must remain suspended until the security is replaced.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-210 [1962 Code Section 46-750.121; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-30 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; 2004 Act No. 241, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-40. Providers of insurance or security to notify Department of Motor Vehicles of termination or lapse; notice to person holding registration.

Every insurer writing automobile liability insurance in this State and every provider of other security approved and accepted by the director or his designee in lieu of such insurance shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles in a manner prescribed by regulation of the lapse or termination of any such insurance or security and shall notify the department of compliance transactions required of vehicle owners under Section 56-10-650 as prescribed by regulation. These notifications must be made in a manner prescribed by the working group.
Upon receipt of any such notice of lapse or termination the department shall make a reasonable effort to notify the person that his certificate of registration and driving privileges have been suspended and shall recover the certificate from such person and the motor vehicle plate from the vehicle concerned.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-220 [1962 Code Section 46-750.122; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-40 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1475; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 220; 2002 Act No. 324, Section 5; 2004 Act No. 241, Section 2.
Code Commissioner's Note
2002 Act No. 324, Section 12, provides as follows:
"This act takes effect July 1, 2002; provided, however, that Section 56-10-650 and Sections 5, 6, and 9 are effective one hundred eighty days after the latter of certification by the department to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that the program has been implemented and is fully prepared to accept data transmitted by the insurers or publication of final regulations by the department."
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-45. Confiscation of registration certificates and license plates.

(A) The Department of Public Safety and the Department of Motor Vehicles each may enter into agreements with other municipal and county law enforcement agencies for the collection of suspended or revoked drivers' licenses, motor vehicle registrations, and motor vehicle plates. The contracting department must assess a fifty dollar fine for each item recovered pursuant to this section in addition to any other fines assessed. Upon collection, this fine must be returned on a quarterly basis to the general fund of the municipality or county which initiated the enforcement action.
(B) All motor vehicle registration certificates, motor vehicle plates, and drivers' licenses confiscated or seized pursuant to this section must be returned to the Department of Motor Vehicles within fifteen days.
(C) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall collect and keep the reinstatement fee as provided in Section 56-10-240 and the per diem fine as provided in Section 56-10-245 upon the reinstatement of tags confiscated by local law enforcement agencies pursuant to this section. Fines collected pursuant to Section 56-10-240, referring to the monetary penalty of a person who is guilty of a misdemeanor for wilful failure to return his motor vehicle license plates and registration, must be paid to the governing body of the local law enforcement agency confiscating the tags and deposited in the general fund of the local governing body. The director or his designee shall monthly provide information to local law enforcement agencies, upon request of the local law enforcement agency, on uninsured vehicles.
HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 148, Section 48; 1993 Act No. 113, Section 3; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1476; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 221.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-46. Enhanced proof of insurance requests following lapse or termination.

A person responding to the notice contained in Section 56-10-40 who purchased insurance after receiving the notice shall have his motor vehicle record noted to indicate that he will be subject to regular requests for proof of insurance from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The person shall be required to provide proof of coverage as prescribed by regulation every seven months for a period of three years.
HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 324, Section 7.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-50. Suspension of registration not to affect title to vehicle.

No suspension of a certificate of registration hereunder affects the status of title to the motor vehicle or any property rights in such motor vehicle, but the provisions of Section 56-3-110 are applicable with respect to the operation of such motor vehicle.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-230 [1962 Code Section 46-750.123; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-50 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-210. Definitions.

As used in this article:
(1) The term "insured motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle as to which there is maintained the security required by Section 56-10-20.
(2) The term "operator" means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.
(3) [Deleted]
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-710 [1962 Code Section 46-750.145; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-210 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1477; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 246A.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-220. Requirement that vehicle sought to be registered be insured; proof; regulations.

Every person applying for registration for a motor vehicle shall at the time of such registration and licensing declare the vehicle to be an insured motor vehicle under the penalty set forth in Section 56-10-260 and shall execute and furnish to the Department of Motor Vehicles his certificate that such motor vehicle is an insured motor vehicle, and that he will maintain insurance thereon during the registration period. The certificate must be in the form prescribed by the department with input from the Department of Insurance and the working group. The department may require any registered owner or any applicant for registration and licensing of a motor vehicle declared to be an insured motor vehicle to submit a certificate of insurance executed by an authorized agent or representative of an insurance company authorized to do business in this State. Such certificate must also be in a form prescribed by the department with input from the Department of Insurance and the working group. The Department of Motor Vehicles with input from the Department of Insurance and the working group may promulgate a regulation to require proof of insurance on new and renewal registrations which may be submitted on behalf of the applicant by the agent or insurer in a manner acceptable to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-720 [1962 Code Section 46-750.146; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-220 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1478; 1996 Act No. 459, Section 222; 2004 Act No. 241, Section 3.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-225. Proof of insurance and financial responsibility in vehicle; penalties.

(A) A person whose application for registration and licensing of a motor vehicle has been approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles must maintain in the motor vehicle at all times proof that the motor vehicle is an insured vehicle in conformity with the laws of this State and Section 56-10-510.
(B) The owner of a motor vehicle must maintain proof of financial responsibility in the motor vehicle at all times, and it must be displayed upon demand of a police officer or any other person duly authorized by law. Evidence of financial responsibility may be provided by use of a mobile electronic device in a format issued by an automobile insurer. This section does not require that an automobile insurer issue verification concerning the existence of coverage it provides an insured in an electronic format. Information contained or stored in a mobile electronic device presented pursuant to this subsection is not subject to a search by a law enforcement officer except pursuant to the provisions of Section 17-13-140 providing for the issuance, execution, and return of a search warrant or pursuant to the express written consent of the lawful owner of the device.
(C) A person who fails to maintain the proof of insurance in his motor vehicle as required by subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is subject to the same punishment as provided by law for failure of the person driving or in control of a motor vehicle to carry the vehicle registration card and to display the registration card upon demand. However, a charge of failing to maintain proof that a motor vehicle is insured must be dismissed if the person provides proof to the court that the motor vehicle was insured on the date of the violation. Upon notice of conviction, the department shall suspend the owner's driver's license until satisfactory proof of insurance is provided. If at any time the department determines that the vehicle was without insurance coverage, the owner's registration and driving privileges will be suspended pursuant to Section 56-10-520.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 22; 1999 Act No. 100, Part II, Section 103B; 2001 Act No. 90, Section 2; 2002 Act No. 324, Section 3; 2014 Act No. 128 (H.3623), Section 2, eff March 4, 2014.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-230. Notice of termination of insurance.

Prior to the termination of insurance by cancellation or refusal to renew by the insurer notice thereof must be given as required by Sections 38-77-110 and 38-77-120.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-730 [1962 Code Section 46-750.147; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-230 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-245. Per diem fine for lapse in required coverage.

Whenever a person furnishes proof of liability insurance, or surrenders or has his registration or license tags confiscated for failure to produce proof of insurance, after the Department of Motor Vehicles receives notice of the lapse or termination of the required liability insurance, the department shall compare the effective date of the lapse or termination with the date of the proof of insurance or the date of the confiscation or surrender. If the department determines there was a lapse in the required coverage, the department shall assess, in addition to other fines or penalties imposed by the law, a per diem fine in the amount of five dollars. The fine provided for in this section and the two hundred dollar reinstatement fee pursuant to Section 56-10-240 must not be assessed if the person furnishes proof, as documented by his sworn statement, that the motor vehicle upon which the coverage has lapsed or been terminated has not been operated upon the roads, streets, or highways of this State during the lapse or termination, and the lapse or termination is due to military service or illness as documented by a signed physician's statement. The total amount of the fine provided for in this section may not exceed two hundred dollars per vehicle for a first offense. Revenue generated by the fine imposed pursuant to this section must be placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167.
HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 148, Section 36; 1990 Act No. 324, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1480; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), Section 79, eff July 1, 2016; 2023 Act No. 51 (S.549), Section 4, eff May 18, 2023.
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 51, Section 4, in the third sentence, deleted "of the 1976 Code" following "Section 56-10-240", and in the fourth sentence, inserted "per vehicle" following "two hundred dollars".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-250. Unlawful to sell vehicle with suspended registration to family member.

It is unlawful for any vehicle owner to sell or otherwise dispose of any motor vehicle, for which the registration and license plates have been suspended, to any member of his family residing in the same household. Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days and, upon conviction of a second offense, be fined two hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days, or both, and for a third and subsequent offenses must be imprisoned for not less than forty-five days nor more than six months. Only convictions which occurred within five years including and immediately preceding the date of the last conviction constitute prior convictions within the meaning of this section.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-750 [1962 Code Section 46-750.149; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-250 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; Am, 1988 Act No. 532, Section 24.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-280. Insurance not to be issued for period less than six months; contract or policy valid for at least sixty days; cancellation within sixty days.

(A) Contracts or policies of insurance issued to meet the financial responsibility requirements prescribed in this chapter must be issued for not less than six months. A contract or policy of insurance remains in effect at least sixty days notwithstanding a power of attorney which may purport to give the attorney-in-fact the right to effect cancellation on behalf of the insured. However, a contract or policy may be canceled within the first sixty days only under one or more of the following circumstances:
(1) a check or bank draft tendered by the insured for payment to an agent, an insurance company, or a premium finance company is returned unpaid for insufficient funds or other reason by the insured's financial institution. If the check or draft is an initial payment made by an applicant for insurance or a payment made by an insured to renew a policy, the cancellation is effective as of the policy inception or renewal date;
(2) the insured produces satisfactory proof from the Department of Motor Vehicles that he has sold or otherwise disposed of the insured vehicle or surrendered its tags and registration;
(3) the insured has secured another policy that meets the financial responsibility requirements prescribed in this chapter;
(4) the insured fails to pay when due the premium for the policy, an installment of the premium, or an installment payment under a premium service contract. The contract or policy of insurance must remain in effect for at least thirty days.
(B) This section does not prohibit refunds to the insured for cancellations after sixty days resulting from causes other than nonpayment of premium. Where an insurance company or premium finance company cancels a contract or policy pursuant to this section for nonpayment of premium under the circumstances in subsection (A) which occurs within the first sixty days, the insurance company, premium finance company, or agent may charge and collect a fifteen-dollar penalty in addition to that otherwise provided by law, and the penalty charge is not a premium charge.
HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-11-780 [1962 Code Section 46-750.154; 1974 (58) 2718] repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25, and recodified as Section 56-10-280 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 9; Am, 1989 Act No. 148, Section 20; 1991 Act No. 146, Section 2; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1481; 2001 Act No. 82, Section 35; 2006 Act No. 315, Section 1, eff August 1, 2006.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-530. Involvement in accident resulting in death, injury, or property damage when uninsured motor vehicle fee unpaid; suspension of driver's license, license plates and registration certificates; contested case hearing.

Section effective until July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-530 effective July 1, 2024.
When it appears to the director from the records of his office that an uninsured motor vehicle as defined in Section 56-9-20, subject to registration in the State, is involved in a reportable accident in the State resulting in death, injury, or property damage with respect to which motor vehicle the owner thereof has not paid the uninsured motor vehicle fee as prescribed in Section 56-10-510, the director shall, in addition to enforcing the applicable provisions of Section 56-10-10, et seq. of this chapter, suspend such owner's driver's license and all of his license plates and registration certificates until such person has complied with those provisions of law and has paid to the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles a reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-510, to be disposed of as provided by Section 56-10-550, with respect to the motor vehicle involved in the accident and furnishes proof of future financial responsibility in the manner prescribed in Section 56-9-350, et seq. However, no order of suspension required by this section must become effective until the director has offered the person an opportunity for a contested case hearing before the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings to show cause why the order should not be enforced. Notice of the opportunity for a contested case hearing must be included in the order of suspension. Notice of such suspension shall be made in the form provided for in Section 56-1-465. However, when three years have elapsed from the effective date of the suspension herein required, the director may relieve such person of the requirement of furnishing proof of future financial responsibility. The presentation by a person subject to the provisions of this section of a certificate of insurance, executed by an agent or representative of an insurance company qualified to do business in this State, showing that on the date and at the time of the accident the vehicle was an insured motor vehicle as herein defined or, presentation by such person of evidence that the additional fee applicable to the registration of an uninsured motor vehicle had been paid to the department before the date and time of the accident, is sufficient bar to the suspension provided for in this section.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 279, Section 11, eff October 1, 2008.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-535. Conviction of certain traffic violations; requirement of furnishing proof of financial responsibility.

Section effective until July 1, 2024.
The director, upon receiving notice at the time of application or at any time during participation in the fund that a titled owner of a motor vehicle has been convicted of one of the following violations: disobedience of any official traffic device; failure to stop for law enforcement officer when signaled; disobedience to any officer directing traffic; failure to stop for a school bus; leaving the scene of an accident where injury to a person or damage to property results; theft or unlawful taking of a vehicle; racing on public highways; driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs or where injury to a person of over six hundred dollars per person or damage to property of the insured or other person of over one thousand dollars results; reckless driving where injury to a person of over six hundred dollars per person or damage to property of the insured or other person of over one thousand dollars results, homicide or assault arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle; any felony involving the use of a motor vehicle; the transporting of illegal whiskey or unlawful drugs or other controlled or narcotic substances; reckless homicide; wilful making of false statements in the application for license or registration; impersonating an applicant for license or registration or procuring a license or registration through impersonation whether for himself or another; any three or more moving traffic convictions; any two or more accidents for which the owner is responsible and where injury to a person of over six hundred dollars per person or damage to property of the insured or other persons of over one thousand dollars results, or if any household driver has been licensed for less than three years; then the director shall require the owner to furnish proof of financial responsibility in the manner prescribed by the director.
However, when three years have elapsed from the effective date of any conviction for the above offenses, the director may relieve such person of the requirement of furnishing proof of future financial responsibility.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-540. Other proof of financial responsibility; suspension and return of driver's license, registration, certificates, and license plates and decals.

Section effective until July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-540 effective July 1, 2024.
Whenever any proof of financial responsibility filed by any person as required by this chapter no longer fulfills the purpose for which required, the director shall require other proof of financial responsibility as required by this chapter and shall suspend such person's driver's license, registration, certificates, and license plates and decals pending the furnishing of proof in a manner prescribed by the director. Notice of such suspension shall be made in the form provided for in Section 56-1-465.
A person whose driver's license or registration certificates, or license plates and decals have been suspended as provided in this chapter and have not been reinstated shall immediately return every such license, registration certificate, and set of license plates and decals held by him to the director. A person failing to comply with this requirement shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in Section 56-9-310, et seq.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-550. Deposit of funds collected in Uninsured Motorists Fund.

Section effective until July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-550 effective July 1, 2024.
Except as provided in Sections 56-10-552 and 56-10-554, funds collected by the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles under the provisions of this chapter must be placed on deposit with the State Treasurer and held in a special fund to be known as the "Uninsured Motorists Fund" to be disbursed as provided by law. The director of the Department of Insurance as provided in Sections 38-77-151 and 38-77-154 may expend monies from such funds for the administration of Title 38.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-551. Cancellation or termination of insurance policy certified under this chapter; notice to director.

Section effective until July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-551 effective July 1, 2024.
When any insurance policy certified under this chapter is canceled or terminated, the insurer shall report the fact to the director within fifteen days after the cancellation on a form prescribed by the director.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-552. Uninsured Enforcement Fund; use of reinstatement fee.

Section effective until July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-552 effective July 1, 2024.
(A) For each two dollars of the yearly premium for uninsured motorist coverage paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 38-73-470, one dollar and twenty cents must be placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167. The remaining eighty cents must be placed in a special fund, to be known as the "Uninsured Enforcement Fund", to be used by the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of enforcement and administration of Article 3, Chapter 10, Title 56.
(B) Fifty percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-510(1) must be transferred by the Department of Public Safety and recorded to the Uninsured Enforcement Fund to be used by the Department of Public Safety as provided by subsection (A) of this section. The remaining fifty percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-510 must be retained in the Uninsured Motorist Fund to be used as provided in Sections 56-10-550, 38-77-151, and 38-77-154.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2012 Act No. 264, Section 6, eff June 18, 2012; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), Section 81, eff July 1, 2016.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-553. Collection data and maintenance of statistics.

Section effective until July 1, 2024.
The Department of Motor Vehicles must collect data and maintain statistics on the total number of vehicles registered in the State as of June thirtieth of each year, the number of motorists who voluntarily paid the five hundred fifty dollar fee at the time of registration during the fiscal year, the number of motorists who paid the penalty fee after being detected by the Department of Motor Vehicles as being uninsured during the fiscal year, the number of certificates of insurance filed during the fiscal year, the net revenue collections for these fees by the fiscal year, the net funds available in the Uninsured Motorist Fund, and the net funds received from the Department of Insurance from the uninsured motorist fee during the fiscal year.
The Department of Motor Vehicles must provide an annual report to the General Assembly and the Department of Insurance containing the information required in this section.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2002 Act No. 324, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-554. Recoupment Fund; recoupment of facility assessments or losses; discontinuance of collection for recoupment of facilities losses.

Section effective until July 1, 2024.
As provided in Section 56-10-510, fifty dollars of the uninsured motor vehicle fee paid per vehicle is nonrefundable and must be used to recoup assessments or losses of the South Carolina Reinsurance Facility. Upon collection by the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles from any person registering an uninsured vehicle, this money must be placed by the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles on deposit with the State Treasurer to be held in a special account called the "Recoupment Fund", payable on a quarterly basis, to provide for the recoupment of facility assessments or losses. Upon final recoupment of facility losses as the South Carolina Reinsurance Facility ceases to exist, the director of the Department of Insurance shall by order (1) set the uninsured motor vehicle fee which does not include the fifty dollars dedicated for the recoupment of facility assessments or losses; (2) inform the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles that the facility assessments or losses have been recouped and when the Department of Motor Vehicles must cease collection from every person registering an uninsured motor vehicle, as well as transmittal to the State Treasurer, of this fifty dollar portion; and (3) direct the State Treasurer to transfer any used portion of the "Recoupment Fund" to the "Uninsured Motorist Fund". The director of the Department of Motor Vehicles must cease collection of this fifty dollars as part of the uninsured motor vehicle fee which has been dedicated for the recoupment of facility assessments or losses as provided in the order issued by the director of the Department of Insurance.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-510. Reserved.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Registration of uninsured motor vehicle; fee; use of fee; certificate of insurance; penalties for failure to submit certificate of insurance, had the following history: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 279, Section 10, eff October 1, 2008. Reserved by 2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-530. Involvement in accident resulting in death, injury, or property damage when uninsured motor vehicle fee unpaid; suspension of driver's license, license plates and registration certificates; contested case hearing.

Section effective July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-530 effective until July 1, 2024.
When it appears to the Department of Motor Vehicles from its records that an uninsured motor vehicle as defined in Section 56-9-20, subject to registration in the State, is involved in a reportable accident in the State resulting in death, injury, or property damage, the department shall, in addition to enforcing the applicable provisions of Section 56-10-10, et seq. suspend such owner's driver's license and all of his license plates and registration certificates until such person has complied with those provisions of law and has paid to the department a reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-520. However, no order of suspension required by this section must become effective until the department has offered the person an opportunity for a contested case hearing before the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings to show cause why the order should not be enforced. Notice of the opportunity for a contested case hearing must be included in the order of suspension. The presentation by a person subject to the provisions of this section of a certificate of insurance, executed by an agent or representative of an insurance company qualified to do business in this State, showing that on the date and at the time of the accident the vehicle was an insured motor vehicle as herein defined is sufficient bar to the suspension provided for in this section.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2008 Act No. 279, Section 11, eff October 1, 2008; 2023 Act No. 51 (S.549), Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
Editor's Note
2023 Act No. 51, Section 40(B), provides as follows:
"[SECTION 40.](B) SECTION 5 takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year following twelve months after approval by the Governor."
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, rewrote the section.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-535. Reserved.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Conviction of certain traffic violations; requirement of furnishing proof of financial responsibility, had the following history: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2. Reserved by 2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-540. Suspension and return of driver's license, registration, certificates, and license plates and decals.

Section effective July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-540 effective until July 1, 2024.
A person whose driver's license or registration certificates, or license plates and decals have been suspended as provided in this chapter and have not been reinstated shall immediately return, either in person or electronically, every such license, registration certificate, and set of license plates and decals held by him to the department. A person failing to comply with this requirement shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in Section 56-9-340, et seq.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2023 Act No. 51 (S.549), Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
Editor's Note
2023 Act No. 51, Section 40(B), provides as follows:
"[SECTION 40.](B) SECTION 5 takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year following twelve months after approval by the Governor."
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, deleted the first undesignated paragraph, which related to proof of financial responsibility, and in the second undesignated paragraph, in the first sentence, inserted ", either in person or electronically," and substituted "department" for "director", and in the second sentence, substituted "Section 56-9-340" for "Section 56-9-310".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-550. Deposit of funds collected in Uninsured Motorists Fund.

Section effective July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-550 effective until July 1, 2024.
Except as provided in Sections 56-10-552 and 56-10-554, funds collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles under the provisions of this chapter must be placed on deposit with the State Treasurer and held in a special fund to be known as the "Uninsured Motorists Fund" to be disbursed as provided by law. The Department of Insurance as provided in Sections 38-77-151 and 38-77-154 may expend monies from such funds for the administration of Title 38.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2023 Act No. 51 (S.549), Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
Editor's Note
2023 Act No. 51, Section 40(B), provides as follows:
"[SECTION 40.](B) SECTION 5 takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year following twelve months after approval by the Governor."
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, deleted "director of the" preceding "Department" in two places.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-551. Cancellation or termination of insurance policy certified under this chapter; notice to department.

Section effective July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-551 effective until July 1, 2024.
When any insurance policy certified under this chapter is canceled or terminated, the insurer shall report the fact to the Department of Motor Vehicles within fifteen days after the cancellation electronically or on a form prescribed by the department.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2023 Act No. 51 (S.549), Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
Editor's Note
2023 Act No. 51, Section 40(B), provides as follows:
"[SECTION 40.](B) SECTION 5 takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year following twelve months after approval by the Governor."
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, substituted "fact to the Department of Motor Vehicles" for "fact to the director", inserted "electronically or", and substituted "department" for "director".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-552. Uninsured Enforcement Fund; use of reinstatement fee.

Section effective July 1, 2024. See, also, Section 56-10-552 effective until July 1, 2024.
(A) For each two dollars of the yearly premium for uninsured motorist coverage paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Section 38-73-470, one dollar twenty cents must be placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167. The remaining eighty cents must be placed in a special fund, to be known as the "Uninsured Enforcement Fund", to be used by the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of enforcement and administration of Article 3, Chapter 10, Title 56.
(B) Fifty percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-520 must be transferred by the Department of Public Safety and recorded to the Uninsured Enforcement Fund to be used by the Department of Public Safety as provided by subsection (A) of this section. The remaining fifty percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-520 must be retained in the Uninsured Motorist Fund to be used as provided in Sections 56-10-550, 38-77-151, and 38-77-154.
HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2012 Act No. 264, Section 6, eff June 18, 2012; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), Section 81, eff July 1, 2016; 2023 Act No. 51 (S.549), Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
Editor's Note
2023 Act No. 51, Section 40(B), provides as follows:
"[SECTION 40.](B) SECTION 5 takes effect on the first day of the fiscal year following twelve months after approval by the Governor."
Effect of Amendment
2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, made a nonsubstantive change in (A); and in (B), in the first sentence, substituted "Section 56-10-520" for "Section 56-10-510(1)", and in the second sentence, substituted "Section 56-10-520" for "Section 56-10-510".
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-553. Reserved.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Collection data and maintenance of statistics, had the following history: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2; 2002 Act No. 324, Section 2. Reserved by 2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-554. Reserved.

HISTORY: Former Section, titled Recoupment Fund; recoupment of facility assessments or losses; discontinuance of collection for recoupment of facilities losses, had the following history: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 2. Reserved by 2023 Act No. 51, Section 5, eff July 1, 2024.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-615. Information regarding cancellations; requests for proof of insurance.

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall obtain information from insurers regarding cancellations of automobile insurance policies. The department shall request proof of insurance from persons identified by the Motorist Insurance Database. A person who fails to respond to the department must be penalized as provided in Article 5 of this chapter.
HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 324, Section 8.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-620. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Contractor" means designated agent or the party with which the Department of Motor Vehicles contracts pursuant to Section 56-10-640.
(2) "Database" means the motorist insurance database described in Section 56-10-640.
(3) "Department" means the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(4) "Division" means the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(5) "Program" means the motorist insurance database program created in Section 56-10-640.
HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 324, Section 1.
2023 South Carolina Code of Laws › Title 56 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 10 - Motor Vehicle Registration And Financial Security › Section 56-10-630. Purpose of article.

(A) The General Assembly finds that the purpose of this article is to help reduce the uninsured motorist population in this State and to measure the effectiveness of the motorist insurance database established pursuant to this article.
(B) The General Assembly further recognizes that the information and data required to be disclosed by insurers in creating and maintaining the motorist insurance database is proprietary in nature. Accordingly, the parties handling this information and data must at all times maintain its confidential and proprietary nature.
(C) The motorist insurance database program is created for the purpose of establishing a database to use when verifying compliance with the motor vehicle financial security requirements in this chapter.
HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 324, Section 1.