If you have a lost car registration in South Carolina, you can replace it through one of the available methods in the state. For instance, you may opt for getting a copy of a vehicle registration online, in person or through the mail. Overall, you can only operate a motor vehicle if it is registered, and you must carry its registration documentation at all times. Driving without these vehicle-related documents can cause you to face consequences such as paying a fine. In order to avoid this, ensure that you get a DMV copy of registration as soon as possible after you notice that yours is missing or damaged.

In order to replace your car registration in SC, you must follow a few steps that are set by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Regardless of the method you choose, you must provide certain vehicle information to the DMV and pay the applicable fees. After you have completed these steps, you will be provided with a duplicate registration card. To learn more about what you need to replace your lost car registration papers, read the sections below.

When do you need to get a copy of your vehicle registration in South Carolina?

There are a few reasons as to why you may need to get a replacement vehicle registration in South Carolina. These include if your registration is:

• A misplaced registration document must be replaced as soon as you notice that it is missing. In order to legally operate your car in SC, you need to have your registration documents on hand in case you need to show them to law enforcement. Therefore, if your document is missing, you need to obtain a copy.
• Similar to a lost registration, a stolen registration document must be replaced as soon as possible. To learn more about handling a stolen vehicle registration, read the ‘South Carolina Stolen Car Registration Requirements’ section below.
• If your registration card is damaged in any way that causes the information on it to not be fully legible, you must obtain a replacement. This damage may have occurred due to a plethora of reasons, including exposure to water or being ripped or stained.

How to Obtain a Replacement Vehicle Registration in South Carolina

You have the option to choose between three different South Carolina DMV registration replacement procedures: online, by mail or in person. If you want to learn more about these methods, read the sections below.

How to Replace a Vehicle Registration Online

One of the most convenient options for getting a DMV duplicate registration card is online. The South Carolina DMV offers a dedicated website where you can provide your vehicle information and purchase a copy of your registration.  This can be done through any device that has access to the internet. To complete this online transaction, you must do the following:

1. Provide your license plate number
2. Provide your vehicle identification number (VIN)
3. Confirm that all information shown is correct
4. Authorize payment for the registration replacement fee

After you have provided all of the above, you will receive your duplicate registration copy. Ensure that you keep this copy in a safe place in your vehicle to ensure that it does not get damaged, stolen or lost again.

How to Replace a Vehicle Registration by Mail

In SC, you have the option to get a copy of auto registration through the mail. To complete this process by mail, you must do the following:

• Fill out and sign the ‘Application to Replace or Surrender Plate, Decal or Registration’ form
• Write out a check or money order for the replacement fee, made payable to the ‘South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles’
• Mail those items into the following address:

South Carolina DMV
Registration
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0019

If you fail to complete all sections of the DMV duplicate registration form or do not provide an adequate method of payment, your application will be denied. Moreover, mail-in requests will typically take longer to be processed than the other methods, so it is important to plan accordingly.

How to Replace a Vehicle Registration in Person

In order to replace lost car registration in South Carolina in person, you must visit your local DMV office. To complete the process, you must:

• Submit the completed and signed ‘Application to Replace or Surrender Plate, Decal or Registration’ form
• Provide payment for the registration replacement fee

After you provide the necessary documentation and payment method, you will be presented with your SC duplicate registration copy.

South Carolina Stolen Car Registration Requirements

To ensure that you handle a stolen car registration appropriately, make sure that you understand what you need to do afterward. Registration cards have information on them that may be used to commit identity theft. Furthermore, it is important to contact your local law enforcement department and file a police report, which can help officers to identify the thief and keep a record that your credentials were stolen.

South Carolina DMV Sticker Replacement

If you need to get a DMV sticker replacement because your registration stickers/decals are lost or damaged, you must fill out an ‘Application to Replace License Plate or Expiration Year Decal’ form.

In addition, you must submit a DMV replacement sticker fee payment either in person at your local DMV office or through the mail via this address:

South Carolina DMV Registration
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0019

South Carolina Vehicle Registration Replacement Fees

In order to replace a South Carolina DMV lost registration sticker or registration card, you must pay for the applicable fees. These costs include:

• Duplicate registration card: $1
• Duplicate registration sticker/decal $6

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