Moving Moving to Charleston, a new-resident checklist

Get your SC driver's license within 45 days

New residents must apply for a South Carolina driver's license or ID within 45 days of moving here. At the SCDMV you:

• Hand in your out-of-state license. If you no longer have it, bring a driving record from your old state.
• Show proof of identity, US citizenship or lawful presence, and date of birth, such as a birth certificate or US passport.
• Give your Social Security number and proof of a current SC address dated within the last nine months.
• Take a vision test. Knowledge and road tests are needed only if your old license has been expired for nine months or more.

An SC REAL ID needs two proofs of SC address, and a REAL ID from another state doesn't carry over: you submit the full REAL ID documents again. An eight-year license costs $25 (SCDMV). The SCDMV's document checklists are Form MV-93 for US citizens and MV-94 for lawfully present non-citizens.

Pro tip get the license before you register your car. Registering without an SC license means filling out an extra form (TI-006C), and you have to meet one of the SCDMV's conditions for it, such as being active-duty military in SC.

Register your car: county tax first, then the DMV

South Carolina won't register your car until you've paid your county's vehicle property tax. The SCDMV lists this order:

1. Switch your insurance to an SC-licensed insurer, with your SC address.
2. Contact your county auditor with your VIN and current registration. The auditor issues a property tax bill.
3. Pay that bill at the county treasurer.
4. Take the original paid receipt to the SCDMV, with Form 400 (Title Application), your out-of-state title or registration, ID and insurance information.

Berkeley County and Dorchester County both say new residents have 45 days to register their vehicle. The SCDMV's own page gives no day count. SCDMV fees for a typical passenger car total $305, before county tax.

• Berkeley County: the Auditor (843-719-4249) and Treasurer (843-719-4040) are both at 1003 Highway 52, Moncks Corner.
• Dorchester County: take your out-of-state registration or title to the Auditor's Office for an appraisal (843-832-0118, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), then pay at the Treasurer's Office.
• Charleston County: we couldn't confirm the county's process on its own site. Its Auditor has an Out-of-State Tag Reporting Form page, so check with the Charleston County Auditor's office before you go to the DMV.

Our guide to SC driver's licenses and car tax for new residents walks through each step and the paperwork.

Register to vote

To vote in a South Carolina election, you must be registered at least 30 days before it. There's no minimum residency period, so you can register as soon as you live here. With an SC driver's license or DMV ID you can register online. You can also register by mail, email or fax to your county board of voter registration, in person there, or at the DMV.

Set up your utilities

Which company serves you depends on your exact address. No provider publishes a list of towns, so check each one's map or call before you move in.

Electricity

• Dominion Energy South Carolina serves about 1.3 million electric and gas customers in the state. You can start service online with your service address, Social Security number and driver's license number. Lift any credit freeze first, since the SSN is used to decide on a deposit.
• Berkeley Electric Cooperative serves parts of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Check your address on its territory map or call 1-800-327-9615.
• Edisto Electric Cooperative serves parts of eight counties, including Berkeley and Dorchester. Start service at an office or by calling (800) 433-3292.
• Santee Cooper sells power directly to homes in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties. Call 800-804-7424 to confirm your meter is in its territory. Service usually starts within one to two business days.

Natural gas: Dominion provides gas, but not at every address. Check with Dominion's availability tool or call 866-517-3711 before you buy gas appliances.

Water and sewer

Trash: in the City of Charleston, request a garbage container online or at (843) 724-7311. The City doesn't run recycling. Charleston County does, and you request a blue cart at (843) 720-7111. In Berkeley County's franchise area, trash pickup is by Carolina Waste (843-576-1100).

Get to know the metro

The Charleston metro covers three counties. July 1, 2025 Census estimates put Charleston County at 436,200 people, Berkeley County at 274,666 and Dorchester County at 178,397.

Places like Daniel Island, West Ashley and Johns Island aren't separate towns. They're inside a city, largely the City of Charleston, or unincorporated. Since some cities cross county lines, check which county your address is in before you call about car tax, trash or water.

Weather and hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. It peaks around September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. At Charleston International Airport, July is the warmest month, with an average high of 91.3°F, and June through September each bring about 6 to 7 inches of rain. November is the driest month, at 2.66 inches.

Downtown also floods at high tide. The National Weather Service says minor tidal flooding has been most common in October, September and November. Our guide to moving in hurricane season in Charleston covers timing, flooding and downtown permits, and our Charleston moving cost guide covers what movers charge.

Clear out before or after the move

Moving less costs less. Residents can drop furniture, mattresses, appliances and more for free at county sites:

• Charleston County convenience centers
• Berkeley County convenience centers
• Dorchester County drop-off sites

Many towns also pick up bulky items at the curb, including Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and Goose Creek. For a couch or a mattress, see how to get rid of a couch and how to get rid of a mattress. If you'd rather not do the lifting, a moving or junk removal crew can take it.

Frequently asked questions