South Carolina: Tickets, court dates, and fines
Official-Source Information
South Carolina may receive a hold from a court or another issuing authority after an unresolved ticket, missed court date, or unpaid obligation. The issuing authority and the licensing agency can have separate steps, so the exact notice and current official record control.
General information only. This page does not review your record, decide which category applies, or select a form or provider.
Official source last checked Jul 4, 2026
Direct source-backed answer
South Carolina has not reformed how it handles failure to appear (FTA): an unpaid ticket leads to a license suspension. To reinstate, first resolve the underlying citation with the court that issued it, by filing Form DL-53 (Affidavit of Eligibility, used to clear the ticket that caused the suspension). Once that's done, the SCDMV will clear the hold, and you can pay the $100 per-suspension reinstatement fee through the scdmvonline.com online reinstatement portal, or by mail or in person. No SR-22 is required for this ticket-based path. If you owe $200 or more in total reinstatement fees, SCDMV offers a payment plan: you pay a $40 administrative fee plus a 10% deposit (10% of the total reinstatement fee plus any daily fees owed), and you get a full, unrestricted 12-month license with full driving privileges while you pay off the balance in monthly installments of at least $20. The final payment must be made in person, the 12-month license can't be renewed, and if it expires before you've paid in full you can't drive again until your regular license is reissued.
Published fee information
$100 per suspension (SCDMV standard reinstatement). No SR-22. Payment plan available at $40 admin fee + 12-mo restricted license if total owed ≥$200 and suspension served.
Check the official fee sourceConfirm the exact amount and payee with SCDMV before payment.
Forms and documents
scdmvonline.com submission.
Open the official form sourceThis is an unselected list from the state source. Confirm the correct form for your situation with the issuing agency or a qualified attorney.
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Common questions
No. It summarizes published South Carolina information for this category. Your current official notice and record determine which requirements apply, and the issuing agency makes the final decision.
The cited source was last checked Jul 4, 2026. Forms, fees, and submission methods can change, so confirm them on the linked official source before acting or paying.
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Source excerpt summary: South Carolina has not reformed how it handles failure to appear (FTA): an unpaid ticket leads to a license suspension. To reinstate, first resolve the underlying citation with the court that issued it, by filing Form DL...
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