Driver’s License
South Carolina
Newcomers who plan to operate motor vehicles must obtain an S.C. driver’s license within 90 days of becoming a permanent resident. Most newcomers, unless they drive commercial vehicles, will need a Class D license, which allows the operation of passenger cars and small trucks.
If you hold a commercial license, you must obtain an S.C. commercial license within 30 days. If you operate a motorcycle, you’ll also need a motorcycle endorsement. Additionally, newcomers who operate motorcycles or mopeds exclusively may obtain licenses covering only those vehicles. A conditional license allows residents 15 years old to drive alone during daylight hours or at night under adult supervision until they reach the age of 16.
To obtain a license, apply in person at a license office. You may need to take the vision, sign recognition, knowledge tests and road tests if your old license has expired. It may be helpful to study the South Carolina Driver’s Manual, which can be obtained at any license office listed below or at the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce. It can also be viewed online at www.scdmvonline.com.
If you have a current license from your former residence, you will have to surrender it. If you do not have a license from your former residence, you will need a birth certificate (or two other forms of identification), Social Security card, proof of residency and insurance information. The license fee is $12.50. Your S.C. license will expire on your birthday five years after the license was issued.
For more information, call the South Carolina DMV’s 24-hour customer service line at 800-442-1368, or check the Web site at www.scdmvonline.com.
North Carolina
All new residents who plan to drive must obtain an N.C. driver’s license within 60 days of establishing a permanent residence here. Most newcomers, unless they drive commercial vehicles, will want a Class C license, which permits operation of passenger cars and small trucks. If you drive a motorcycle, you’ll also need a motorcycle endorsement. You must pass a road skills test on your motorcycle to receive it. Licensed drivers who are 16 or 17 years old must present proof of completion of a state-approved driver education course in their former state.
North Carolina has a five-year driver’s license program, meaning that drivers will need to renew their license when their age is evenly divisible by five. To get a license, apply in person at a driver’s license office and take the vision, sign recognition and written tests. (It’ll help to study the “Driver’s Handbook,” available at DMV offices or check the website below.)
When you apply, present your current out-of-state license or two other accepted forms of ID, as well as proof of liability insurance (for example, the original policy, original binder or Form DL-123 from your insurance agent) from an insurer licensed in North Carolina. You’ll also need to supply your Social Security number.
The cost of a license will vary depending on how many years the license is good for. A Class C license costs $4 per year.
For more information on N.C. driver’s licenses, call 919-715-7000 or check the North Carolina DMV Web site at www.ncdot.org/dmv.
Driver’s License Offices
South Carolina
305 Hands Mill Road,
Rock Hill
803-329-6332
York County Complex
1070 Heckle Blvd. Suite 100,
Rock Hill
803-909-7161
North Carolina
201-A W. Arrowood Road,
Charlotte
704-527-2562
or 704-527-2563
785 W. Charlotte Ave.,
Mount Holly
704-827-9486
2560 W. Franklin Ave.,
Gastonia
704-853-5372
Motor Vehicle Registration
South Carolina
You can register your motor vehicles at any of the driver’s license offices listed in the Driver’s License section.
You must register your car or truck within 45 days of moving to South Carolina. To obtain a license plate, you will need your vehicle’s title or current registration and proof that you have liability insurance. Additionally, you will have to pay the property taxes on your vehicle and furnish the registration office with a receipt issued by the tax office in the county where you live. After this initial registration, the county auditor will mail you a tax notice each year about a month before your registration expires.
South Carolina has no mandatory annual vehicle safety inspection law. However, the state still has minimum standards for safety-related equipment, such as tires, lights and glazing, and these standards are enforced by state troopers.
North Carolina
You must register your vehicle before the reciprocity agreement between North Carolina and your former state expires (usually 30 days). Registration is renewed annually.
To register your vehicle, apply in person at a license plate agency and present your title (unless title is held by a lienholder) and a valid registration card from your former state. If your title is held by a lienholder, you must provide the lienholder’s name and address on a state form for title release. You also must present proof of vehicle liability insurance at or above minimum standards (see driver’s license information for the list of acceptable documents).
North Carolina residents must get a vehicle safety inspection within 10 days of receiving your license plate. Most N.C. counties – including Mecklenburg and Gaston counties – also require an emissions inspection. The total cost of the safety and emissions inspection is $30 and can be done at any state-authorized inspection station. Inspection is required annually.
Although the state does not levy sales tax on motor vehicles, N.C. counties assess property taxes annually. Your car will be registered when you receive your license plate, and you’ll receive a bill in about three months.
For more information on N.C. driver’s license and motor vehicle registration rules, call 919-715-7000 or check the North Carolina DMV Web site at www.ncdot.org/dmv.
Motor Vehicle Registration Offices
South Carolina
305 Hands Mill Road,
Rock Hill
803-329-6332
York County Complex
1070 Heckle Blvd. Suite 100,
Rock Hill
803-909-7161
North Carolina
4200-H South Blvd.,
Charlotte
704-525-3832
Gaston Mall
401 Cox Road,
Gastonia
704-864-4856
Property Taxes
Property tax rates are established in May or June of each year in conjunction with annual budget preparation. Depending on where you live, you may owe taxes to a combination of governments – for example, both Mecklenburg County and the city where you live. The list above doesn’t include some extra taxes and fees you may have to pay, such as fire districts, special development districts and solid-waste fees.
Local property taxes are assessed annually on real property, including homes, cars and boats. Bills for homes, land and the like are mailed in September and payable without penalty by the date specified in early January.
For further tax information, contact the tax office in your county:
York County Tax Assessor
803-684-8526
www.yorkcountygov.com/tax
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Tax Assessor
704-336-4600
www.charmeck.org/Living/Taxes+and+Revenue
Gaston County Tax Assessor
704-866-3145
www.co.gaston.nc.us/TaxDept
Voter Registration
To be eligible to vote in either North Carolina or South Carolina, you must be 18 or older, a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of the state and county where you register, and a resident of your precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election you wish to vote in.
To register to vote, pick up a registration form from the offices listed below, fill it out completely and mail it to the address on the form. Newcomers can pick up voter registration forms from the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce.
Your registration card will be mailed to you. Forms are available at individual county offices. The North Carolina State Board of Elections number is 919-733-7173 and the Web site is www.sboe.state.nc.us. The South Carolina State Board of Elections number is 803-734-9060 and the Web site is www.state.sc.us/scsec.
Mecklenburg County Board of Elections
741 Kenilworth Ave., Suite 202
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-336-2133
www.meckboe.org
Gaston County Board of Elections
810 W. Mauney Ave.
Gastonia, NC 28052
704-864-4852
www.co.gaston.nc.us/elections
York County Board of Elections
E.C. Black Building
13 S. Congress St.
York, SC 29745
803-684-1242
www.yorkcountygov.com/regelect
Area Code Overlay
Due to incredible growth in the number of telephone lines, the Charlotte area has been assigned a second area code, 980. The area code overlays, or exactly matches, the existing 704 area code. The two area codes mean that you must dial the entire 10-digit number – that is, area code 704 or 980, plus the seven-digit phone number – in order to reach a Charlotte-area number.
In Lake Wylie, phone numbers with the (803)831-xxxx exchange can call within area codes 704 or 980 as local calls rather than long distance calls.
Government Information
York County Government
1070 Heckle Blvd.
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803-684-8511
www.yorkcountygov.com
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government
600 E. Fourth St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-336-7600
www.charmeck.org
Gaston County Government
212 W. Main Ave.
Gastonia, NC 28052
704-866-3100
www.co.gaston.nc.us
City of Belmont
115 N. Main St.
Belmont, NC 28012
704-825-5586
www.ci.belmont.nc.us
Town of Clover
114 Bethel St.
Clover, SC 29710
803-222-9495
www.cloversc.info
City of Tega Cay
PO Box 3399
Tega Cay, SC 29708
803-548-3512
www.tegacaysc.org
City of Rock Hill
155 Johnston St.
Rock Hill, SC 29730
803-329-7000
www.cityofrockhill.com
Town of Fort Mill
112 Confederate St.
Fort Mill, SC 29715
803-547-2116
www.fortmillsc.org
City of Gastonia
181 South St.
Gastonia, NC 28053
704-866-6719
www.cityofgastonia.com
Chambers of Commerce
Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce
1 Executive Court, Suite 6
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
803-831-2827
www.lakewyliesc.com
York County Regional Chamber of Commerce
116 E. Main St.
Rock Hill, SC 29730
803-324-7500
www.yorkcountychamber.com
Clover Chamber of Commerce
118 Bethel St.
Clover, SC 29710
803-222-3312
Belmont Chamber of Commerce
32 N. Main St.
Belmont, NC 28012
704-825-5307
www.belmontchamber.com
Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
330 S. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
704-378-1300
www.charlottechamber.com
Greater York Chamber of Commerce
23 E. Liberty St.
York, SC 29745
803-684-2590
www.greateryorkchamber.com
Gaston County Chamber of Commerce
601 W. Franklin Blvd.
Gastonia, NC 28052
800-348-8461
www.gastonchamber.com
Publications
Belmont Banner
704-825-0104
Charlotte Observer
704-358-5000
www.charlotte.com
Enquirer-Herald (York and Clover)
803-684-9903
www.carolinanewspapers.com
Fort Mill Times
803-547-2353
www.fortmilltimes.com
Gaston Gazette
704-869-1700
www.gastongazette.com
The Herald (Rock Hill)
803-329-4022
www.heraldonline.com
Lake Wylie Living
704-358-5920
www.lake-wylie.com
Lake Wylie Pilot
803-831-8166
www.lakewyliepilot.com
YC Magazine
803-980-7098
Libraries
Belmont Public Library
125 N. Central Ave.
Belmont, NC 28012
704-825-5426
www.glrl.lib.nc.us
Clover Public Library
107 Knox St., Clover, SC 29710
803-222-3474
www.yclibrary.org
Fort Mill Public Library
1818 Second Baxter Crossing
Fort Mill, SC 29708
803-547-4114
www.yclibrary.org
Lake Wylie Public Library
185 Blucher Circle
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
803-831-7774
www.yclibrary.org
Rock Hill Public Library
138 E. Black St.
Rock Hill, SC 29730
803-981-5858
www.yclibrary.org
Steele Creek Public Library
13620 Steele Creek Road
Charlotte, NC 28273
704-588-4345
www.plcmc.lib.nc.us
York Public Library
120 N. Congress St.
York, SC 29745
803-684-3751
www.yclibrary.org
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