South Carolina S 371: Mobile Driver's License

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 371 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 30, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 371

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter 
Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Amendment Adopted

April 30, 2026

S. 371

Introduced 
by Senators Jackson, Davis, Graham and Ott 

S. Printed 4/30/26--S.

Read the first time February 20, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 
56-1-560 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ISSuE MOBILE 
DRIVERS' LICENSES AND MOBILE SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS; AND BY AMENDING 
SECTION 56-1-190, RELATING TO REQUIRING DRIVERS' LICENSES TO BE CARRIED AND 
EXHIBITED ON DEMAND, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CARRYING AND EXHIBITING OF MOBILE 
DRIVERS' LICENSES.

 Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

 Section 
56-1-560. (A) The Department of 
Motor Vehicles may issue a digital driver's license, beginner's permit, or 
identification card of any type or class to individuals who meet the 
requirements of this title, provided the digital credential conforms with the 
most recent standards of the American Association of Motor Vehicle 
Administrators and the International Organization for Standardization, the 
applicability of which is determined by the department.

 (B) A 
digital credential issued by the department is a valid and lawful credential 
equivalent to a printed credential for all purposes authorized by law. However, 
acceptance of a digital credential is at the discretion of the person, 
business, or governmental entity to whom the credential is presented, and 
nothing in this section or Section 56-1-190 shall be construed to require 
acceptance of a digital credential in lieu of a printed credential. In any 
instance in which a digital credential is accepted as an alternative to a 
printed credential, verification of a digital credential must be performed 
electronically as prescribed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle 
Administrators and the International Organization for Standardization. The 
digital credential must be configured so that it does not require the verifying 
party to hold or otherwise handle the licensee's mobile device.

 (C) If 
a digital credential cannot be immediately verified by a law enforcement 
officer, then the driver is subject to the provisions of Section 56-1-190. No 
person is compelled to release an electronic device to a law enforcement 
officer.

 (D) 
Information contained or stored in a mobile electronic device presented 
pursuant to this section 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 consent of the lawful owner of the device. This subsection must not be 
construed to relieve a motor vehicle operator of the requirement to present a 
valid printed driver's license upon demand of a law enforcement officer.

SECTION 2. Section 56-1-190 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
56-1-190. A licensee shall have his printed license 
in his immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle and 
shall display it upon demand of an officer or agent of either the Department of 
Motor Vehicles or the Department of Public Safety or a law enforcement officer 
of the State. No points pursuant to Section 56-1-720 may be assessed. No 
points for insurance merit rating system and recoupment purposes may be 
assessed.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on April 30, 2026 at 01:52 PM