SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
S
TATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT
WWW.RFA.SC.GOV • (803)734-3793
This fiscal impact statement is produced in compliance with the South Carolina Code of Laws and House and Senate rules. The focus of
the analysis is on governmental expenditure and revenue impacts and may not provide a comprehensive summary of the legislation.
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H. 3856
Fiscal Impact Summary
This bill allows the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue a registration and license
plate on a permanent basis for a rental trailer, aligns the definition of a bus to the definition used
in Title 12, and allows an applicant for an identification card who is five years or older to
voluntarily disclose their blood type. The bill also amends the fees for obtaining a driver
instructor permit when connected to a driver training school at certain high schools, based on the
time period of the permit.
Additionally, the bill lowers the number of motor vehicle sales that a motor vehicle dealer must
make before becoming licensed from twenty to fifteen and changes the license time period and
fee for a wholesale motor vehicle auction business from twelve to thirty-six months and from
$50 to $150, respectively. The bill also increases the DMV point violation of a dealer who
issues a second temporary plate to a purchaser or who issues any temporary license plate to a
person unauthorized to have the plate from two points to four points. Further, the bill allows
DMV to notify a dealer of the suspension of his license by normal mail instead of certified mail.
The bill charges DMV with additional responsibilities that the agency will accomplish with
existing staff and appropriations. Therefore, there is no expenditure impact to DMV.
This bill amends the licensing time period and fee for a driver instructor connected to a driver
training school at a private, parochial, or public high school, as well as the licensing time period
and fee for a wholesale motor vehicle auction business. While the change in the timing will not
affect total revenue that is allocated to the General Fund, it could have an undetermined impact
on the timing of the revenue.
The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) anticipates that the bill will increase Other Funds
revenue of the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank (SCTIB) due to the inclusion
of rental trailers in the list of trailer that may be permanently registered and licensed.
Bill Number: H. 3856 Introduced on Januar
y 30, 2025
Subject: Department of Motor Vehicles
Requestor: House Education and Public Works
RFA Anal
yst(s): Griffith
Impact Date: February 11, 2025
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H. 3856
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on January 30, 2025
State Expenditure
This bill allows DMV to issue a registration and license plate on a permanent basis for a rental
trailer, aligns the definition of a bus to the definition used in Title 12, and allows an applicant for
an identification card who is five years or older to voluntarily disclose their blood type. The bill
also amends the fees for obtaining a driver instructor permit when connected to a driver training
school at certain high schools, based on the time period of the permit.
Additionally, the bill lowers the number of motor vehicle sales that a motor vehicle dealer must
make before becoming licensed from twenty to fifteen and changes the license time period and
fee for a wholesale motor vehicle auction business from twelve to thirty-six months and from
$50 to $150, respectively. The bill also increases the DMV point violation of a dealer who
issues a second temporary plate to a purchaser or who issues any temporary license plate to a
person unauthorized to have the plate from two points to four points. Further, the bill allows
DMV to notify a dealer of the suspension of his license by normal mail instead of certified mail.
The bill charges DMV with additional responsibilities that the agency will accomplish with
existing staff and appropriations. Therefore, there is no expenditure impact to DMV.
State Revenue
This bill specifies the fees for obtaining a driver instructor permit according to the following
schedule:
$20 for each permit issued with a validity period of one to twelve months,
$40 for each permit issued with a validity period of thirteen to twenty-four months,
$60 for each permit issued with a validity period of twenty-five to thirty-six months, and
$80 for each permit issued with a validity period of thirty-seven to forty-eight months.
Currently, the fee is $20 for an annual permit, which expires at the date of the driver training
school’s license expiration. A license for a driver training school is valid for forty-eight months
after the license is issued. The bill would allow a driver instructor to obtain a permit for the
remaining validity period of the driver training school’s license. While the change in the timing
will not affect total revenue that is allocated to the General Fund, it could have an undetermined
impact on the timing of the revenue.
Additionally, the bill amends the license time period and fee for a wholesale motor vehicle
auction business from twelve to thirty-six months and from $50 to $150, respectively. While the
change in the timing will not affect total revenue that is allocated to the General Fund, it could
have an undetermined impact on the timing of the revenue.
This bill allows DMV to issue a registration and permanent license plate to the owner of a rental
trailer, for which the fee is $75. All fees collected by this provision must be placed in the state
highway account of the SCTIB. RFA anticipates that the inclusion of rental trailers in the list of
__________________________________
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
DISCLAIMER: THIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPRESENTS THE OPINION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO APPROVED AND SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
Page 3 of 3
H. 3856
trailers that may be registered and licensed on a permanent basis may increase Other Funds
Revenue of the SCTIB.
Local Expenditure
N/A
Local Revenue
N/A