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.
Page 1 of 3
H. 3856
Fiscal Impact Summary
This amended 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. Further, the amended bill removes the requirement that DMV must
randomly test driver’s license applicants who completed the examination through driver training
schools.
Additionally, the amended 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 certified mail with electronic tracking.
The amended 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 amended 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.
This amended bill will increase Other Funds revenue of DMV and 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 Amended by House Education and Public Works on April 2,
2025
Subject: Department of Motor Vehicles
Requestor: House Education and Public Works
RFA Anal
yst(s): Griffith
Impact Date: April 28, 2025
Page 2 of 3
H. 3856
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Amended by House Education and Public Works on April 2, 2025
State Expenditure
This amended 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. Further, the
amended bill removes the requirement that DMV must randomly test driver’s license applicants
who completed the examination through driver training schools.
Additionally, the amended 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 certified mail with electronic tracking.
The amended 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 amended 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 amended 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 amended bill allows DMV to issue a registration and permanent license plate to the owner
of a rental trailer, for which the fee is $75. The SCTIB receives $73 of the fee pursuant to
__________________________________
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
Section 56-3-785, and the remaining $2 is placed into a special restricted account to be used by
DMV for the costs associated with the production and issuance of new license plates, pursuant to
Section 56-3-1230. Therefore, the inclusion of rental trailers in the list of trailers that may be
registered and licensed on a permanent basis may increase Other Funds revenue of DMV and
Other Funds revenue of the SCTIB.
Local Expenditure
N/A
Local Revenue
N/A