One Plate And Nothing Over It
S.C. Code 56-3-1240 — the plate on the rear, fastened level, with no tinted cover, and a frame only if every character shows
One plate, on the rear. A motor vehicle's plate is attached to the outside rear, open to view, fastened securely level and upright so it cannot swing. Driving with the plate missing is unlawful.
No other plate, light, tag, sign, monogram, tinted cover or inscription may be displayed over or on the plate, apart from what the Department of Motor Vehicles issues to validate it. A decal or frame is lawful if it does not hide any letter or number, and a trailer hitch may cover no more than two inches of the plate.
Every motor vehicle and trailer moved on a highway must be registered and licensed with the fee paid, and driving one that is not, or knowingly letting someone else, is a misdemeanor.
Unless another section sets a penalty, a violation of the registration chapter carries a fine of up to $100 or up to thirty days. Truck tractors and motorcycles have their own plate rules.
Sources for this section (3)
- S.C. Code 56-3-1240 — Display of license plates; missing plates
- S.C. Code 56-3-110 — Vehicles required to be registered and licensed
- S.C. Code 56-3-2520 — Registration and licensing; penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed South Carolina attorney.