The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is implementing a major digital change in early 2026, transitioning to a new website domain and email address structure. This strategic move, which officials state will help customers easily confirm they are engaging with the legitimate state agency, is a crucial step in preventing online fraud and protecting consumers.
Effective January 5, 2026, the agency’s primary online address will change:
- New Website: The official website will become dmv.sc.gov.
- New Email: All agency email addresses will shift to the @dmv.sc.gov domain.
For a minimum of one full calendar year, the existing URLs and email addresses—including scdmvonline.com and @scdmv.net —will automatically redirect and forward to the new addresses. This redirection ensures that customers will not experience any interruption in access or service during the transition period.
The primary motivation behind this domain shift is consumer protection. Officials noted that the change is particularly important following incidents in 2025 where scammers sent fraudulent texts and emails designed to mimic the agency, often using deceptively similar web addresses.
The agency’s leadership emphasized that the new website address will make it unequivocally clear to South Carolinians that they are dealing directly with the official DMV, establishing an added barrier against potential fraud. This initiative also aligns with the governor’s policy goal of standardizing state agency domains for consistency and clarity.
The DMV assured customers that the wide range of online services currently available will remain accessible at the new dmv.sc.gov site. Customers will still be able to complete numerous essential tasks without needing to visit a physical branch, including:
- Renewing vehicle registration
- Updating a personal address
- Turning in a license plate
- Replacing lost or stolen decals
By adopting the clear, government-standard domain, the DMV is prioritizing digital security and customer confidence as it enters the new year.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
