S 387

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 387
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION 56-1-10, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO DEFINE A
MEDIUM SPEED VEHICLE; BY ADDING SECTION 56-2-107 SO AS TO PROVIDE CONDITIONS
FOR OPERATION OF MEDIUM SPEED VEHICLES; BY AMENDING SECTION 56-2-110, RELATING
TO DRIVER'S LICENSES AND REGISTRATION CARDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
FOR A DRIVER OF A MEDIUM SPEED VEHICLE; BY AMENDING SECTION 56-2-120, RELATING
TO TITLE REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TITLE OF A MEDIUM
SPEED VEHICLE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 56-2-130, RELATING TO DEALER LICENSING,
SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Section 56-1-10 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding
    (38) "Medium speed vehicle" or "MSV" means
a four-wheeled motor vehicle, other than an all-terrain vehicle, whose speed
attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles an hour and not more than forty-five
miles an hour on a paved level surface, and whose gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) is less than five thousand pounds.
SECTION 2.  Chapter 2, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:
    Section
56-2-107.  (A) A medium speed
vehicle may be operated only on a highway for which the posted speed limit is
forty-five miles an hour or less.
    (B) A
medium speed vehicle may cross a highway at an intersection where the highway
has a posted speed limit of more than forty-five miles an hour.
    (C) A
medium speed vehicle must meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 500 (Part 49 Section 571.500 of the Code of Federal Regulations) at
all times when operated on any highway. A medium speed vehicle that complies
with the equipment requirements in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500 complies with all
equipment requirements of this title.
    (D)
Nothing in this section prevents local governments from adopting more stringent
local ordinances governing medium speed vehicle operation.
    (E) A
county or municipality may prohibit the operation of medium speed vehicles on
any street or highway if the governing body of the county or municipality
determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.
    (F)
The Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of medium speed
vehicles on any street or highway if it determines that the prohibition is
necessary in the interest of safety.
SECTION 3.  Sections 56-2-110 through 56-2-130 of the S.C. Code are
amended to read:
    Section
56-2-110.  (A) A person operating a low speed vehicle or medium speed vehicle must be at least sixteen years of
age and shall hold a valid driver's license.
    (B) The operator of a low speed
vehicle being operated on a highway must have in his possession:
        (1) the registration card issued by the
department or the registration card issued by the state in which the low speed
vehicle is registered;  and
        (2) his driver's license.
    (C) The operator of a medium speed
vehicle being operated on a highway must have in his possession:
       (1) the registration card issued by the
department or the registration card issued by the state in which the medium
speed vehicle is registered;
       (2) his driver's license; and
       (3) proof of insurance.
    Section
56-2-120.  (A) A low speed vehicle
must be titled as specified in this title.  The manufacturer's or importer's certificate
of origin must identify clearly the vehicle as a low speed vehicle and must
certify that the vehicle was manufactured in compliance with the equipment
requirements for low speed vehicles in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500.  The State
shall not issue vehicle identification numbers to homemade low speed vehicles,
retrofitted golf carts, or any other similar vehicles, and these vehicles shall
not qualify as low speed vehicles in this State.
    (B) A medium speed vehicle must be
titled as specified in this title. The manufacturer's or importer's certificate
of origin must clearly identify the vehicle as a medium speed vehicle and must
certify that the vehicle was manufactured in compliance with the equipment
requirements for medium speed vehicles in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500 and is
either fifty five inches (55") or more in width or assembled by a South
Carolina company. The State shall not issue vehicle identification numbers to
homemade medium speed vehicles, retrofitted golf carts, UTV, or any other
similar vehicles, and these vehicles shall not qualify as medium speed vehicles
in this State.
       (1) A vehicle currently titled as a low
speed vehicle may be retitled as a medium speed vehicle if the vehicle is at
least fifty five inches (55") in width, is fully enclosed, and/or assembled in
South Carolina.  When titled as a medium speed vehicle will receive a new
medium speed vehicle license plate.
    (B)(C) If the vehicle is owned by a nonresident, but is
subject to issuance of a certificate of title in this State, the application
must also contain his:
       (1)
full legal name, social security number, or, if the primary user does not have
a social security number but has a passport, his passport number;
       (2)
driver's license number, whether the license was issued by this State or
another jurisdiction;
       (3)
date of birth;
       (4)
bona fide principal residence address;
       (5)
address in this State where the low speed vehicle will be housed and used;  and
       (6)
mailing address of the primary user of the vehicle.  If the primary user is a
firm, association, or corporation, the application must contain the business
address and federal employer identification number of the primary user.
    (C)(D) A low speed vehicle must be registered and licensed in
the same fashion as passenger vehicles pursuant to this title and is subject to
the same insurance requirements applicable to other motor vehicles under this
title.
    (D)(E) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall establish a
special size and class of license plate for low speed vehicles that clearly
identifies the vehicle as a low speed vehicle.
    Section
56-2-130.  A person engaged in the wholesale or retail sale of low speed
vehicles or medium speed vehicles must comply with
the motor vehicle dealer licensing laws of this State as specified in this
title.
SECTION 4.  This act takes effect three months upon
approval by the Governor.
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This web page was last updated on February 26, 2025 at 01:43 PM