The 45-day plan · Hilton Head Island & Bluffton, SC
Relocation Checklist.
Licenses · registration · utilities · the 4% tax application
This is the relocation to-do list in the order the deadlines actually hit. Two South Carolina rules set the pace: new residents have 45 days to get an SC driver's license and 45 days to register vehicles. Around those, the list covers utilities, the primary-residence tax application, voter registration, and the household logistics that quietly eat a month if you leave them loose.
Last updated October 2026 By Kim Striker
Before the moving truck arrives
- 1
Order the settlement package
Flood zone letter, elevation certificate, insurance quotes, and the community fee summary for every home you are considering. These decide the budget long before move-in day.
- 2
Arrange the move
Book movers or a truck for a weekday if you can; island and mainland roads are simplest mid-week, and summer Saturdays are slow on the bridge to the island. [VERIFY: current mover availability guidance]
- 3
Set up mail forwarding
USPS change of address, banks, credit cards, subscriptions, and recurring bills all move with you. Update them before the boxes, not after.
- 4
Transfer prescriptions and healthcare
Confirm your prescriptions and specialists with the new providers on the Healthcare Access page, and note which records the new practice needs.
The 45-day state deadlines
Driver's license, 45 days
Apply in person at an SCDMV branch with proof of identity, Social Security number, and an SC address, and surrender your out-of-state license. Vision testing is part of the visit.
SCDMV: moving to SCVehicle registration, 45 days
Pay county vehicle property tax with your county auditor, update insurance to an SC-licensed carrier, and take the title, proof of tax paid, and the one-time Infrastructure Maintenance Fee to the SCDMV.
SCDMV: vehiclesThe month after the keys
| Task | Deadline | Where to go | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4% legal residence application | Soon after closing | Beaufort County Assessor, Form PD-105 | Cuts your property tax assessment from 6% to 4% |
| Driver's license | Within 45 days | SCDMV branch | Surrender out-of-state license |
| Vehicle registration | Within 45 days | Auditor for tax; SCDMV for title | One-time Infrastructure Maintenance Fee [VERIFY: current amount] |
| Utilities | Move-in week | Dominion Energy SC or Palmetto Electric; BJWSA for water | [VERIFY: current provider for the exact address] |
| Voter registration | Before the next election | SC Votes online | Separate from the DMV process |
| Homestead Exemption | After 1 year of residency | County Auditor | For 65+, totally disabled, or legally blind; $50,000 value exemption |
| School enrollment | Before the semester | Beaufort County School District | Assignments follow the street address; use the district boundary tool |
What utilities do I need to set up?
Electricity
Dominion Energy South Carolina or Palmetto Electric Cooperative, depending on the address. Cooling runs much of the year, so summer bills run higher than the rest of the country.
Dominion Energy SCWater & sewer
The Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority serves both Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. Irrigation wells and septic systems apply to some mainland parcels.
BJWSAInternet & TV
Fiber and cable availability vary by neighborhood and by gate. Confirm the provider for your exact street before closing, especially if you work from home.
[VERIFY: current providers serving the specific community or address]
Trash and recycling are handled by the town or the community association depending on the address; gated communities often fold it into the assessment.
The two tax filings that pay for themselves
The 4% legal residence application moves your primary home from the 6% assessment to 4%, and it is a prerequisite for the Homestead Exemption at 65. Both are one-page forms through Beaufort County, and both are routinely missed by out-of-state buyers who assume their lender's title company handles the county tax office. It does not.
Keep in the closing binder
- Form PD-105 filing receipt from the county assessor
- Homestead Exemption application with the auditor
- SCDMV license and title receipts
- Utility account numbers and provider contact list
- Wills and estate documents reviewed for SC law [VERIFY: with SC-licensed counsel]
Answers
Checklist questions, answered
How many days do I have to get a South Carolina driver’s license?
New residents have 45 days to apply for an SC driver’s license after moving to the state. You apply in person at an SCDMV branch with identity documents, your Social Security number, proof of an SC address, and you surrender your out-of-state license. [VERIFY: current SCDMV document list]
How long do I have to register my vehicles in South Carolina?
45 days. Besides the SCDMV paperwork, you pay county vehicle property tax through your county auditor, update your insurance to an insurer licensed in SC, and pay the one-time Infrastructure Maintenance Fee on vehicles brought in. [VERIFY: current fee amount]
When do I apply for the 4% legal residence property tax?
File the Legal Residence (4%) application, commonly Form PD-105, with the Beaufort County Assessor as soon as the home is your legal residence. The 4% assessment applies once approved, and there are penalty risks for late application or notification of a change of use, so do it the month you close, not the month taxes are due.
What utilities do I set up for a home in Hilton Head or Bluffton?
Electricity comes from Dominion Energy South Carolina or Palmetto Electric Cooperative depending on the exact address; water and sewer from the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority; and internet from the providers serving your street. [VERIFY: current provider for the specific home address]
What is the Homestead Exemption deadline?
The Homestead Exemption for homeowners 65 and older is applied through the county auditor once you have lived in the home as your legal residence for at least one year. The tax year timing matters, so ask the auditor for the exact application window when you file the 4% form. [VERIFY: current Beaufort County Homestead application deadline]
Do I need to register to vote at the same time?
No, but do it early. South Carolina voter registration is handled through SC Votes, and you can register online once you have an SC address. It is a separate process from the DMV and the county tax applications.
Next step
Want this checklist matched to your month?
On a relocation call, Kim maps the deadlines, the closing date, and your move-in to a week-by-week plan.