South Carolina’s familiar standard license plate, featuring a palm tree and crescent moon, may soon be replaced with a new design. The current slogan, “While I breathe, I hope,” is also slated for a change.
House Bill 3175 was ratified earlier this month, having passed both the House and the Senate in the General Assembly. The bill now awaits enrollment and the governor’s signature to become law.
The design of South Carolina’s new standard license plate will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. According to the legislation, the design submitted by the South Carolina Revolutionary War Sestercentennial Commission must include the words “Where the Revolutionary War Was Won.” Additionally, the design will feature, at a minimum, a flag displaying the word LIBERTY in white against an indigo background, along with a gorget in an upper corner of the flag, also known as the Moultrie Flag. The South Carolina Revolutionary War Sestercentennial Commission will submit the final design to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for approval.
The bill specifies that the new license plate will be issued to drivers from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2032. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is required to renew license plate designs every 10 years. This upcoming change will mark a significant visual shift for vehicles across the state, honoring a pivotal period in American history.
