This episode of Simple Civics: Greenville County is brought to you by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, providing free books to children zero to five throughout Greenville County. To sign up, visit greenvillefirststeps.org/freebooks.
Are you a newcomer to Greenville County, or thinking about moving here? This episode of Simple Civics is the essential newcomer guide to Greenville County you've been looking for. We're breaking down everything you need to know, from the critical 45-day deadlines you can't afford to miss to the best ways to make this vibrant community feel like home. Join hosts Katy Smith (Greater Good Greenville) and longtime resident Nathaniel DeSantis as they walk you through the must-do logistics and share insider tips for getting connected.
Moving to a new place involves more than just unpacking boxes. In this comprehensive guide, we tackle the most urgent tasks first, providing a step-by-step walkthrough for new residents. Learn the exact process for SC vehicle registration for new residents, including navigating the Greenville County Auditor's and Treasurer's offices before you even step foot in the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). We'll also detail what you need to get your South Carolina driver's license and a Real ID. Once the paperwork is handled, we explain how to register to vote in Greenville County, ensuring your voice is heard in local elections—a crucial step for any civically-minded resident.
But settling in is about more than just bureaucracy. This episode is your roadmap to discovering the heart and soul of Greenville. We share the top things to do in Greenville County, from iconic places like Falls Park on the Reedy and the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail to beloved state parks like Paris Mountain and Jones Gap. Discover Greenville's thriving arts and culture scene with venues like the Peace Center, Fluor Field (home of the Greenville Drive), and the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, affectionately known as "The Well." A huge part of feeling at home is giving back, and we explore the many volunteer opportunities in Greenville, SC, showing you how to connect with causes you care about through resources like the Give Greenville directory. Whether you're looking for family-friendly activities, resources for retirees, or ways to connect with fellow art lovers, this newcomer guide to Greenville County has you covered.
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Introduction
Katy Smith: Are you a newcomer to Greenville County or perhaps considering moving here? Maybe you've just welcomed a new neighbor or family member to the area. Today's episode of Simple Civics Greenville County is your essential guide to settling in, making sure you hit those critical deadlines while also making this community feel like home.
I'm Katy Smith with Greater Good Greenville, and I'm here with our producer, Nathaniel DeSantis, who's practically a Greenville native, to discuss all the need-to-know civic logistics.
Beyond the paperwork, we'll share our favorite tips for getting connected to the community, from embracing the famed Swamp Rabbit Trail to exploring our wonderful parks and festivals to getting involved with a nonprofit that you care about.
Even if you've been here for years, take a listen. You'll be the go-to resource for the next person who asks, "So what's the first thing I should do after I move to Greenville?" We're happy you're here, and we're ready to help you navigate your new civic and community life.
Nathaniel DeSantis: Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Simple Civics. I am Nathaniel DeSantis here again with Katy, and we're going to be discussing newcomers. If you've just moved to Greenville County or you know someone who has or you're considering moving here, this episode is your guide to settling in.
I am, as Katy said, basically a Greenville native and Katy has lived here a very long time. We're going to talk about settling in in Greenville County.
Katy Smith: Which is kind of funny because since you and I have both lived here for so long, we're probably not the best people because we haven't had to do these things in a really long time, if at all.
Nathaniel DeSantis: We're stuck in our ways.
Katy Smith: We have good friends to help us with some of that information that you need to know.
Essential Deadlines for New Residents
Nathaniel DeSantis: Yes. And when you permanently move to South Carolina, there are a few hard deadlines that you need to hit. I figure we should get this knocked out early on. Katy, what's the very first thing newcomers need to tackle with a deadline?
Katy Smith: The number one thing when you move to South Carolina is checking in with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV, as we call them here.
You have 45 days when you move to the state to apply for your driver's license and to register your vehicle. It is a hard deadline, and while you're busy unpacking your boxes and hanging your pictures, that clock starts ticking fast.
The Vehicle Registration Process
Nathaniel DeSantis: 45 days is not a lot of time. Let's break down the vehicle registration process because it does have a few steps here in Greenville County.
I don't know what it's like in other places, but I do know that there are four steps here in Greenville that we need to go through. So let's break that down.
Katy Smith: When you come from out of state, there are ways we handle our property taxes on vehicles that have a couple steps for you. First, you need to make sure that your car is insured in South Carolina with someone licensed to do business here.
It's probably as simple as just updating your address to South Carolina with your vehicle insurance company. But if they're not licensed to do business here, you need to get South Carolina insurance.
Once you've done that, you're going to go to our county auditor. This is a key step. Before you go to the DMV, you have to contact the Greenville County auditor's office with your vehicle's information, the VIN, the title, and your most recent out-of-state registration.
This is used to generate your property tax bill. Our auditor's office here in Greenville County is located in County Square, which is the big glass building at 301 University Ridge on the corner of Church Street and University Ridge.
Then you have to take that bill and pay your property tax at the county treasurer's office. You have to get an original paid receipt from the treasurer's office.
Conveniently, it is in the same complex as the auditor's office. At that same place, you're going to walk from one building to another to get that paid receipt.
Once you've done that, you're ready to go to a DMV branch with the paid tax receipt. You're going to need your completed title application, which you can download from their website.
You'll need to bring your out-of-state title and registration, proof of your identity, your South Carolina address, and your liability insurance company information.
Then you'll be prepared to pay your title and registration fees with the DMV, which also includes a one-time infrastructure maintenance fee. It's a lot of steps. You're going to set aside a day to take care of this.
Applying for a South Carolina Driver’s License
Nathaniel DeSantis: Fortunately, it's all located near each other. You can go to the county office, get that taken care of, do the county auditor to the property taxes, and then there's a DMV that's maybe five minutes away from there. That's how I did it when I got a new car.
I do want to ask, when it says pay property tax, it means property as in your car is your property and you're paying the tax for the car, not your home.
For anyone listening, if you're wondering if you're going to be renting an apartment, that's not the type of property taxes this is talking about. It's talking about your car as property.
What about when you're actually at the DMV and you're ready to get your driver's license? What should you bring with you for that?
Katy Smith: Now you can handle two things at once. When you go to deal with your auto registration, you can also get your driver's license.
For your driver's license, you'll be surrendering your old driver's license from wherever you moved. Even if you're surrendering a real ID that you got from another state, you're going to need to prove your identity, your US citizenship, and your date of birth with a birth certificate or a valid US passport.
You'll need to show your social security number and have at least one and ideally two proofs of your current physical South Carolina address for a real ID. This can be stuff like your utility bill, a lease agreement, or a South Carolina tax bill.
I would urge you to go to the South Carolina DMV website to get that full checklist in case something has changed by the time you listen to this episode and to really make sure you've got everything in hand. My mom, when she does this, she's got her little folder with it all in there. Make sure you have that.
One thing I'll say about our DMV is that it has improved tremendously from when I moved here. Even if you go into one of the DMV offices and the room looks a little overwhelming, I would say you'll be out in under an hour.
That might already make you think that is not fast, but maybe it's all in the eye of the beholder or whatever state you came from. They'll help you make sure you have what you need in hand when you walk in the door before you go and get in line and wait.
Nathaniel DeSantis: It's definitely gotten better. I remember when I got my driver's license and my permit when I was 16, it was a three-hour long process just waiting in line because our local one is over off of Whitehorse.
When I got a car three years ago and did that whole process, it was really quick. It was super fast. They've gotten incredibly quick there.
Katy Smith: They do a good job. Thank you so much.
Voter Registration Requirements
Nathaniel DeSantis: Okay, so that is great. I'm glad we got the really practical thing out of the way early on. For our listeners who value civic engagement, how does a newcomer make sure they can vote in Greenville elections? How do they change their voter registration?
Katy Smith: We hope and presume you all value civic engagement because the title of this is Simple Civics. This is a great question and one every newcomer should be on top of.
In South Carolina, you have to be registered 30 days before an election to vote in it, and that's best to take care of right away.
When you go to get your driver's license, you can actually go ahead and register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles. There's a number of state agencies at which you can register in person, and one of them is the DMV right where you've gotten your license.
It is also really easy to register to vote online at any time. The South Carolina Election Commission makes it easy for people to have a photo ID. No matter what, you have to start at the DMV to get that photo ID.
We'll put a link in the show notes for you to use that online system, which is really easy. If you've moved here from another county in South Carolina or from out of state, you have to re-register as a new applicant in Greenville County.
If you prefer, you can also download a paper form and then mail it in or visit the Greenville County Voter Registration Office in person.
Nathaniel DeSantis: Which is why the driver's license update is the prerequisite for the easiest way to handle voter registration. It all ties together.
Exploring Local Places and Attractions
Nathaniel DeSantis: We've covered the official must-dos, but let's move on to the tips and tricks part of the episode. We'll call these the things that make life in Greenville County actually feel like home. What are your top three tips for getting settled in?
Katy Smith: My top three tips are really categories to think about. They are the places, the causes, and the people that make this community great.
Places are probably exactly what made you move here. You came and you visited, you went to the mountains and saw how beautiful they were, you went downtown and enjoyed Main Street. You said, "What a great place. I would love to experience this."
In case these aren't already on your list, let me tick through the top things on TripAdvisor as of this recording because they really do sum it up pretty well.
It is our downtown's beautiful Falls Park on the Reedy, one of the few urban waterfalls in our country that has the beautiful Liberty Bridge over it.
We have the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail that runs north and south in Greenville County and is now moving east and west. It's fun to walk on, and you can rent bikes or bring your own. It is a great resource that can take you all the way to Travelers Rest and soon to Mauldin and Simpsonville.
We have one of my favorites, Paris Mountain State Park and Jones Gap State Park. These are two fabulous state parks right here in Greenville County where you can take your kids or go on a wonderful high mountain hike and see incredible waterfalls.
We have fabulous entertainment venues. We have the Peace Center that has Broadway shows on tour, symphony, ballet, indie rock bands, speakers, and incredible nationally known artists.
We've got Fluor Field at the West End, which is our wonderful Single-A baseball team stadium for the Red Sox affiliate here. It is a spectacular place that is like a mini Fenway Park for people who love the Red Sox.
We've got the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, which if you're newly here, you need to know we call it "The Well" affectionately. You can see concerts, Pentatonix, ice skating, hockey, and all the great things.
We have other incredible artistic venues like the Warehouse Theatre and the South Carolina Children's Theatre. We have a zoo here in Greenville right near downtown.
We have our Upcountry History Museum near downtown where you can learn about this community that you have recently moved to. There is an incredible art museum right next door as well as a Children's Museum of the Upstate, which is a fabulous place to bring your kids, grandkids, nieces, or nephews.
Connecting with Local Nonprofits and Causes
Nathaniel DeSantis: You mentioned causes. What do you mean about that?
Katy Smith: I would be remiss if I didn't mention causes because Greater Good Greenville is a network of nonprofits, philanthropic funders, and caring community members. We believe deeply in the causes that make this community great.
By that, I really mean nonprofits and charitable endeavors. If you moved here because you loved a lot about this place, you have to know that it was really people's generosity, ingenuity, and volunteerism that made so many of the things that you've seen happen.
We would love for you to plug into causes here that you care about. We have available a wonderful directory of nonprofit organizations called Give Greenville that you can access from our website at greatergoodgreenville.org.
You can search by category or keyword and connect with organizations that might be of interest to you. This is one of the best ways to really plug into this community. You can meet folks, start to give back to this new home that you love, and find something that connects with your interests and passions.
Building Community Connections
Nathaniel DeSantis: And then you also mentioned people. I'm just curious exactly what you mean by that?
Katy Smith: If you have recently moved here, I bet this is the thing that you are longing for the most. I moved to this community in 1995, and I remember that first year being most about: Who are my people? Who are my friends? Who am I going to hang out with? Who's my book club?
It takes a minute to find that, and that is what really makes a place your home. The people in this community are by and large so friendly. Sometimes it takes you going out and knocking on doors and saying hello to meet your neighbors.
Plugging into some of those very nonprofits that I mentioned is a great way to get connected. You'll find lots of wonderful volunteer opportunities.
There are groups like Greenville Women Giving that welcome women to join in collective giving. There are all kinds of ways to plug in with hiking groups, book clubs at M. Judson, and so much more.
When you put yourself out there and get to make those connections, it is really the best way to make this new community your home.
Targeted Resources for Every Resident
There are so many attractions and ways to be busy in this community. We even have a Newcomers Club of Greater Greenville that can help you connect to folks just like you. They have almost 400 members and 30 activities a month along with philanthropies they get involved with.
We'll put a link in the show notes to the Newcomers Club of Greater Greenville. It does help if you have a way to narrow it down.
If you're a parent of young kids, Kidding Around Greenville is a great resource online to find things like summer camps and activities, along with reviews of events and venues.
If you are a retired person, there are two great venues for you. One is the OLLI program at Furman University. They have classes that you can register for, some of which are taught by your peers and others taught by experts in the community.
Senior Action also has programming you can get involved in. If you're an art lover, the Metropolitan Arts Council has a wonderful Greenville area arts directory where you can find galleries, visual arts, classes, and performing arts.
If you're an outdoors person, there are a couple of different park finders that you can find online for our cities, for Greenville County, and for our state park system.
I'll give a special shout-out to the South Carolina State Parks system, which has a parks passport that gets you access to all of our state parks. It is a deal; I think it's $99 a year and you can go to any park in the state.
We're glad that you're here. We really want you to plug in and be part of what makes this community great and not just a consumer of it. You have probably landed on the very best resource to help you plug in, and that is our podcast, Simple Civics Greenville County.
The Simple Civics Podcast Resource
Nathaniel DeSantis: It is probably the definitive resource for a newcomer. I'll go out there and say that. We have made over 240 episodes now, just depending when this is out.
We have covered everything you can imagine from how government works to things to do, places, and people you will meet and hear from.
We have a great website that we've built for you to use at simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org. You can find the link for that in the show notes. We have a really great search feature where you can search all of the podcasts we've done and see all the categories.
Give it a listen because Katy has worked so her over the past three or four years to make this a resource for you. Check it out. I think that's my final note. Do you have anything else for listeners before we sign off today?
Katy Smith: Simple Civics Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville, and we've been so proud to offer this as a resource to get involved.
Visit the website of Greater Good Greenville at greatergoodgreenville.org and learn more about that organization and how you can plug into community causes.
Credits
Simple Civics: Greenville County is Produced by Podcast Studio X.
A Greater Good Greenville project.
