Kevin Shweto, director of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, told the House Education and Public Works Committee that the DMV is operating on an outdated computer system and needs a multi‑year modernization estimated at about $100 million. He said the agency is also preparing for federal Real ID enforcement and urged lawmakers to help the DMV secure funding to modernize systems and improve customer service.

Shweto described workforce challenges: the state population has grown (he cited roughly 4 million to 5.3 million growth since he began) while the DMV’s staffing and budgets have not kept pace. He said the agency has about 1,500 employees, reported roughly 33 percent annual turnover for certain roles and described a large training burden because staff handle complex, law‑based transactions. He added the DMV runs weekly training and is standardizing procedures across 66 offices.

On Real ID, Shweto said about 60 percent of South Carolinians currently hold a Real ID and warned that passengers without compliant identification may face travel and federal‑facility access problems when federal enforcement deadlines arrive. He encouraged residents to bring primary documents (birth certificate, proof of Social Security number and name‑change documentation) to obtain Real ID credentials and described a planned operational change this year to centralize card issuance and enhance security; after centralization, replacement cards will be mailed rather than issued on the spot.

Shweto also urged the committee to consider broader policy and safety issues tied to vehicle titling and highway safety, raised concerns about certain vehicle types and manufacturer guidance, and called attention to DUI recidivism and related public‑safety implications. He said modernization would reduce fraud and improve services but cautioned that several states that attempted similar projects without appropriate vendors had large cost overruns.

Committee members asked questions about Real ID privacy concerns, the DMV’s staffing needs and whether other responsibilities (boat titling, concealed weapon permits) would be appropriate to transfer. Shweto said centralized issuance and future mobile driver’s license capabilities could consolidate services and enhance security; he offered follow‑up conversations with members about potential statutory changes. No committee votes were held after the briefing.

Ending: Shweto asked lawmakers to help secure modernization funding and offered direct contact for constituents with DMV issues.