S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-2440: Department of Motor Vehicles shall keep certain records.

The Department of Motor Vehicles shall keep such records of all transactions relating to the enforcement and administration of this chapter as the Department shall determine to be necessary and appropriate for fiscal, statistical and administrative purposes. Suitable and appropriate records of every vehicle registered shall be kept by the Department in cross-reference books or on cards, as follows:

(1) Numerically, under the descriptive registration and license number assigned to the vehicle;

(2) Alphabetically, under the name of the owner;

(3) Numerically, under the motor or serial number, if available and otherwise under any other identifying number of the vehicle; and

(4) In any other manner the Department may deem desirable.