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Greenville 101: our guide to becoming a Greenvillian

Becoming a new resident is easy with our Greenvillian 101 guide to all things Greenville.

Greenville-at-night

Welcome to GVL. | Photo by @james_simpson_photography

Table of Contents

Picture this: You just moved to Greenville and you need some help with the practicalities of life (we can’t just sit back and sip our Methodical Coffee all day, unfortunately). That’s where we come in. Keep reading for Greenvillian 101, our guide to all things GVL.

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Pro tip: Follow GVLtoday for Election Guides before elections. | Photo by GVLtoday

The essentials

Voter registration

Make sure you’re eligible and registered to vote, find your polling location, and preview upcoming elections and sample ballots here.

Pro tip: If you’re getting a SC drivers license, they’ll help you register at the SCDMV.

Driver’s licenses and vehicle registration

New residents in need of a Greenville driver’s license will need to provide proof of identity, citizen status, and two documents confirming your residential address.

To register your car in SC, you need to update your insurance with your new SC address, contact your county’s auditor’s office with your Vehicle Identification Number and Odometer Verification, pay your property tax bill at the county treasurer’s office, visit the SCDMV with your completed Title Application (SCDMV Form 400), out-of-state vehicle title and registration, personal identification (ID or passport), liability insurance company information power of attorney (in some cases), property tax receipt, $250 Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF), and your title and registration payment.

Find your nearest SCDMV office and check wait times.

Healthcare

Establishing yourself with a primary care provider is one of those things you’ll be glad you did when you need one. Use Prisma Health’s Find a Doctor tool. Pro tip: Websites like DocSpot also filter physicians by location, patient reviews, insurance, language, and more.

Christ Church Episcopal School

Christ Church Episcopal School | Photo provided

Educational needs

School registration

Prepare your student for the school year by registering them with Greenville County Schools. Find your school zone (based on your home address), and a list of registration and immunization requirements. With your required documents in hand, you’ll then head to your student’s zoned school to complete the registration process.

For information on some of Greenville’s private schools, check out our school guide.

Library card registration

If you think libraries are only for renting the occasional book, think again. Register for a library card at your nearest Greenville County Library branch to take advantage of:

  • Genealogy services
  • Events
  • eBooks, music, and movies
  • Online databases
  • Private meeting spaces for groups

To get your card, you’ll need proof of identity and proof of address. Greenvillians of any age can apply for a free card to be used at any Greenville County branch.

City of Greenville recycling cart

Keeping Greenville green.| Photo by GVLtoday

Home necessities

Recycling

Thanks for thinking green. For everything you need to know about recycling in Greenville, from where to place your bin to pickup times and accepted materials, check out our guide.

Utilities

Moving is exciting, but no one wants to unpack by candlelight. Find out who services your home to set up electricity before you move in.

Internet providers

No connectivity issues here. Check out some of the internet providers in the 864:

  • AT&T | Fiber internet starting at $55 per month
  • Spectrum | Internet starting at $49.99 per month
  • EarthLink | Internet starting at $54.95 per month
  • Verizon | Internet starting at $25 per month
artisphere 2017

Enjoy a festival with your fellow locals. | Photo by Will Crooks

The ultimate Greenvillian initiation

Having a SC driver’s license and an 864 area code may qualify you on paper, but you’re not officially a Greenvillian until you’ve taken part in some local fun that is only found in our city.

Eat

Grab dinner with your new neighbors at Soby’s, a downtown Greenville staple.

Outdoors

Explore one of Greenville’s many parks or hit the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Festival

Visit Artisphere, euphoria, or Fall for Greenville to join your fellow Greenvillians for some downtown fun.

Is there something you’re still left wondering about to get you properly established in Greenville? Ask us your question and we’ll do our best to answer it for you, like a good neighbor.

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