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South Carolina title transfer fees

How much is the title fee in South Carolina?

$15 or $35

Amounts in the quoted line; read it for which applies.

In plain English

The DMV's fee table lists a title at $15, or $35 for an expedited title, which is only available in person.

“Title (or Expedited Title only available in person ) $15 ($35)”

Worked example

Example: a $12,000 used car bought from a private seller in South Carolina. Title fee: $15 or $35, whichever case in the quoted line applies. Tax is left out of this example. Not included: registration and plates, a lien fee, an out-of-state inspection, county or office add-ons, and late fees.

A made-up price; every other figure is from the quotes on this page. It is an illustration, not a bill.

What are the steps in South Carolina, and by when?

In plain English

  1. For a purchase from a person, the DMV's page says the seller needs to have the title, in his or her own name, to be able to sign it over to the buyer.

    The official words

    “If you buy a vehicle from a person, make sure the person has the title, in his or her name, to be able to sign over to you.”

  2. The first assignment on the title is completed with the buyer's name and address, lienholder information if applicable, odometer reading, sales price, date of sale and both signatures. If the assignment has no section for sales price, a bill of sale must accompany the paperwork.

    The official words

    “First assignment completed on title: buyer’s name and address, lienholder information (if applicable), odometer reading, sales price, date of sale, seller’s signature, buyer’s signature.”

    “If assignment on title does not have section for sales price, a bill of sale must accompany paperwork.”

  3. The page's list of items needed includes a completed Title Application (SCDMV Form 400). A buyer without an SC license or ID who wants an SC title also completes the Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina (SCDMV Form TI-006C).

    The official words

    “Completed Title Application (SCDMV Form 400 )”

    “If you do not have an SC license or ID and want the vehicle to have an SC title, you must also complete the Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina (SCDMV Form TI-006C).”

  4. To get a license plate, the page's list has the buyer pay the tax bill to the county and give the SCDMV the paid property tax receipt in the buyer's name.

    The official words

    “Pay your tax bill to the county and provide the SCDMV with the paid property tax receipt in your name”

  5. The documents may be taken to an SCDMV branch office to title and register the vehicle at the same time, or mailed (certified only) with the payment made out to the SCDMV.

    The official words

    “You may visit an SCDMV branch office with the above documents to title and register your vehicle at the same time.”

    “You may also mail (certified only) your documents and the appropriate payment , made out to the SCDMV, to the address below:”

  6. The title fee is $15, or $35 for an expedited title, which is available only in person. The Infrastructure Maintenance Fee is 5% of the purchase price, but no more than $500.

    The official words

    “Title (or Expedited Title only available in person ) $15 ($35)”

    “Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) 5% of the purchase price, but no more than $500”

  7. A newly purchased vehicle must be registered within 45 days of the purchase date.

    The official words

    “South Carolina law requires that you register your newly purchased vehicle within 45 days of the purchase date.”

What if the car comes from another state?

In plain English

The owner of a vehicle moved in from a state where it is properly licensed and registered has forty-five days to license and register it in South Carolina. If the other state's registration is expired, it must be done immediately.

The official words

“The owner of a foreign vehicle being moved into this State from a state in which the vehicle is properly licensed and registered has forty-five days to properly license and register the vehicle in South Carolina, unless his foreign registration is expired, in which case he must license and register the vehicle immediately.”

When the owner first titled or registered the vehicle in another state after buying or leasing it, and later registers it in South Carolina, the statute sets the fee at two hundred fifty dollars. The DMV's page for people moving in lists a $250 IMF, a $15 title fee and a $40 registration/license plate fee, and says county property tax is not included.

The official words

“If upon purchasing or leasing the item, the owner or lessee first titles or registers the item in another state, and subsequently registers the item in this State, then the fee equals two hundred fifty dollars.”

“This includes the $250 IMF, $15 title fee, and $40 registration/license plate fee but does not include the property tax you will pay to your county of residence.”

The property tax bill must be paid to the county treasurer before the vehicle can be registered in South Carolina.

The official words

“You must pay the property tax bill to the county treasurer before you can register your vehicle in this state.”

What about tax on the purchase in South Carolina?

In plain English

Most vehicles owe an Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) instead of sales tax. The DMV's fee table lists it as 5% of the purchase price, but no more than $500.

The official words

“Most vehicles owe IMF instead of sales tax.”

“Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) 5% of the purchase price, but no more than $500”

We don’t work out tax for South Carolina.

What does a gift or family transfer change in South Carolina?

In plain English

The statute excludes items transferred to members of the immediate family from the fee imposed under that subsection. The passage we hold does not name the fee or list which relatives count.

The official words

“Excluded from the fee imposed pursuant to this subsection are: (a) items transferred: (i) to members of the immediate family;”

What happens if the transfer is late in South Carolina?

In plain English

For late registration, the DMV's fee table lists penalties by days late: $10 for 46 to 60 days, $25 for 61 to 75 days, $50 for 76 to 135 days, and $75 for over 135 days.

The official words

“Penalties for Late Registration Days Late Cost 46 to 60 days $10 61 to 75 days $25 76 to 135 days $50 Over 135 days $75”

What the pages we read do not cover

The pages we read do not give a fee for recording a lien.

The quotes we hold do not mention an inspection for a vehicle from another state.

How South Carolina compares

The lowest title fee amount quoted for South Carolina is $15. Of the other 37 states with a figure, 15 states quote less, 16 states quote more and 6 states quote the same. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.

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Anything else?

Reference only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement

More from South Carolina’s official pages

Registration and plates

“*The majority of registration fees (not including title fees or IMF) above are paid once every two years or "biennially."”

Sources

19 quoted lines from 4 official sources, each matched word for word on November 12, 2026. The state’s own titling page is dmv.sc.gov.

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