Transferring a South Carolina Vehicle Title

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

South Carolina title transfers run through the SCDMV on Form 400. Buyers have 45 days from the date of sale to complete the transfer before late fees and penalty interest start to apply. The transaction also triggers the state's Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) — 5% of the purchase price, capped at $500.

Seller's responsibilities

Before the buyer can complete the transfer, the seller must:

Sign the back of the title in the "Seller's Assignment" section.
Print the buyer's name and address legibly.
Record the odometer reading at sale (federal disclosure required for vehicles less than 20 years old).
Date and sign the bill of sale showing the agreed purchase price.
Remove the license plates and either keep them for the next vehicle or surrender them at an SCDMV branch.
Notify the SCDMV of the sale within 30 days using the online "Notice of Vehicle Sold" form.

The seller is liable for traffic citations and registration violations on the vehicle until the SCDMV has either the buyer's title transfer or the seller's notice of sale on file. Filing the notice promptly protects against future liability.

Buyer's responsibilities

The buyer brings the following to any SCDMV branch within 45 days of the sale:

The signed-over title (or out-of-state title if the seller's title is from another state).
The bill of sale, signed and dated by the seller, showing the purchase price.
Proof of South Carolina liability insurance at 25/50/25 minimums.
Driver's license or SC ID for each new owner.
Lien information if the vehicle is financed.
Receipt for paid county property tax (the property tax has to be assessed and paid first).
Completed Form 400 — Application for Certificate of Title and Registration.

Title and IMF fees

Title fee — $15.
IMF — 5% of purchase price, capped at $500.
Registration fee — $40 per year (or $80 for the 24-month option).
Lien recording fee — $15 if financed.
Plate transfer fee — $10 if reusing a plate from another vehicle.
County property tax — varies by county and vehicle.

The SCDMV calculates the IMF using the bill of sale price, but it can substitute NADA fair-market value if the bill of sale appears materially under-reported. The IMF replaces a traditional sales tax for SC vehicle transactions and applies even to private-party sales — see SC car registration for full IMF rules.

Exemptions from IMF

A few transfers are exempt from the IMF — the buyer still pays the title fee but skips the 5%/$500 fee:

Gifts between immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling).
Transfers to or from a revocable living trust where ownership doesn't change in substance.
Transfers due to inheritance, with proper court documentation.
Transfers between a person and a business they wholly own (with documentation).

Each exempt category requires specific paperwork — gift affidavit, trust agreement, letters testamentary, or certificate of organization — submitted with Form 400.

Out-of-state titles

When the seller's title is from another state, the SCDMV performs a VIN inspection on the vehicle at the branch and issues an SC title in the buyer's name. The IMF still applies based on the bill of sale price. The 45-day clock starts from the date of purchase, not the date the buyer crosses into South Carolina.

Title with a lien

If the vehicle is financed, the lender holds the original title. The buyer's lender (if there's a refinance) or the seller's lender must release the lien to the SCDMV electronically or by paper letter. The SCDMV records the new lien on the freshly issued SC title and mails the title to the lender — the buyer receives only a registration card and plate at the branch.

Late title transfers

Beyond 45 days, late penalties begin to accrue, and the SCDMV may add up to $10 per month in late fees. Driving without a valid title and registration is a separate ticket, and accumulated unpaid fees can roll into a registration suspension that requires reinstatement before plates can be issued — see SC reinstatement.

For broader context, see our national title transfer guide.