Free South Carolina Boat Bill of Sale
The agency split is the first thing to get right in a South Carolina boat sale: vessels title through the Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) — the SCDMV that handled your car has no role here. Motorized boats and sailboats over 17 feet carry SCDNR titles that must be signed over, with the transfer filed within 30 days. The money side mirrors the state's vehicles: the 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee capped at $500, which genuinely rewards big-boat buyers — a $40,000 center console pays the same $500 as a $10,000 jon boat rig pays in full. South Carolina also assesses annual personal property tax on boats through the counties, the recurring cost out-of-state buyers most often miss.
Free PDF includes a small watermark at the bottom. Go Pro to remove it. Already subscribed? Sign in.
South Carolina Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
SC applies 5% IMF on watercraft, also capped at $500.
South Carolina Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Record HIN, make, model, year, length, engine HP, sale price.
- Seller signs the SC boat title over to buyer.
- Buyer submits to SCDNR with bill of sale within 30 days.
- Buyer pays 5% IMF (max $500) + SCDNR registration fee.
Common Pitfalls
- Going to SCDMV instead of SCDNR for boat titles — boats are handled by a different agency.
- Not titling sailboats over 17 ft — they require title just like motorized craft.
- Missing the HIN on the bill of sale.
Pro Tip
South Carolina boats: SCDNR (never the DMV) within 30 days, a 5% IMF that caps at $500 — and the county's annual boat property tax arriving every year after.