How to Fill Out a Bill of Sale in South Carolina

A step-by-step guide to every field on a South Carolina vehicle bill of sale — with a free filled-in example you can download instantly.

South Carolina's SCDMV publishes an official bill of sale (Form 4031) and requires one when the title assignment has no space for the price, and it pairs accurate paperwork with a buyer-friendly tax rule: the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee is 5% of fair market value (the price less any trade-in, or a national used-value guide figure) CAPPED AT $500. Every dollar of value above $10,000 is fee-free, which means on a $30,000 truck the effective rate is 1.7% — and it also means the value only matters up to that cap. Fill in the eight standard elements (parties, vehicle, VIN, odometer, price, date, both signatures — no notary), and the buyer registers at any SCDMV branch within 45 days. One SC-specific seller step: keep your plate — South Carolina plates stay with the seller, and an unreturned plate on a sold car keeps insurance obligations alive.

Notarization:Not required

Title deadline:45 days

Vehicle tax:See state rules

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Vehicle Bill of Sale · South Carolina

9 vehicle fields

South Carolina Requirements: Register within 45 days of purchase; the title law itself says to apply promptly after delivery. Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (capped $500) applies; it is not a flat percentage of the price.

Seller Information

Full Name *

Street Address *

City *

State *

ZIP Code *

Phone

Buyer Information

Full Name *

Street Address *

City *

State *

ZIP Code *

Phone

Vehicle Details

Year *

Make *

Model *

VIN *

Color *

Mileage *

License Plate

Odometer reading is accurate to the best of my knowledge

Lien Holder (if applicable)

Sale Information

Sale Price ($) *

Payment Method *

Date of Sale *

County of Sale (if known)

Applicable Taxes Paid By

Condition & Warranty

Sold AS-IS (no warranty)

Warranty Details (if applicable)

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State rules change. We check these requirements against official state sources, but details can go out of date. Confirm with your state's motor vehicle agency before you rely on them. If you notice anything wrong or outdated, email support@billofsale.app.

Step-by-Step: Every Field Explained

Seller Information

Full legal name
Current mailing address
City, state, ZIP code
Phone number (optional but recommended)

Tip: The recorded owner's name is the only version that works here; anything else earns a correction cycle at the South Carolina DMV.

Buyer Information

Full legal name
Current mailing address
City, state, ZIP code
Phone number (optional)

Tip: The buyer's ID, this line, and the eventual registration should read identically — start the chain correctly.

Vehicle Description

Vehicle year (4-digit)
Make (manufacturer — e.g., Ford, Toyota)
Model (e.g., F-150, Camry)
Body style (e.g., sedan, pickup, SUV)
Color
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) — 17 characters, found on the dashboard or door jamb
Odometer reading at time of sale

Tip: Verify the VIN twice — once against the dashboard plate, once against the title. A single transposed character is enough to bounce the paperwork.

Sale Details

Sale price in US dollars (write out both numerals and words — e.g., "$8,500 — Eight thousand five hundred dollars")
Payment method (cash, check, electronic transfer)
Date of sale (month / day / year)
Note: the buyer pays South Carolina tax at registration (Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (capped $500))

Tip: In South Carolina the tax on a private sale is not simply a percentage of the price you write — see the South Carolina state page for how it is set — but record the true price anyway.

Seller Signature

Seller's signature (must match title)
Printed name
Date signed

Tip: Notarization isn't part of the South Carolina process. The signatures close the deal; the filed copy is what protects you afterwards.

Buyer Signature

Buyer's signature
Printed name
Date signed

Tip: Two originals, both fully signed, one per party — the cheap habit that wins later disputes.

Get a Pre-Filled South Carolina Example

Use the generator above to create a filled-in South Carolina bill of sale example in under 60 seconds. Fields are set up for South Carolina — no notary section, the SC vehicle tax rules noted, and 45-day title transfer deadline noted.

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Other Forms Required in South Carolina

Along with the bill of sale, you may need these additional documents for a South Carolina vehicle transfer:

Form 400 (Application for Certificate of Title and Registration)
Form 4031 (Bill of Sale)
Form 416 (Notice of Vehicle Sold — seller, notify SCDMV immediately)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IMF and how much will the buyer pay?

South Carolina's Infrastructure Maintenance Fee replaced sales tax on vehicles: 5% of fair market value (the purchase price less any trade-in, or a national used-value guide figure), capped at $500. A vehicle valued at $10,000 or more pays exactly $500.

What makes a South Carolina bill of sale complete?

Completeness: seller and buyer names and addresses, vehicle year/make/model, VIN, odometer, price, date, and both signatures. Our generator produces a state-specific document with these fields; SCDMV also publishes its own bill of sale, Form 4031.

What is the transfer deadline?

45 days from the purchase to register at an SCDMV branch (title and registration are processed together) — a comfortable window, but the IMF and paperwork are due at that visit.

What does the seller do with the license plate?

Keep it — SC plates belong to the seller. Transfer it to your next vehicle or return it to the SCDMV; leaving it on the sold car ties ongoing insurance-lapse penalties to you.

South Carolina Bill of Sale Hub

All requirements, tax rates, deadlines, and forms for South Carolina.

View South Carolina guide →

Forms Guide

South Carolina Bill of Sale Form

SCDMV publishes Form 4031 as its bill of sale and asks for a bill of sale when the title assignment has no space for the sale price.

Form guide →

South Carolina Templates by Vehicle

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