Free South Carolina Used Car Bill of Sale

Used-car deals in South Carolina hinge on two numbers: the declared sale price (which supports the 5% IMF, figured on fair market value, up to a $500 cap) and the odometer reading. A clean Form 4031 bill of sale plus Form 400 and registration within 45 days is the entire SCDMV paperwork loop — no inspection, no emissions test, just title transfer and county property tax.

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

Used Car 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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Selling a used car as-is? Our private sale checklist walks you through price research, safely screening buyers, and the exact paperwork steps — so nothing slips through and you stay protected from post-sale disputes. Read: Private Car Sale Checklist →

South Carolina Used Car Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form

4031

SC Bill of Sale (Form 4031)

Agency

SCDMV

SC Department of Motor Vehicles

Primary ID Field

VIN

Sales Tax

See state rules

Title Required

Yes

For used cars of model year 2011 or newer, federal odometer disclosure on the title assignment is required. Seller signs SC title to buyer; buyer files Form 400 and registers within 45 days.

Inspection

Not required

Sales Tax Details

Used cars are subject to the same 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee CAPPED AT $500 as new vehicles. A $4,000 used Civic owes $200 IMF (5% of fair market value); a $25,000 used truck owes the $500 cap, not $1,250. Lower-priced used cars often pay full 5% because they fall under the cap.

Exemption: Immediate-family transfers are excluded from the IMF; confirm with SCDMV which relationships count and what proof it needs.

Inspection Requirements

No state safety or emissions inspection required in South Carolina. Always pay for an independent pre-purchase inspection on used cars — SC has no lemon law for private-party sales.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by SCDMV — not the same agency that handles cars in South Carolina. Plan for separate filings.

South Carolina Used Car Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

Buyer and seller names, SC addresses, signatures
Year, make, model, VIN, and body style
Exact odometer reading with federal disclosure (required for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer)
"As-is, no warranty" language — private SC sales carry no implied warranty
Sale price in dollars (supports the 5% IMF, figured on fair market value, up to $500)
Date of sale and any deposit dates
SC title signed by the seller with lien releases attached if applicable
SCDMV Form 400 completed by the buyer
Independent mechanic's pre-purchase inspection report (recommended)

Common Pitfalls

Buying without a title search — run the VIN free on SCDMVonline.com to spot SC liens and salvage brands
Forgetting odometer disclosure for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer (federal requirement, not optional)
Declaring an unrealistically low price — by statute the IMF base (fair market value) can be a national used-value guide figure rather than your price
Skipping county auditor property tax — SCDMV will not register the car until that bill is paid
Assuming the seller fixed posted defects — SC has zero lemon-law protection on private used-car sales
Not budgeting for annual county property tax that recurs every year

Pro Tip

Get a paid mechanic's inspection, declare the real price on Form 4031, and register with Form 400 inside 45 days — SC keeps the paperwork light, but the buyer carries all the risk.

South Carolina Used Car Bill of Sale — FAQs

I bought a used car for $8,000 in SC — what do I owe at SCDMV?

You owe a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee on $8,000, which is $400 — under the $500 cap, so you pay the full 5%. Add a small title fee (~$15) and plate fee (~$40). Your county auditor will then bill annual property tax based on the car's assessed value and your local millage rate, typically $150–$400 the first year. File Form 400 with your signed title (plus a Form 4031 bill of sale if the title has no space for the price) and register within 45 days to avoid late penalties.

Why does the IMF cap matter so much for used cars in South Carolina?

The $500 cap kicks in at a $10,000 fair market value. For any used car above $10,000, you pay $500 flat — no matter how expensive. A $40,000 used pickup costs the same in IMF as a $10,000 sedan: $500. In neighboring NC (3% with no cap) that $40,000 pickup would cost $1,200 in highway-use tax. This is why out-of-state buyers sometimes register in SC if they have a legitimate residence, and why used-truck values often hold higher here.

Can the IMF be based on a value other than my sale price?

Yes. S.C. Code §56-3-627 bases the private-sale IMF on fair market value, defined as the total purchase price less any trade-in, or the valuation shown in a national used-value publication adopted by the department — so the fee may be figured on a guide value rather than your price (still capped at $500). Declare the honest price, and keep photos of any major damage that explains a low price.

Do I need a safety inspection before registering a used car in SC?

No. South Carolina is one of the few states with NO state-mandated safety or emissions inspection for private vehicle sales. You can register a 30-year-old car with bald tires and SCDMV will issue plates as long as your paperwork and county property tax are squared away. That makes a private pre-purchase mechanical inspection ($100–$150 from any independent shop) one of the smartest investments you can make — there is no government safety net catching defective vehicles in this state.

Other South Carolina Templates

Vehicle Bill of Sale Car Bill of Sale Motorcycle Bill of Sale Boat Bill of Sale Trailer Bill of Sale Horse Bill of Sale ATV Bill of Sale Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale RV Bill of Sale General Bill of Sale Free Printable Bill of Sale Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale As-Is Bill of Sale Gift Bill of Sale

Used Car in Other States

Texas Florida Georgia Missouri Utah Oregon Alabama Colorado Connecticut Arkansas

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