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Free South Carolina Vehicle Bill of Sale

A South Carolina vehicle bill of sale documents the private transfer of a car or truck and locks in the price SCDMV uses to calculate the 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee — capped at $500. Pair it with the signed title and SCDMV Form 400 within 45 days to register cleanly without late penalties.

South Carolina Requirements: Transfer title within 45 days. 5% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Vehicle Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

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South Carolina Vehicle 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
5%
Title Required
Yes
Seller signs the South Carolina title over to the buyer; buyer files SCDMV Form 400 (title application) within 45 days of purchase to avoid penalties.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

South Carolina charges a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) instead of sales tax — and it is CAPPED at $500 no matter how expensive the vehicle. A $15,000 car owes $500 (the cap), and a $60,000 truck still owes only $500. This single cap saves SC buyers thousands compared to neighboring states with uncapped sales tax.

Exemption: IMF can be waived for transfers between immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild). Bring proof of relationship to SCDMV.

Inspection Requirements

South Carolina does NOT require state safety inspections or emissions testing for private vehicle sales. Buyers should still arrange an independent pre-purchase mechanical inspection.

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 Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Buyer and seller full legal names, SC addresses, and signatures (Form 4031 has fields for both)
  2. Vehicle year, make, model, body style, and 17-character VIN
  3. Exact odometer reading on the day of sale
  4. Sale price in dollars (this is what SCDMV uses to calculate the 5% IMF up to the $500 cap)
  5. Date of sale
  6. Original SC title signed over by the seller in the assignment section
  7. SCDMV Form 400 (Application for Certificate of Title) completed by the buyer
  8. Proof of SC liability insurance before plates are issued
  9. County property tax receipt (paid to the county auditor before SCDMV will register)

Common Pitfalls

  • Missing the 45-day registration window — SCDMV adds late penalties on top of the IMF
  • Forgetting that SC vehicles owe annual county property tax (millage rate × assessed value) every year — this is separate from the one-time IMF and recurs forever
  • Assuming "no sales tax" means free — the 5% IMF still applies up to $500
  • Skipping the county auditor step: in SC, you must pay county property tax BEFORE SCDMV will issue plates
  • Not verifying the title is clean — SC Title Search via SCDMVonline.com flags liens and brands before money changes hands

Pro Tip

Run a free VIN check on SCDMVonline.com before paying, file Form 400 within 45 days, and remember the IMF is capped at $500 — a built-in SC discount versus uncapped sales-tax states.

South Carolina Vehicle Bill of Sale — FAQs

How much will I actually pay in taxes and fees on a $35,000 car in South Carolina?
You will owe the maximum $500 Infrastructure Maintenance Fee — not 5% of $35,000. SC caps the IMF at $500 regardless of price, which is the state's single biggest advantage over neighbors like North Carolina or Georgia where uncapped sales tax on the same car would cost $1,750 or more. Add small SCDMV title and plate fees (~$15–$40), then pay your county property tax separately to the auditor. Total upfront SCDMV cost on a $35K vehicle is typically under $560.
Do I really have to pay property tax on my car every year in SC?
Yes. South Carolina is one of the few states that levies an annual personal property tax on vehicles, billed by your county auditor based on the millage rate where you live and the vehicle's depreciated value. This is completely separate from the one-time IMF paid at purchase. A typical commuter car runs $200–$600 per year, and you cannot renew your registration without a paid receipt. Budget for it every year you own the vehicle.
What is SCDMV Form 4031 and is it required?
Form 4031 is the official South Carolina bill of sale published by SCDMV. It is not strictly mandatory — any written bill of sale with the required fields will work — but Form 4031 is the cleanest way to declare the sale price for IMF calculation. Using it reduces the chance SCDMV will challenge a low-price declaration with their book-value lookup, which can push a $500 IMF up unexpectedly. Both buyer and seller sign; keep copies for at least three years.
How do I transfer a car to a family member without paying the IMF?
SC waives the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee for immediate-family transfers — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. Complete Form 4031 (or a written bill of sale) showing the relationship and a sale price of $0 or "gift," sign over the title, and bring proof of relationship (birth certificate, marriage license) to SCDMV with Form 400. The buyer still owes plate fees and will start owing annual county property tax in their name from the transfer date forward.

Other South Carolina Templates

🚗Car Bill of Sale🚙Used 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

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