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South Carolina Guide

How to Gift a Car in South Carolina

Last verified: October 2026 against SCDMV sources

A transfer to an immediate family member or an heir is excluded from South Carolina’s Infrastructure Maintenance Fee.

Here is how to transfer the car.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Check that the exclusion applies

    Immediate family means a spouse, parents, children, sisters, brothers, grandparents, and grandchildren. Transfers to a legal heir, legatee, or distributee are also excluded.

    Other transfers pay the IMF on fair market value, which can be a used-vehicle guide value.

  2. 2

    Complete the title

    The giver completes the back of the title with your name and address, the odometer reading, the date, and the signatures.

  3. 3

    Fill out Form 400

    Complete the Title Application (SCDMV Form 400).

  4. 4

    Pay the county property tax

    To register the car, have your county generate a property tax bill, pay it, and bring the paid receipt.

  5. 5

    Title and register

    Pay the $15 title fee and the $40 two-year registration at an SCDMV branch, or mail the documents by certified mail.

What to bring

  • The title, signed over to you
  • Title Application (SCDMV Form 400)
  • Paid county property tax receipt
  • Your SC license or ID, or Form TI-006C if you have neither
  • Payment for the title and registration

Estimate your South Carolina costs

For a family transfer, enter $0 as the price to see the title and registration fees.

Open the full South Carolina calculator

Vehicle & Transaction Details

Enter purchase information to calculate true out-of-pocket costs in South Carolina.

51 Jurisdictions Active
South Carolina 5% tax base
$
7 years old
South Carolina tag options
2-Year Term (South Carolina registers for two years)
EV surcharge rules
Lien fee: $0.00
South Carolina: Deductible
$

South Carolina Statute: South Carolina allows trade-in value on private sales to be deducted from the purchase price before applying the 5% fee.

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Estimated taxes & fees

Estimated taxes & fees

Jurisdiction

South Carolina

Estimated taxes & fees
$555.00

Sales/Excise Tax + Title Certificate + Tags & Registration

Itemized Line ItemEstimated Fee
1Vehicle Sales / Excise Tax (5%)

Statutory maximum tax cap applied ($500.00)

$500.00
2Certificate of Title Fee

Standard state title certificate issuance

$15.00
3Lien / Security Filing Fee

Unfinanced / cash purchase (waived $0.00)

$0.00
4Registration & Tag Fee

Base license plates & tags

$40.00

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South Carolina rates last verified: October 2026
Official Notice & Statutory Disclaimers

Estimates only, not tax or legal advice. Verify with the SCDMV.

The estimate uses the price you enter. The SCDMV may use a used-vehicle guide value instead, so the fee can differ.

County vehicle property tax, due before registration, is not included.

A vehicle first titled in another state pays a $250 IMF instead when registered here, which the estimate does not apply.

Registration is $36 instead of $40 at age 65 or with a disability.

County & Local Tax Note: South Carolina charges a one-time 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF), up to $500, instead of sales tax. Before you can register, you pay the county property tax on the vehicle, which is not included here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this SCDMV process.

Yes. Grandparents and grandchildren are on South Carolina’s immediate family list.

Sources

Last verified: October 2026. Rules change, so check with SCDMV before you go.

More South Carolina guides

How to Title a Private Car Sale in South CarolinaThe title, Form 400, property tax, 45 days, and the IMF.Titling a Car in South Carolina After Moving From Another StateProperty tax first, then $305: the $250 IMF, title, and plate.
South Carolina Private Party Car Tax Calculator