State service guide

South Carolina title transfer: 45-day deadline, property-tax-first move-in process, and late-fee ladder

South Carolina treats title transfers and first registrations as closely linked, but the state adds some unusual steps and deadlines. In a private sale, the buyer usually needs the signed title, Form 400, and a signed bill of sale or buyer's order, and the newly purchased vehicle must be registered within 45 days. New residents also have 45 days, but they must usually pay county property tax before the South Carolina DMV can complete the first registration.

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Purchase deadline Register a newly purchased vehicle within 45 days
New resident deadline Transfer title and registration within 45 days of moving to South Carolina
Base title fee $15 standard title fee or $35 expedited title fee
Main tax Infrastructure Maintenance Fee is generally 5% of sales price up to $500

Overview

What this page helps you verify

A practical South Carolina title-transfer page should emphasize the 45-day clock and the tax structure. Private buyers need to understand the infrastructure maintenance fee and the late-fee ladder, while movers need to know that changing insurance and paying county property tax come before the first South Carolina registration. The state also warns that an out-of-state title may delay final title issuance until it clears NMVTIS, even if registration is issued first.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-21. This page was manually upgraded against service-specific official sources, but requirements can still change quickly.

Usually needed

Documents and information to prepare

  • Assigned title showing the sale price and odometer reading
  • Completed Form 400 title application
  • Signed bill of sale or buyer's order
  • South Carolina insurance if the vehicle will be registered
  • For customers without an SC license or ID in the required scenario, TI-006
  • For new residents, paid county property tax receipt and recent out-of-state registration

Typical flow

What the process often looks like

  1. Complete the title assignment carefully at the sale, including price and odometer information.
  2. Bring the title, Form 400, and signed bill of sale or buyer's order to an SCDMV branch or mail the package to the state if your case allows it.
  3. If you moved to South Carolina, switch to South Carolina insurance and pay county property tax before trying to finish the first registration.
  4. Complete the registration within 45 days so you avoid South Carolina's escalating late fees.

Private sales

South Carolina expects more than just a signed title on most private transfers

The title, application, and sale record all matter together.

  • The buyer needs the title signed over to them with the sale price and odometer reading entered on the back.
  • SCDMV also requires a signed bill of sale or buyer's order for title transactions.
  • The standard state title application is Form 400.

Deadlines and late fees

South Carolina's late-fee ladder makes the 45-day deadline more expensive the longer it is ignored

This is one of the clearest timing rules on the page.

  • A newly purchased vehicle must be registered within 45 days of the purchase date.
  • After that, South Carolina escalates the late fee based on how overdue the registration is.
  • Current Form 400 instructions show separate late-fee levels for 46 to 60 days, 61 to 75 days, 76 to 135 days, and more than 135 days late.

New residents

Moving into South Carolina adds a county property tax step before first registration

This is the most important move-in trap to surface clearly.

  • A new resident has 45 days to transfer title and registration into South Carolina.
  • Before going to SCDMV, the new resident usually must update insurance to a South Carolina-authorized carrier and work with the county auditor or treasurer to generate and pay the property tax bill.
  • SCDMV says registration can sometimes issue before the new title is mailed, because the out-of-state title still has to clear NMVTIS.

Fees and tax

In South Carolina, the infrastructure maintenance fee is often the biggest transaction cost

That cost is far more consequential than the title fee itself.

  • The standard title fee is $15, or $35 for expedited in-person title processing.
  • Most private-sale title transfers also require the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee, generally 5% of the sales price up to a $500 cap unless an exemption applies.
  • Registration, county property tax, and other local charges can increase the total significantly for new residents.

Accuracy notes

Where people get tripped up

  • South Carolina title-transfer pages should surface the 45-day deadline and late-fee ladder early, because those timing rules are explicit and consumer-relevant.
  • For new residents, the county property tax step is a major practical blocker and should be treated as part of the main process, not a sidebar.
  • The state's NMVTIS clearance note for out-of-state titles is useful because registration and final title issuance do not always happen on the same timetable.

FAQ

Common questions

  • How long do I have to register a car after buying it in South Carolina?

    South Carolina requires a newly purchased vehicle to be registered within 45 days of the purchase date.

  • What extra step do new residents face before first registration in South Carolina?

    New residents usually need to pay county property tax before SCDMV can complete the first South Carolina registration.

  • Does South Carolina require more than the signed title on a private sale?

    Yes. SCDMV also calls for Form 400 and a signed bill of sale or buyer's order in ordinary title-transfer cases.

Sources

Official references used for this page

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