Official fees
South Carolina title transfer fee chart
Title fee
$15.00
Infrastructure Maintenance Fee
5%, capped at $500
unless gift/inheritance/already-taxed
Late filing penalty, up to 14 days
$10.00
Late filing penalty, 15–30 days
$25.00
Late filing penalty, 31–90 days
$50.00
Late filing penalty, 90+ days
$75.00
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county treasurer/auditor for property tax, then the SCDMV for title and registration - counties can add small local fees.
Official South Carolina forms you'll need
- 400Title and/or Registration Application
required for every title transfer - sale, gift, or inheritance
Get the current version of each form from your county treasurer/auditor for property tax, then the SCDMV for title and registration before you file - agencies revise forms, and offices reject outdated ones.
Step by step
How to transfer a title in South Carolina
- 1
Seller signs the title's assignment section over to the buyer; both sign a bill of sale showing the price.
- 2
Complete Form 400 (Title and Registration Application), marking the gift box if it applies.
- 3
File Form 400 with the SCDMV - in person, by mail, or through an authorized dealer - within 45 days of the sale.
- 4
Pay the $15 title fee and the IMF (or confirm the exemption for a gift or already-taxed transfer).
- 5
Keep the receipt; the new title and registration follow by mail if not issued on the spot.
- Title fee
- $15
- Deadline
- 45 days
- IMF alongside it
- 5%, capped at $500
- Late penalty
- $10–$75
- Form
- SCDMV Form 400
Overview
Miss that 45-day window and South Carolina applies the same delinquent-registration penalty schedule used for renewals: $10 if you're a couple weeks late, climbing to $75 if you let it slide past 90 days. It's a flatter, gentler ladder than the percentage-based tax penalties some states use - but the title still isn't legally yours until it's filed, and driving or insuring an untitled vehicle can complicate a claim if something goes wrong.
Same state, other costs
More South Carolina vehicle costs
Common questions
South Carolina title transfer FAQ
- How much does a title transfer cost in South Carolina?
- The title itself is $15. In nearly every case you'll also owe the IMF - 5% of the price or fair market value, capped at $500 - so budget for both together unless the transfer is an exempt gift or inheritance.
- What's the deadline to transfer a title after buying a car in South Carolina?
- 45 days from the sale date, filed with the SCDMV on Form 400. That's noticeably longer than the 30-day window many states give buyers.
- What happens if I file the title transfer late?
- The same delinquent-registration penalty ladder as a late renewal applies: $10 up to 14 days late, $25 through 30 days, $50 through 90 days, and $75 past that - a flat dollar amount, not a percentage of the vehicle's price.
- Can I drive the car while the title transfer is pending?
- Yes, within the 45-day window, provided you have a bill of sale, valid insurance, and (if plates don't carry over) a temporary tag from the seller or dealer. Past 45 days without filing, you're both unregistered and racking up the late penalty.
- Does South Carolina require an odometer disclosure on the title transfer?
- Yes, for vehicles under 20 model years old - the odometer reading goes on Form 400 itself, filled out and signed by both buyer and seller at the time of sale.
- I inherited a vehicle - is the title transfer different?
- Inherited vehicles skip the IMF but still need Form 400, along with probate documentation (or a small-estate affidavit where no probate is required) proving you're the rightful heir. The $15 title fee still applies.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
