South Carolina Private Party Car Tax Calculator
Calculate your true first-year out-of-pocket costs for a private vehicle sale in South Carolina. Accurately accounts for 5% excise/sales tax, $15.00 certificate of title fee, 2-year tag registration, and state-specific regulations.
Vehicle & Transaction Details
Enter purchase information to calculate true out-of-pocket costs in South Carolina.
South Carolina Statute: South Carolina allows trade-in value on private sales to be deducted from the purchase price before applying the 5% fee.
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.
South Carolina’s sources do not say whether its electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid fees apply to motorcycles, so the estimate leaves them out for a motorcycle. Confirm with the SCDMV.
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.
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Estimated taxes & fees
South Carolina
Sales/Excise Tax + Title Certificate + Tags & Registration
Statutory maximum tax cap applied ($500.00)
Standard state title certificate issuance
Unfinanced / cash purchase (waived $0.00)
Base license plates & tags
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.
South Carolina’s sources do not say whether its electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid fees apply to motorcycles, so the estimate leaves them out for a motorcycle. Confirm with the SCDMV.
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: South Carolina Vehicle Taxes & Fees
Essential statutory answers regarding South Carolina vehicle sales taxes, titling requirements, and registration fees.
South Carolina charges a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) instead of sales tax when you first title or register a vehicle, up to $500.
South Carolina Guides
Step-by-step help for titling and tagging a vehicle in South Carolina:
Other State Car Tax Calculators
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