South Carolina Vehicle Tax Calculator
South Carolina doesn’t charge sales tax on cars. Instead, you pay a one-time Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) of 5%, capped at $500. Any vehicle priced at $10,000 or more pays the full $500. You also pay a $15 title fee, $40 for a two-year registration, and a yearly county property tax.
Use this South Carolina vehicle tax calculator to estimate the IMF, title and tag costs. The guide below explains the property tax that county auditors bill each year, and how to pay it.
Checked against the SC Department of Revenue, SCDMV, the SC Code and county auditor pages on October 5, 2026. This is an independent estimate. SCDMV and your county set the final amounts.
South Carolina Vehicle Taxes and Fees at a Glance
| Charge | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) | 5% of the price, up to $500 | Once, at titling |
| IMF for new residents | $250 flat | Once |
| Title | $15 ($35 expedited) | Once |
| Registration, passenger car | $40 | Every 2 years |
| Electric vehicle road use fee | $120 | Every 2 years |
| Hybrid road use fee | $60 | Every 2 years |
| Vehicle property tax | Varies by county | Every year, before you register |
On this page15 sections
- South Carolina Vehicle Taxes and Fees at a Glance
- How the South Carolina IMF Works
- Who Doesn’t Pay the IMF?
- South Carolina Vehicle Tax Examples
- South Carolina Vehicle Property Tax
- How to Pay Your SC Vehicle Tax
- South Carolina Title and Registration Fees
- Moving to South Carolina
- Deadlines
- How to Calculate SC Vehicle Tax by Hand
- What This Estimate Includes
- What This Estimate Does Not Include
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Sources
How the South Carolina IMF Works
The IMF replaced sales tax on vehicles in July 2017. Vehicles that pay the IMF are exempt from state and local sales tax.
IMF = 5% × (price − trade-in), up to $500
- From a dealer: 5% of the sale price. The dealer collects it and sends it to SCDMV.
- From a private seller: 5% of fair market value, paid to SCDMV when you title the car. State law defines that as the price minus any trade-in, or a value from a national used-car guide.
- Trade-ins: subtracted before the 5% is figured. That only matters when the net price is under $10,000.
| Price after trade-in | IMF |
|---|---|
| $4,000 | $200 |
| $6,000 | $300 |
| $8,000 | $400 |
| $10,000 | $500 |
| $50,000 | $500 (cap) |
Who Doesn’t Pay the IMF?
Section 56-3-627 of the SC Code exempts these transfers:
- Transfers to a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild
- Transfers to legal heirs or beneficiaries of an estate
- Transfers to a partnership or corporation when it’s formed
- Licensed dealers and lenders taking vehicles for resale, and repossessions
Active-duty military members and their families may also qualify. Bring your orders and military ID to SCDMV and ask.
South Carolina Vehicle Tax Examples
Example 1: New SUV from a dealer
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price $35,000 − $10,000 trade-in | $25,000 |
| IMF (5% = $1,250, capped) | $500.00 |
| Title | $15.00 |
| Registration (2 years) | $40.00 |
| Total before property tax | $555.00 |
Example 2: Older car from a private seller
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $6,000 |
| IMF (5%) | $300.00 |
| Title | $15.00 |
| Registration (2 years) | $40.00 |
| Total before property tax | $355.00 |
Example 3: New electric car
A $45,000 EV pays the $500 IMF, $15 title, $40 registration and the $120 road use fee. That’s $675 before property tax.
South Carolina Vehicle Property Tax
This is the “vehicle tax” most South Carolinians pay every year. Your county auditor sets it, and you must pay it before SCDMV will issue or renew your plate.
Property tax = fair market value × 6% × your millage rate
- Fair market value comes from the SCDOR Motor Vehicle Values Guide, not the price you paid.
- 6% is the assessment ratio for personal cars and light trucks up to 11,000 lbs. Most other vehicles use 10.5%.
- Millage is set by your county, city and school district. One mill is $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Example: a car valued at $30,000 has an assessed value of $1,800 (6%). At 300 mills, the yearly tax is $1,800 × 0.300 = $540. Your millage may be higher or lower, so check your county’s rate.
Vehicle tax is billed a year in advance. It usually drops each year as the car loses value.
How to Pay Your SC Vehicle Tax
South Carolina vehicle tax payment goes to your county treasurer, not SCDMV. The usual order:
- Your county mails a vehicle tax notice before your registration runs out.
- Pay the county treasurer online, by mail or in person. Most counties take card or e-check payments on their website.
- Once the tax is paid, renew your registration with SCDMV. Many counties send a combined notice so you can do both at once.
- Your new decal and registration arrive by mail.
Just bought from a dealer? If the dealer handled your plate, Greenville County says the property tax is due 120 days after the plate was first issued. Other counties use similar timing. Watch for your first bill.
Sold or traded your old car? Turn in the plate or move it to your new car. Some counties refund the unused months if you return the plate within 30 days.
South Carolina Title and Registration Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title | $15 |
| Expedited title (in person) | $35 |
| Passenger car registration (2 years) | $40 |
| Age 64 (2 years) | $38 |
| Age 65 and up, or disabled (2 years) | $36 |
| Motorcycle (2 years) | $10 |
| Electric vehicle road use fee (2 years) | $120 |
| Hybrid road use fee (2 years) | $60 |
| Late registration penalty | $10 to $75, depending on how late |
A bill in the General Assembly would double the EV fee to $200 and the hybrid fee to $100. As of October 2026 it hadn’t passed, so the amounts above still apply.
Moving to South Carolina
New residents pay a flat $250 IMF on a vehicle already titled and registered in another state, plus the title and registration fees. You’ll also pay county property tax before SCDMV issues your plate. Register within 45 days of moving.
Coming from a neighboring state? Compare what you paid before with our North Carolina highway use tax guide or Florida tax, title and license costs, or see every state on our tax, title and license calculator.
Military
Active-duty service members whose legal home is outside South Carolina can get a 100% exemption from vehicle property tax (50% if the car is jointly owned). You must reapply each year with your county auditor.
Deadlines
- Title and register within 45 days of buying the vehicle or moving to SC. Temporary tags last up to 45 days.
- Pay your county vehicle tax before every renewal. SCDMV won’t renew with unpaid taxes.
- Late registration costs $10 to $75.
How to Calculate SC Vehicle Tax by Hand
- Take the price and subtract your trade-in.
- Multiply by 5%. If the result is over $500, use $500. New residents use $250. Exempt family transfers use $0.
- Add the $15 title and $40 registration.
- Add $120 for an EV or $60 for a hybrid.
- Estimate property tax: value × 6% × your millage.
What This Estimate Includes
- IMF with the $500 cap
- Title fee
- Two-year registration
- EV and hybrid road use fees
What This Estimate Does Not Include
- County vehicle property tax (shown as “varies”)
- Dealer closing or doc fees
- Expedited title, specialty plates and late penalties
- Insurance and loan interest
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying 6% sales tax. South Carolina uses the IMF, capped at $500.
- Paying the IMF on a family gift. Spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren are exempt.
- Forgetting the property tax. It can cost more each year than the IMF does once.
- Using your price for property tax. Counties use the SCDOR value guide.
- Trying to renew before paying the county. SCDMV needs your paid taxes first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does South Carolina have sales tax on cars?
No. It charges a one-time 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee, capped at $500.
How much is tax on a $30,000 car in South Carolina?
$500 for the IMF, plus the $15 title, $40 registration and your yearly county property tax.
Do I pay the IMF on a private sale?
Yes. You pay 5% of fair market value, up to $500, when you title the car at SCDMV.
How do I pay my vehicle tax in South Carolina?
Pay your county treasurer online, by mail or in person. Then renew your registration with SCDMV.
How much do new residents pay?
A flat $250 IMF, $15 title, $40 registration and county property tax.
How much are EV fees in SC?
$120 every two years for an electric vehicle and $60 for a hybrid, on top of registration.
Official Sources
- SC Department of Revenue: Information Letter #22-17, Infrastructure Maintenance Fee
- SC Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 3 (Sections 56-3-627 IMF and 56-3-645 road use fees)
- SCDMV: Fees
- SC General Assembly: Bill 636 (2025–2026), proposed EV and hybrid fee increase
- Lexington County Auditor: Motor vehicle tax FAQ
- Greenville County Auditor: Vehicle tax FAQ
This page is an independent estimate tool and guide. It isn’t affiliated with SCDOR, SCDMV or any county. Fees and millage rates change, so confirm your amount with SCDMV and your county before you pay.
William researches vehicle taxes, title fees, registration charges and DMV requirements across the United States. His work focuses on turning state-specific fee schedules, tax guidance, registration requirements and statutory information into practical explanations for vehicle buyers and owners. He cross-checks calculator inputs against official state revenue departments, motor vehicle agencies and published fee schedules, paying particular attention to differences between sales tax, title fees, registration charges and local or county taxes. He also reviews state-level changes so that calculator results and supporting articles reflect the latest available requirements rather than relying on outdated third-party estimates.
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