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Bill of sale · South Carolina

South Carolina Bill of Sale

South Carolina's $500 fee cap makes expensive cars cheap to transfer — and its county-tax-first sequence makes every buyer walk a particular path: auditor, treasurer, then DMV. Form 4031 and the whole route, explained.

The South Carolina answer

Form 4031, the $500 cap, and the county-first route.

A South Carolina private sale needs the signed title and a bill of sale showing the full price — Form 4031 being the official article — and rewards reading the map before driving: the county auditor bills the property tax, the treasurer takes payment, and SCDMV finishes the title and plate only after both, all within the buyer’s 45-day window. The 5% IMF (capped at $500) replaces sales tax entirely.
Official state form
Form 4031 — South Carolina Bill of Sale
Verified SCDMV copy — note SCDMV branches also issue a secured dealer version; this is the private-party form.
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Photos make it complete
Build a photo bill of sale beside Form 4031
Fair-market-value questions on private sales settle faster with the condition on camera.
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Palmetto questions

South Carolina specifics, answered.

Is a bill of sale required in South Carolina?

For title transactions, yes — SCDMV requires a signed bill of sale or buyer's order showing the total sale price, and Form 4031 is the official version. It becomes truly indispensable when the title lacks price and odometer fields, which is typical of older titles.

What is the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee, and why do people like it?

The IMF replaced sales tax on vehicles in 2017: 5% of the price (or fair market value on private sales), capped at $500. Anything above a $10,000 vehicle hits the cap — a $40,000 truck pays the same $500 a $10,000 sedan does. SCDMV won't issue title or plate until it's paid.

Why does the county want money before the DMV will register?

South Carolina's famously backwards-feeling sequence: get a vehicle property tax bill from your county auditor (bring the VIN), pay the county treasurer, and only then take the paid receipt to SCDMV for plate and registration. Budget the trip order accordingly — auditor, treasurer, DMV.

What else should the parties know?

The buyer has 45 days to title and register. On the title application, the conjunction between co-owners matters: 'or' lets either owner act alone, 'and' requires both signatures. No notarization is required on Form 4031 or the title assignment — and buyers without an SC license use Form TI-006 to register.

Not legal advice. Verified against SCDMV, SC DOR, and county sources in July 2026 — official links in our 50-state requirements table.