How to transfer a car title in South Carolina, step by step
Private sale, family gift or out-of-state move: here’s the exact SC title transfer chain — what to sign, what it costs, which office goes first — and the shortcut where we run it for you.
What you need before anyone stands in line
- The title, properly signed: seller signs as seller, buyer as buyer, and the odometer reading goes in the disclosure section. An incomplete or corrected-with-white-out title is the #1 rejection at the window.
- Bill of sale: date, price, VIN, names and signatures. Required to calculate the IMF and protects both sides.
- Form 400 (Title Application): the SCDMV application the buyer completes.
- Insurance and ID: the buyer needs active SC insurance on the vehicle and a valid photo ID.
- Lien release, if the title shows a bank or lender that has been paid off.
What it costs
The state charges a $15 title fee plus the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF): 5% of the purchase price, capped at $500. Registration and plate fees are added if you register at the same time, and your county property tax bill follows on its own cycle.
Family transfers (spouse, parent-child) may qualify for IMF exemption — bring proof of relationship. Gifts still need a title transfer and Form 400.
The order of operations in Greenville
For a straight purchase transfer you can go directly to the SCDMV (15 Saluda Dam Rd in Greenville) with the documents above. But if the transfer triggers a registration — new resident, expired plates — the Greenville County tax office comes first, DMV second. Getting that order wrong is how a 30-minute errand becomes two half-days.
Deadline to remember: title and register within 45 days of the purchase or of establishing SC residency, or late fees start stacking.
Or skip all of it: we run the transfer for $85
Send photos of the title, bill of sale and your ID by WhatsApp. We verify everything is signed correctly before anyone drives, fix what’s fixable, then run the county office and DMV in the right order. You get the receipt and new registration without missing work. Flat $85 service fee plus official fees at cost, usually done in 1–2 business days.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in SC?
The state title fee is $15, plus the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee of 5% of the purchase price (capped at $500). Add registration/plate fees if registering at the same time. Our full errand service is $85 flat on top of official fees.
How long do I have to transfer a title in South Carolina?
45 days from the purchase date (or from establishing SC residency for out-of-state moves). After that, late fees apply and unregistered-vehicle tickets become a risk.
Can I transfer a title without the seller present?
Yes, if the seller has fully and correctly signed the title and bill of sale. The buyer (or someone running the errand with the buyer’s signed forms) completes the transfer at the SCDMV.
The seller made a mistake on the title. What now?
Never use white-out or scratch-outs — SCDMV rejects altered titles. Depending on the error, the fix ranges from a correction affidavit to the seller ordering a duplicate title. Send us a photo before doing anything; diagnosing this is free.
Do I need a VIN inspection for an out-of-state vehicle?
Some out-of-state transfers require VIN verification. We confirm whether your case needs it when you send your documents, so you only make trips that are actually necessary.
Want the title transferred without the lines?
Message us on WhatsApp, tell us what you need, and get an exact price and the earliest appointment within minutes.