States · South Carolina

South Carolina Vehicle Registration Cost

South Carolina has one of the most distinctive vehicle tax structures in the US: traditional sales tax was replaced in July 2017 by the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF), which is 5% of purchase price BUT capped at $500. For any vehicle over $10,000, the IMF is exactly $500 — making SC one of the cheapest large states for buying expensive vehicles. New residents pay a flat $250 IMF on out-of-state transfers. Beyond the IMF, vehicles face an annual property tax collected by counties (6% assessment ratio × local millage rate, roughly 1.5% effective), which must be paid BEFORE SCDMV will renew registration. A new $35,000 vehicle in a typical SC county runs about $985 in first-year costs (driven by the $500 IMF + $446 first-year property tax), with annual renewals around $466 dropping as the vehicle depreciates.

How South Carolina calculates registration

• Biennial Registration Fee (annualized) — $20 (annual) South Carolina registers passenger vehicles biennially at $40 for 2 years. Shown here as $20/year for comparability with other states; you actually pay $40 every 2 years. Seniors 65+ get a reduced rate of $24 every 2 years.
• Annual Vehicle Property Tax (county-determined) — 1.5% of depreciated value (annual) Per SC Code §12-43-220. Vehicles are assessed at 6% of market value, then taxed at the county/school district millage rate. Statewide median millage is around 250 mills, giving an effective rate of 1.5% on full vehicle value. The tax is collected by your county treasurer (NOT SCDMV) — you must pay it BEFORE SCDMV will renew your registration. Tax rates vary by county: Charleston ~225 mills, Greenville ~280 mills, Richland ~300 mills.
• Title Fee — $15 (one-time) One-time fee for new title or transfer.
• License Plate Fee — $5 (one-time) One-time fee for new plate at initial registration.

Sales tax

South Carolina charges 5% state Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) . Trade-in credit: full. Tax basis: purchase price.

South Carolina replaced vehicle sales tax with the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee in July 2017 (SC Code §56-3-627 and §12-36-2647). The IMF is 5% of the purchase price BUT CAPPED AT $500 — meaning any vehicle priced over $10,000 pays exactly $500. This makes SC one of the cheapest states for purchasing expensive vehicles: a $100,000 luxury vehicle pays only $500 in IMF vs. ~$7,000-$8,000 in sales tax in most other states. New residents transferring an out-of-state vehicle pay a flat $250 IMF instead. Trade-in is fully credited against the taxable price before the 5% calculation.

Electric vehicle surcharge

South Carolina charges an additional $120/year for electric vehicles.

Per SC Code §56-3-645. Battery EVs pay $120/year additional ($60 every 2 years on biennial cycle); hybrids pay $60/year. The fee is collected as part of the biennial registration. South Carolina does not currently offer state-level EV purchase incentives.

What makes South Carolina distinctive

• South Carolina's IMF cap at $500 makes it dramatically cheaper than most states for expensive vehicles. A $100,000 luxury vehicle pays $500 IMF in SC vs. roughly $7,000 in California, $7,250 in Texas, or $8,000 in Tennessee. Even a $35,000 vehicle saves about $1,250 vs. a 5% state sales tax with no cap.
• South Carolina's annual vehicle property tax must be paid to your COUNTY TREASURER (not SCDMV) before the DMV will renew your registration. You get a property tax bill from the county; you pay it; you bring the receipt to SCDMV (or pay online); only then will your registration renew. This two-step process catches new residents off guard.
• South Carolina vehicle property tax varies enormously by county. The 6% assessment ratio is statewide, but millage rates differ: Charleston ~225 mills, Greenville ~280 mills, Richland (Columbia) ~300 mills, Beaufort ~210 mills. Effective rates on full vehicle value range from about 1.2% to 2.1%.
• South Carolina charges new residents a FLAT $250 IMF on the first vehicle transferred from another state — regardless of vehicle value. So a new resident bringing a $5,000 used car pays $250 IMF (more than the 5% calculation would give); a new resident bringing a $50,000 car pays $250 (less than the $500 cap would give). It's a fixed-rate alternative for relocators.
• South Carolina is one of about 20 states with no state-level EV purchase incentive as of 2026. Combined with the $120/year EV surcharge, SC is moderately expensive for EV ownership — though the $500 IMF cap helps offset the higher purchase prices of premium EVs.