South Carolina Car Sales Tax Calculator (2026)

• South Carolina charges a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee instead of sales tax on a vehicle, capped at $500.
• Any vehicle with a net price of $10,000 or more pays the full $500 fee.

Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF)

5%, capped at $500.00

Local tax

None on vehicles

Trade-in

Full credit: reduces the taxable price

Manufacturer rebate

Taxed: tax is figured before the rebate

Figured with South Carolina's rules for a buyer from a dealer.

• Used car, no trade-in$500

  $18,000 price. Taxed on $18,000.

• New car with a trade-in$500

  $35,000 price, $10,000 trade-in. Taxed on $25,000. The trade-in does not lower the tax.

• New car with a trade-in and a rebate$500

  $45,000 price, $15,000 trade-in, $2,000 rebate. Taxed on $30,000. The trade-in does not lower the tax. The rebate does not lower the tax.

These examples treat the agreed price as the taxable price. Where a state uses a book value instead, the tax can differ.

South Carolina has no local tax on vehicles, so buyers in Charleston, Columbia and North Charleston and everywhere else in South Carolina are figured at the same state rate: $500 on a new $30,000 car. Whether the tax applies to your purchase still depends on the rules above.

The calculator covers a car bought from a dealer. These rules apply to other ways of buying or bringing a car to South Carolina.

Buying from a private seller

A car bought from a private seller pays the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee of 5% of the purchase price, capped at $500, when it is titled at the SCDMV. The law measures the fee on fair market value, defined as the total purchase price less any trade-in, or the value in a national used-car guide adopted by the SCDMV, less any trade-in. (dmv.sc.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

A car received as a gift

A car transferred to a member of the immediate family (spouse, parents, children, sisters, brothers, grandparents or grandchildren) is excluded from the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee. Transfers to a legal heir, legatee or distributee are also excluded. (scstatehouse.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Moving to South Carolina with your car

A car already titled or registered in another state by its owner pays a one-time $250 Infrastructure Maintenance Fee when first registered in South Carolina, instead of the 5% fee. Active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their spouses and dependents do not pay this $250 fee. (scstatehouse.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Active-duty military

South Carolina residents serving in the Armed Forces pay the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee when buying a car like other buyers. The one-time $250 fee on a car first registered in another state does not apply to active-duty members, their spouses or dependents. (dmv.sc.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Deadline to pay

South Carolina law requires a newly purchased vehicle to be registered within 45 days of the purchase date. A dealer collects the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee and generally handles titling and registration; a buyer from a private seller pays the fee when titling at the SCDMV. (dmv.sc.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

Paying late

Registering a newly acquired vehicle late adds a penalty of $10 at 46 to 60 days, $25 at 61 to 75 days, $50 at 76 to 135 days and $75 after 135 days. Driving a vehicle whose registration was not obtained within 30 days of when it was required is a misdemeanor. (dmv.sc.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)

South Carolina ranks 5th lowest of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for tax on a $30,000 car. See all states.

Tax on a $30,000 car before trade-in, in nearby states. You generally pay tax based on where you register the car.

• South Carolina$500
• North Carolina$900
• Georgia$2,100

• All car calculators
• Sales tax calculators by state
• Car sales tax by state
• Trade-in tax credit by state
• Car cost by state
• South Carolina out-the-door price
• Auto loan calculator

• Georgia car sales tax
• North Carolina car sales tax