How to Sell a Car in South Carolina Privately? (State Guide)

The buyer has 45 days from the date of sale to complete the title transfer and registration with the SCDMV. If that deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, they have until the next business day.

If they miss the window, the penalty is a $10 late fee for 46 to 60 days, $25 for 61 to 75 days, $50 for 76 to 135 days, and $75 for over 135 days. Filing Form 416 (Notice of Vehicle Sold) Immediately protects you from any liability during that window.

In South Carolina, title notarization is not required. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.

A bill of sale is not required for most private vehicle sales in South Carolina.

South Carolina accepts a generic bill of sale for most sales, with SCDMV-issued form required only when sales price and odometer cannot be recorded on the back of the title or for vehicles originally titled before June 19, 1989.

For most sales, a bill of sale is optional but worth having in writing.

Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender.

In South Carolina, the lender either signs off directly on the title or provides a signed lien release letter, and the loan must be paid off before the sale.

If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.

In South Carolina, probate court issues either a Probate Court Order, an Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property Pursuant to Small Estate Proceedings, or a Certificate of Appointment for a Personal Representative, submitted with Form 400 to the SCDMV.

Contact the SCDMV directly to confirm what your situation requires, as requirements vary depending on estate value and whether probate was filed.

It depends on how the title reads. If the names are joined with “AND,” both owners must sign the title. If the names are joined with “OR,” only one signature is needed.

Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. South Carolina does not accept corrected titles.

You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form 400, pay $15, and start the transfer fresh once you receive the clean replacement.

Your obligations as the seller don’t change. Follow the same SC process: sign the title, handle your plates, and file your release of liability. The buyer will register the car in their home state using the SC-signed title.

Some states require a VIN inspection for out-of-state vehicles, but that’s the buyer’s responsibility to handle on their end. You don’t need to do anything extra.

In South Carolina, license plates stay with the seller, since plates belong to the owner and not the vehicle. You can remove your plates before the buyer drives away, then transfer them to another vehicle you own or surrender them at any SCDMV branch, by mail, or by decommissioning your registration online through the SCDMV portal.

Yes. South Carolina requires you to file Form 416 (Notice of Vehicle Sold) Immediately. Download the form from the SCDMV website, then Drop off Form 416 at any SCDMV branch, or mail it to SCDMV Mail-in Registration in Blythewood..

This form doesn’t legally transfer ownership. It protects you from liability for parking tickets, accidents, or other incidents that happen after you’ve sold the car. There’s no fee to file.

For most sales, your first step is to get a duplicate title using Form 400 for $15. The replacement takes 7 to 10 business days for South Carolina replacement titles by mail.

If the car is junk and can’t be titled, a car can be sold without a title to a licensed demolisher or secondary metals recycler if all four conditions are met: the seller is the owner with the title lost or destroyed (or the vehicle is abandoned on the seller's property), the vehicle is twelve model years old or older, has no valid registration plate affixed, and has no engine or is otherwise totally inoperable. The seller signs Form TI-014A Affidavit of Disposal of Vehicle to a Demolisher/Secondary Metals Recycler to authorize the disposal, and SC Code 56-5-5670(E)(1) permits disposal of a qualifying vehicle to a licensed demolisher or secondary metals recycler without a title certificate.

This exception only applies when selling to a demolisher or recycler for parts or scrap. You can’t sell to a regular private buyer without a title.