SC · Registration fee guide
South Carolina car registration fees
Last verified · View sources
South Carolina registers passenger cars for two years at a time.
Your itemized estimate
Estimate your registration
Use your vehicle details to calculate the listed fees. Amounts reflect the schedule verified in 2026.
Start with the published example below, then adjust the details for your vehicle.
Published example · listed fees
$40.0024-month renewal example
No listed fees for this selection.
- State fees$40.00
- County / local$0.00
- One-time$0.00
View breakdown data
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| State fees | $40.00 |
| County / local | $0.00 |
| One-time | $0.00 |
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Biennial registration fee (private passenger vehicle) | $40.00 |
Estimate only. Includes only the fees listed here; other taxes, penalties or local charges may apply. Confirm with the official agency.
Confirm with South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)
Registration fee schedule
Only applicable fees contribute to your estimate. Optional fees are excluded unless selected. One-time fees apply only to new registrations.
| Fee | Amount or rule | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Biennial registration fee (private passenger vehicle) | $40.00 S.C. Code 56-3-620(B): $40 every two years for owners under 64. Owners aged 64 pay $38, and owners 65 or older or with a qualifying disability pay $36 (56-3-620(A), (D)); these reductions are not modeled. | All listed vehiclesAll listed vehicles |
| Road use fee (electric and other non-motor-fuel vehicles) | $120.00 S.C. Code 56-3-645(A)(1): $120 biennial road use fee for vehicles powered exclusively by electricity, hydrogen or another fuel not subject to the motor fuel user fee, in addition to registration. | See conditionsfuel type: electric |
| Road use fee (hybrid vehicles) | $60.00 S.C. Code 56-3-645(A)(2): $60 biennial road use fee for vehicles powered by a combination of motor fuel and electricity or another untaxed fuel. | See conditionsfuel type: hybrid |
| Title fee | $15.00 SCDMV Moving to SC page: $15 title fee. | New registrationAll listed vehicles; one-time |
| Infrastructure maintenance fee (5% of purchase price, $500 maximum) | 5% of vehicle value; maximum $500.00 SCDMV Buying or Selling a Car page: 5% of the purchase price, but no more than $500; most vehicles owe this instead of sales tax. New residents bringing a vehicle into the state pay a flat $250 instead (see notes). | New registrationAll listed vehicles; one-time |
How South Carolina fees work
South Carolina registers passenger cars for two years at a time. The state registration fee is $40 every two years ($38 if you are 64, $36 if you are 65 or older or have a disability), and electric cars add a $120 road use fee while hybrids add $60. Before SCDMV will register a car you must pay your county's vehicle property tax, which varies by county. Buyers pay a one-time infrastructure maintenance fee of 5% of the price, capped at $500, and a $15 title fee.
The listed registration period is 24 months. Agency information
Cost factors: flat, fuel, value, county.
Electric & hybrid surcharges
Electric: $120.00 in the listed schedule. Fee source
Hybrid: $60.00 in the listed schedule. Fee source
Choose the matching fuel type in the calculator to include the applicable surcharge.
Late registration
S.C. Code 56-3-840: $10 if less than 15 days late, $25 at 15 to 29 days, $50 at 30 to 89 days and $75 at 90 days or more.
Confirm deadlines and penalties with the agencyWorked example
2022 gas sedan, $25,000 value, two-year renewal for an owner under 64: $40 biennial registration fee. County property tax is paid separately to the county before renewal and is not included.
Listed total: $40.00
See the fee rules and sources aboveCommon questions
How are South Carolina registration fees calculated?
South Carolina registers passenger cars for two years at a time. The state registration fee is $40 every two years ($38 if you are 64, $36 if you are 65 or older or have a disability), and electric cars add a $120 road use fee while hybrids add $60. Before SCDMV will register a car you must pay your county's vehicle property tax, which varies by county. Buyers pay a one-time infrastructure maintenance fee of 5% of the price, capped at $500, and a $15 title fee.
Where can I confirm my final registration cost?
Confirm the final amount with South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). Its official website is linked below the calculator and in this guide’s sources.
What other limitations should I consider?
All amounts cover the standard two-year registration period. You must pay your county's vehicle property tax and show the paid receipt before SCDMV will register or renew the vehicle. That tax depends on the car's value and local millage and is billed by the county, so it is not included. New residents pay a flat $250 infrastructure maintenance fee per vehicle (once only) rather than 5% of a purchase price; SCDMV says a typical new resident pays $305 ($250 IMF + $15 title + $40 registration) plus county property tax. The calculator's 'new' option applies the purchase rule (5%, $500 cap), so a new resident's estimate may be up to $250 too high. Owners aged 64 ($38) or 65 and older or with a disability ($36) pay less. Trucks are charged by declared gross weight under S.C. Code 56-3-660, and specialty plate fees are extra; neither is modeled.
Sources and last checked
Sources
- South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 56 Chapter 3 (sections 56-3-610, 56-3-620, 56-3-645, 56-3-840) South Carolina Legislature
- Moving to SC (vehicle) SCDMV
- Buying or Selling a Car SCDMV
- Registration SCDMV
Last verified
Fees can change. Confirm your final amount with the official registration agency before paying.
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