South Carolina Car Sales Tax Calculator

What you pay in tax when you buy a vehicle in South Carolina, from the statute and the revenue department.

Verified September 21, 2026 · statute and revenue department cross-checked

Vehicle price (USD) Trade-in value (USD)

Buying the car is only half the cost. You still owe an annual registration fee.

See South Carolina vehicle registration fees →

What to know about South Carolina

South Carolina is the cheapest state in the country for an expensive car. The fee is capped at $500, so a $100,000 vehicle costs the same as a $10,000 one. Since July 2017 vehicles pay this fee instead of sales tax, and no local sales tax applies. Moving in from another state with a car you already own costs a flat $250.

Sources

Statute: S.C. Code § 56-3-627

South Carolina DMV, Fees
“Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) | 5% of the purchase price, but no more than $500 ... One-time fee for new vehicle previously registered in another state | $250”

South Carolina Revenue Ruling 18-1
“The infrastructure maintenance fee is remitted to SCDMV and is imposed at a rate of 5% of the gross proceeds of the sale, not to exceed $500 ... Sales that are subject to the new infrastructure maintenance fee are exempt from state and local sales and use taxes”

Last verified: September 21, 2026.

Estimates only. Your dealer or the state issues the final bill, and exemptions can change what you owe. This page does not collect or store anything you enter.