South Carolina Registration and Title Information

Summary of boat registration and titling rules in South Carolina

How do you register a boat in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, you can register your boat by mail or in person in Columbia, SC or Charleston, SC with proper required documentation depending on scenario.

Where do you register your boat in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, you register your boat at the SCDNR

What boats are required to be registered in South Carolina?

Any vessel with non-human powered propulsion is required to be registered in South Carolina

What boats do not require registration in South Carolina?

Sailboats without motorized or electronic propulsion are not required to be registered in South Carolina

Are USCG documented boats required to be registered in South Carolina?

USCG documented boats are not required to be registered in South Carolina

How much does it cost to register a boat in South Carolina?

To register a boat in South Carolina, the fees are as follows: • $20.00 - SC Boat Registration and Title - (Never been registered/titled before in SC / or previously documented) • $10.00 - Renew Boat Registration – Annual Registration Renewal • $20.00 - In State Change of Ownership - SC Boat Registration and Title (Only for boats that are currently registered/titled in South Carolina) • $10.00 - Watercraft Title (unpowered vessels) • $10.00 - Title - Sailboats without any propulsion/wind only • $20.00 - SC Sailboats Registration and Title with propulsion: outboard, trolling motors, diesel engines, inboard • $10.00 - New Motor Title (Never been titled before in SC or if the motor is titled in a titling state and is being transferred to SC or if the motor is not titled because it's coming from a non-titling state) • $10.00 - In State Change of Ownership - SC Outboard Motor Title (Only Outboard Motors that are currently titled in South Carolina) • $5.00 - Duplicate or Corrected Boat Title (Lost, adding a lien, name changes or address changes) • $5.00 - Duplicate Registration Card (Lost, or need more than one) • $5.00 - Duplicate Watercraft/Outboard Motor Decal • 5% of purchase or $500 - Casual Excise Tax - The fee for casual excise tax 5% of the purchase price and has a maximum of $500 if the boat and motor are purchased from same owner. When a boat is purchased as one unit, the casual excise is 5% of the purchase and has a maximum of $500. • 6% of purchase - Casual Excise Tax - When an outboard motor is purchased as one unit, the casual excise is 6% of the purchase and has no maximum fee.

How much does it cost to get a duplicate boat registration in South Carolina?

A duplicate boat registration in South Carolina costs $5.00

How much does it cost to get a duplicate boat decal in South Carolina?

A duplicate boat decal in South Carolina costs $5

How much does it cost to transfer a boat registration in South Carolina?

Transfering a boat registration in South Carolina will cost you $16

Does South Carolina title boats?

Boats are titled in South Carolina

Where do you title your boat in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, boats are titled through the SCDNR

What boats are required to be titled in South Carolina?

All motorized boats are required to be titled in South Carolina

What boats do not require a title in South Carolina?

The following boats are not required to be titled in South Carolina: • documented vessels • windsurfers, • paddleboards • sailboats • watercraft (canoes, kayak, etc.) propelled only by human power with oars, paddles, or similar devices • outboard motors under 5 hp

How much does it cost to get a duplicate boat title in South Carolina?

A duplicate boat title in South Carolina costs $5

How much does it cost to transfer a boat title in South Carolina?

Transferring a title in South Carolina has the following fees: • $16 if titled in SC • $40 if new to SC • $10 for outboard motors 5hp and greater currently titled in SC or New to SC

How much does it cost to record a lien on a boat in South Carolina?

There is not cost to record a lien on a boat in South Carolina

Does South Carolina issue e-titles for boats?

South Carolina does not issue e-titles for boats.

Does South Carolina require boat inspections?

South Carolina offers courtesy watercraft inspections on Holiday weekends at various locations throughout the state

What is the sales tax rate for boats in South Carolina?

The following rules apply to sales tax charged on boats in South Carolina: On boats and outboard motors 5HP and greater a 5% Casual Excise tax is due with a cap of $300. Single, replacement outboard motors 5hp and greater is taxed at 6% of purchase with no cap.

What is the sales tax cap for boats in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, the sales tax cap is $300 for boats and boats and outboard motors 5hp or greater

Does South Carolina have an annual tax on boats?

South Carolina has an annual personal property tax on boats based on value of watercraft and outboard motor.

Helpful Links for South Carolina:

SCDNR - Boating - Title and Register a Watercraft or Outboard Motor in SC SCDNR - Boating Forms

Used Boat Loans Used Boat Insurance Used Boat Warranty Boat Transport Boat Documentation State Reg/Title Documents Vessel Reg/Doc Rules

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South Carolina Boat Registration / Title Forms and FAQ

South Carolina Frequently Asked Questions

South Carolina Registration and Title Information: Summary of boat registration and titling rules in South Carolina
How do you register a boat in South Carolina?: In South Carolina, you can register your boat by mail or in person in Columbia, SC or Charleston, SC with proper required documentation depending on scenario.
Where do you register your boat in South Carolina?: In South Carolina, you register your boat at the SCDNR
What boats are required to be registered in South Carolina?: Any vessel with non-human powered propulsion is required to be registered in South Carolina
What boats do not require registration in South Carolina?: Sailboats without motorized or electronic propulsion are not required to be registered in South Carolina
Are USCG documented boats required to be registered in South Carolina?: USCG documented boats are not required to be registered in South Carolina
How much does it cost to register a boat in South Carolina?: To register a boat in South Carolina, the fees are as follows: • $20.00 - SC Boat Registration and Title - (Never been registered/titled before in SC / or previously documented) • $10.00 - Renew Boat Registration – Annual Registration Renewal • $20.00 - In State Change of Ownership - SC Boat Registration and Title (Only for boats that are currently registered/titled in South Carolina) • $10.00 - Watercraft Title (unpowered vessels) • $10.00 - Title - Sailboats without any propulsion/wind only • $20.00 - SC Sailboats Registration and Title with propulsion: outboard, trolling motors, diesel engines, inboard • $10.00 - New Motor Title (Never been titled before in SC or if the motor is titled in a titling state and is being transferred to SC or if the motor is not titled because it's coming from a non-titling state) • $10.00 - In State Change of Ownership - SC Outboard Motor Title (Only Outboard Motors that are currently titled in South Carolina) • $5.00 - Duplicate or Corrected Boat Title (Lost, adding a lien, name changes or address changes) • $5.00 - Duplicate Registration Card (Lost, or need more than one) • $5.00 - Duplicate Watercraft/Outboard Motor Decal • 5% of purchase or $500 - Casual Excise Tax - The fee for casual excise tax 5% of the purchase price and has a maximum of $500 if the boat and motor are purchased from same owner. When a boat is purchased as one unit, the casual excise is 5% of the purchase and has a maximum of $500. • 6% of purchase - Casual Excise Tax - When an outboard motor is purchased as one unit, the casual excise is 6% of the purchase and has no maximum fee.
How much does it cost to get a duplicate boat registration in South Carolina?: A duplicate boat registration in South Carolina costs $5.00
How much does it cost to get a duplicate boat decal in South Carolina?: A duplicate boat decal in South Carolina costs $5
How much does it cost to transfer a boat registration in South Carolina?: Transfering a boat registration in South Carolina will cost you $16
Does South Carolina title boats?: Boats are titled in South Carolina
Where do you title your boat in South Carolina?: In South Carolina, boats are titled through the SCDNR
What boats are required to be titled in South Carolina?: All motorized boats are required to be titled in South Carolina
What boats do not require a title in South Carolina?: The following boats are not required to be titled in South Carolina: • documented vessels • windsurfers, • paddleboards • sailboats • watercraft (canoes, kayak, etc.) propelled only by human power with oars, paddles, or similar devices • outboard motors under 5 hp
How much does it cost to get a duplicate boat title in South Carolina?: A duplicate boat title in South Carolina costs $5
How much does it cost to transfer a boat title in South Carolina?: Transferring a title in South Carolina has the following fees: • $16 if titled in SC • $40 if new to SC • $10 for outboard motors 5hp and greater currently titled in SC or New to SC
How much does it cost to record a lien on a boat in South Carolina?: There is not cost to record a lien on a boat in South Carolina
Does South Carolina issue e-titles for boats?: South Carolina does not issue e-titles for boats.
Does South Carolina require boat inspections?: South Carolina offers courtesy watercraft inspections on Holiday weekends at various locations throughout the state
What is the sales tax rate for boats in South Carolina?: The following rules apply to sales tax charged on boats in South Carolina: On boats and outboard motors 5HP and greater a 5% Casual Excise tax is due with a cap of $300. Single, replacement outboard motors 5hp and greater is taxed at 6% of purchase with no cap.
What is the sales tax cap for boats in South Carolina?: In South Carolina, the sales tax cap is $300 for boats and boats and outboard motors 5hp or greater
Does South Carolina have an annual tax on boats?: South Carolina has an annual personal property tax on boats based on value of watercraft and outboard motor.
Helpful Links for South Carolina:: SCDNR - Boating - Title and Register a Watercraft or Outboard Motor in SC SCDNR - Boating Forms