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South Carolina Car Sales Tax Calculator

South Carolina does not charge sales tax on a vehicle. Instead it charges an Infrastructure Maintenance Fee of 5% of the price after trade-in, capped at $500. Enter your numbers to see the estimate.

Calculate Your South Carolina Car Sales Tax

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The selling price on your buyer’s order.

What the dealer credits you.

State
South CarolinaChange state

Condition

The Infrastructure Maintenance Fee applies to the price the dealer charges, which includes dealer fees.

Advanced options

Enter your own amounts where you know them. They replace our estimates.

Replaces the state estimate.

Replaces the state estimate.

Plates, inspections, add-ons.

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Estimated out-the-door price

$0.00

Enter a vehicle price to see your estimate.

Vehicle price
$0.00
Trade-in
—
Taxable amount
$0.00
Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (5%)
$0.00
Title fee
$0.00
Registration fee
$0.00
Dealer / documentation fee
—
Estimated total
$0.00
How this estimate was calculated

    Estimates are for informational purposes only. Actual taxes and fees may vary based on your location, vehicle, transaction and current state rules.

    Estimated South Carolina Car Sales Tax

    Infrastructure Maintenance Fee5%
    Local taxNone on vehicles
    Trade-inLowers taxable price
    Dealer feeTaxed with the price; limit not confirmed

    South Carolina replaced its sales tax on vehicles with an Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) of 5% back in July 2017. On a $25,000 purchase with no trade-in, 5% alone would be $1,250, but the fee is capped, so it comes to just $500.00.

    The IMF is capped at $500 no matter how expensive the vehicle is, so a $40,000 car and a $100,000 car pay the same $500 fee. This calculator applies that same cap.

    Your trade-in value is excluded from the price the fee is calculated on, whether you look at it as gross proceeds or fair market value, so trading in a vehicle lowers your fee just like it would lower sales tax elsewhere.

    South Carolina Car Title and Registration Fees

    South Carolina title and registration fees are set by the SCDMV outside of the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee itself. We have not confirmed a specific dollar figure for either, so enter your own amounts under Advanced options.

    FeeAmountNotes
    Title feeTitleVariesSet by SCDMV. Check SCDMV's fee page, then enter your amount under Advanced options.
    Registration feeRegistrationVariesSet by SCDMV. Check SCDMV's fee page, then enter your amount under Advanced options.
    Dealer documentation feeSet by the dealerVariesWe have not confirmed a specific South Carolina dollar limit on the dealer documentation fee.

    How South Carolina Car Sales Tax Is Calculated

    1. Start with the purchase price.
    2. Subtract your trade-in allowance.
    3. Multiply the result by 5%, the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee rate.
    4. Cap the fee at $500 if the calculation comes out higher.
    5. Add your SCDMV title and registration fees to reach your out-the-door price.

    The Infrastructure Maintenance Fee replaced South Carolina's sales tax on vehicles starting July 1, 2017; it is paid to the SCDMV when you title the vehicle, not to a dealer as sales tax.

    Because the fee is capped at $500, buyers of a higher-priced vehicle in South Carolina pay a much lower effective rate than the 5% headline number suggests. Check SCDMV's fee page for the current title and registration figures. Read how a trade-in affects sales tax to see how South Carolina compares with other states.

    Example South Carolina Car Sales Tax Calculation

    5% of the $20,000 taxable amount would be $1,000, but the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee is capped at $500, so the cap applies here.

    Vehicle price$25,000.00
    Trade-in−$5,000.00
    Taxable amount$20,000.00
    Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (5%)$500.00
    Title feeNot included
    Registration feeNot included
    Estimated total$20,500.00

    This is an illustration, not a quote.

    Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Car Sales Tax

    Does South Carolina charge sales tax on a car?

    No. South Carolina replaced vehicle sales tax with an Infrastructure Maintenance Fee of 5% of the price after trade-in, capped at $500.

    Is the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee really capped?

    Yes. No matter how expensive the vehicle, the fee cannot exceed $500.

    Does a trade-in reduce the fee?

    Yes. The trade-in value is excluded from the price the fee is calculated on.

    How much are title and registration in South Carolina?

    They are separate SCDMV fees from the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee. Check SCDMV's fee page for the current amounts.

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