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South Carolina Out-the-Door Car Price Calculator

Get your real South Carolina total — the state doesn't charge sales tax on vehicles. Instead, it charges a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee, capped at just $500.

South Carolina's $500 Cap Is One of the Best Deals for Buyers

South Carolina doesn't charge traditional sales tax on vehicles. Instead, it levies a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) — but critically, that fee is capped at $500 no matter the purchase price. On a $35,000 car, 5% would be $1,750, but South Carolina caps it at $500, saving buyers of higher-priced vehicles well over $1,000 compared to an uncapped 5% state.

The cap kicks in at $10,000: any vehicle priced at $10,000 or more owes exactly $500 in IMF, flat. Below $10,000, you pay 5% of the purchase price. This structure makes South Carolina one of the most favorable states in the country for buyers of mid-range to expensive vehicles.

Because the IMF is capped rather than percentage-based for most purchases, South Carolina's out-the-door total is unusually easy to estimate once you're above the $10,000 threshold — the tax line is a known $500, and the rest is title, registration, and doc fee.

South Carolina Fee Breakdown

Fee Type	Amount	Notes
Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF)	5%, capped at $500	Flat $500 on any vehicle priced $10,000 or more
Title Fee	$15	One-time fee to transfer ownership
Registration Fee	$40	Standard passenger vehicle, biennial
EV Registration Fee	+$60/year biennial equivalent	Additional road-use fee for battery electric vehicles
Dealer Doc Fee	No statutory cap	Typical range $200–$799 — among the least regulated nationally

When the $500 IMF Cap Kicks In

Purchase Price	IMF Owed	Effective Rate
$8,000	$400	5.0%
$10,000	$500	5.0%
$20,000	$500	2.5%
$35,000	$500	1.4%
$60,000	$500	0.8%

The IMF caps at $500 for any purchase of $10,000 or more — the higher the price, the lower your effective tax rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does South Carolina charge sales tax on cars?

No. South Carolina charges a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (IMF) instead of sales tax, capped at $500. Any vehicle priced $10,000 or more owes exactly $500, regardless of how much higher the price goes.

What is South Carolina's Infrastructure Maintenance Fee?

It's a 5% fee charged in place of sales tax on vehicle purchases, capped at a maximum of $500. Below $10,000 purchase price, you pay 5% of the price; at $10,000 and above, the fee is flat at $500.

Is there a doc fee cap in South Carolina?

No. South Carolina does not cap dealer documentation fees by statute, and fees can range widely, from around $200 to $799. It's worth negotiating, since there's no legal ceiling.

Does South Carolina tax trade-ins?

Yes. Your trade-in value is subtracted from the purchase price before the IMF is calculated, which can be especially valuable if it brings your taxable price under the $10,000 cap threshold.

How much is vehicle registration in South Carolina?

Standard passenger vehicle registration is $40, on a biennial (two-year) cycle. Electric vehicles pay an additional road-use fee on top of the standard registration.

See Your Exact South Carolina OTD Price

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