Cost to buy a car in South Carolina
South Carolina's vehicle tax is a 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee capped at $500, so expensive cars pay far less proportionally than in most states.
What does it really cost to buy a car in South Carolina?
South Carolina applies a 5% 5% infrastructure maintenance fee (capped $500) to a vehicle purchase, a $15 title fee and about $40 to register, with no cap on dealer doc fees. On a $35,000 car that's roughly $2,305 in taxes and fees — about 6.6% over the price, for an out-the-door total near $37,305. Minimum liability insurance is 25/50/25.
South Carolina vehicle costs & rules at a glance
Out-the-door price on a $35,000 car
Here's how the taxes and fees stack up on a $35,000 vehicle with no trade-in. Swap in your own price and trade-in with the calculator below.
| Vehicle price | $35,000 |
| Sales / use tax on $35,000 | $1,750 |
| Dealer doc fee | $500 |
| Title fee | $15 |
| Registration (base) | $40 |
| Total taxes & fees | $2,305 |
| Out-the-door price | $37,305 |
Modeled estimate, not a dealer quote. Registration is a base figure that varies by the vehicle.
Minimum car insurance in South Carolina
To drive legally in South Carolina you need at least 25/50/25 liability coverage: $25,000 in bodily-injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage. State minimums are the legal floor — they often don't cover a serious crash, so many drivers carry more.
Run your own South Carolina numbers
Enter 5% as the tax rate, $40 for registration and title, and the dealer's doc fee to match South Carolina.
Your numbers
Total taxes & fees
$2,930
9.2% over price
Out-the-door price
$34,930
Sales tax
$2,080
Insight — The advertised price is rarely what you pay. Sales tax plus registration, title and doc fees commonly add 8–12% on top. Negotiate the doc fee where it isn't capped, and always agree on the out-the-door number, not the sticker.
What if Vehicle price changes?
| Vehicle price | Total taxes & fees |
|---|---|
| $20,000 | $2,150 |
| $30,000 | $2,800 |
| $40,000 | $3,450 |
| $50,000 | $4,100 |
| $60,000 | $4,750 |
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Good to know
State-specific answers for buying and registering a car in South Carolina.
How much is car sales tax in South Carolina?＋
South Carolina applies a 5% 5% infrastructure maintenance fee (capped $500) with no local add-on. On a $35,000 car the state portion is about $1,750.
What are the minimum car insurance requirements in South Carolina?＋
South Carolina's minimum liability limits are 25/50/25 — that's $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage. These are legal minimums; higher limits are usually worth the small extra premium.
What's the real out-the-door price on a $35,000 car in South Carolina?＋
Roughly $37,305. That's the $35,000 price plus about $2,305 in taxes and fees — state vehicle tax of $1,750, the dealer's doc fee, a $15 title fee and about $40 to register.
Does South Carolina charge an extra fee for electric vehicles?＋
Yes. South Carolina charges about $60 a year in EV registration fees — $120 biennial ev fee (about $60/year), meant to offset the fuel taxes EV drivers don't pay.
Compare other states
Where these figures come from
State-specific figures are compiled from each state's Department of Revenue / Motor Vehicles (tax regime, rate, title and registration schedules), the state Department of Insurance and NAIC compilations (statutory minimum liability limits), and the Tax Foundation (sales-tax rates). Liability minimums are statutory and the most precise values here; registration and title fees are representative base amounts that vary by a vehicle's weight, value, age and county; doc-fee caps and EV fees reflect the latest 2025–26 published amounts. All figures are estimates for guidance, not quotes or legal advice — verify current amounts with the relevant state agency before you buy.
Sources: State motor-vehicle & revenue agencies · Tax Foundation · National Association of Insurance Commissioners