Bill of Sale Requirements in South Carolina

In South Carolina, ownership transfers for cars are typically executed on the vehicle title. However; in certain cases a bill of sale may also be required. Continue reading to learn about bill of sale requirements in South Carolina.

Bill of Sale in SC

Required Use

Regarding motor vehicles, a bill of sale is a form showing the ownership transfer of a vehicle from one person to another.

South Carolina's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires a bill of sale when you register and tag a car that:

  • Does not have space for an odometer reading or purchase price on the title transfer.
  • Was originally titled before June 19, 1989.

Optional Use

If a bill of sale is not required in your vehicle transfer, you may want to consider using one anyway. A bill of sale can be used for:

  • Tax purposes when claiming your sale.
  • Proof of sale for liability purposes.
  • Proof of purchase.

Completing a Bill of Sale

To ensure the validity of your bill of sale, make sure you include all the necessary information, including:

  • Names, addresses and signatures of both buyer and seller.
  • Complete description of the car, including:
    • Make.
    • Model.
    • Year.
    • Body type.
    • Vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • Purchase price of the vehicle, including trade-in value.
  • The names and addresses of any lienholder.
  • Odometer reading at time of purchase.

You can also use our online guide to complete a generic bill of sale.

DMV.ORG BBB Business Review