Gifting a Car in South Carolina: Taxes, Fees & Rules (2026)
Transfers between immediate family — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild — are excluded from the IMF entirely (SC Code §56-3-627). The title fee of $15 still applies. Verified against official South Carolina sources on 2026-07-17.
Gift vs. selling for $1: don't use the $1 trick
The old advice to "sell it for a dollar" usually backfires. A $1 sale is still a sale — in states that tax the higher of price or book value, that means tax on the full book value; in others it simply voids the gift exemption you were entitled to use. The documented gift route (affidavits, the right box on the title) is what actually produces $0 tax where an exemption exists.
What you'll still pay in South Carolina
Even a fully exempt gift pays the standard title transfer fee of $15. The recipient also takes on normal registration costs going forward. Register and title within 45 days of purchase. Late penalties scale from $10 (under 15 days late) to $75 (90+ days).
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay taxes on a gifted car in South Carolina?
Transfers between immediate family — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild — are excluded from the IMF entirely (SC Code §56-3-627).
Is it better to gift a car or sell it for $1 in South Carolina?
Gift it — properly. A $1 "sale" is still a sale in most states and can trigger tax on book value or invite a review, while a documented gift uses the actual exemption. Transfers between immediate family — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild — are excluded from the IMF entirely (SC Code §56-3-627). Follow the gift procedure, not the $1 shortcut.
What does the title transfer cost on a gifted car in South Carolina?
The title fee is $15 — that's due on gifts too, even when the tax is exempt. Register and title within 45 days of purchase. Late penalties scale from $10 (under 15 days late) to $75 (90+ days).
Does the IRS tax a gifted car?
Almost never for normal vehicles — car values fall under the IRS annual gift-tax exclusion for most givers, so no federal gift tax or return is required. The state-level rules above are what actually matter.
Verified against official sources (dmv.sc.gov) — last reviewed 2026-07-17. Estimates are informational only.