Selling a car in South Carolina: the paperwork
| South Carolina seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Seller removes them; turn in or transfer |
| Report the sale | Notice of Vehicle Sold, SCDMV Form 416 |
| Duplicate title | Title Application (SCDMV Form 400); $15 |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (SCDMV Form TI-014A, Affidavit of Disposal of Vehicle to a Demolisher/Secondary Metals Recycler (SMR)) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in South Carolina
We buy cars in Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and Rock Hill, and in every other town in South Carolina a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
We buy cars across South Carolina, from Columbia and Greenville to Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
How it works in South Carolina
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in South Carolina, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
South Carolina car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in South Carolina?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost South Carolina title, apply to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) with Title Application (SCDMV Form 400). The fee is $15.
Can I junk a car without a title in South Carolina?
Sometimes. An owner with a lost title can sell to a demolisher or recycler on Form TI-014A if the vehicle is 12 or more model years old, has no valid plate and is totally inoperable (S.C. Code 56-5-5670). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost South Carolina title, apply to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) with Title Application (SCDMV Form 400). The fee is $15.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, the plates don't go to the buyer. Surrender the plate unless you transfer it to another vehicle. Expired plates do not need to be surrendered.
How do I tell the South Carolina DMV that I sold my car?
File the Notice of Vehicle Sold, SCDMV Form 416, with the state after the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in South Carolina?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in South Carolina a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- SCDMV: Buying or Selling a Car
- SCDMV: License Plate Return
- SCDMV: Replace a Title
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 56, Chapter 5, Section 56-5-5670 (South Carolina Legislature)
- SCDMV Form TI-014A, Affidavit of Disposal of Vehicle to a Demolisher/Secondary Metals Recycler
- SCDMV Demolishers page
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.