- Sellers cannot transfer the title of a vehicle to a buyer without giving the buyer an official bill of sale, unless the original title was issued after June 19, 1989, in which case an official bill of sale is not necessary. The seller also cannot transfer the title to a vehicle that has liens against it, until those liens are removed. The $15 title fee and $10 transfer fee (as of April 2011) cannot be paid in cash, only checks and money orders.
- Family members may not transfer the title to a vehicle to other members without paying sales tax unless the family relationship is parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent or grandchild (cousins, by-law relations and all others must still pay sales taxes). Individuals who inherit a car title cannot take possession of the vehicle until they submit a signed Affidavit of Inheritance.
- Custom-built cars and kit cars cannot be driven on South Carolina roads until they receive a tag and title just like any other vehicle. The owner must fill out Form 4038 for homemade cars or Form 400 for kit cars. Motorized boats, watercraft and outboard motors with 5 horsepower or more cannot be ridden in South Carolina unless they are titled. A vehicle that has been declared a wreck by an insurance company, but is rebuilt by the owner, cannot receive a regular title; the owner must apply for a "salvage-rebuilt" title.
- When a person sells a vehicle, he cannot keep the tag; he must either transfer the tag along with the car or turn it in to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Personalized license plates cannot contain any profane, racist or sexist language. A disabled veteran may receive a special tag at no cost; however, each applicant in a household cannot have more than two.
General Title Transfer Restrictions
Specific Title Transfer Restrictions
Vehicle-Specific Title Restrictions
Tag Restrictions
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