Boating - Title and Register a Watercraft or Outboard Motor in SC

The primary document you will need is the Watercraft/Outboard Motor Titling and Registration Application - (Adobe PDF). Depending upon your situation you may need other documentation as well. The Registration and Titling area lists many scenarios that you should be able to identify with. Pick the scenario that identifies your situation and it will tell you what additional documentation you will need.

You may conduct any registration and titling business at one of the SCDNR regional offices listed on this webpage.

If you have purchased a boat/motor that is currently titled and registered in SC you must pay property taxes to your county of residence before contacting SCDNR to change the ownership into your name. Your application, titles, bill of sale or other required documents must be accompanied by the paid property tax receipt.

If you have purchased a boat/motor from out of state or you are titling and registering a brand new boat/motor you will be billed by your county after completing the titling/registration process with SCDNR.

Yes, you may operate your boat using your temporary certificate of number and a photocopy of your bill of sale or titles. The temporary certificate of number is located at the bottom right corner of the watercraft/outboard motor application. The temporary certificate of number is valid for up to 60 days from the date of purchase. The temporary certificate of number applies only to new and previously owned watercraft and may not be accepted by other states.

Fees vary depending on your circumstances.

You can renew your watercraft online only if:

1. The boat has been determined tax exempt by your county.
2. The property taxes have been paid to the county but the registration renewal fee of $10.00 was not paid to the county.

If your registration is current and you have lost or destroyed your card or decals you will need to fill out the Boating Renewal, Duplicate Decals, and Registration Cards Application - and enclose the appropriate fee.

You must fill out a Notification of Address Change within 30 days of any change and mail to:

SC Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 167,
Columbia, SC 29202

Fax to 803-734-4138

Seller Must Notify the SC Department of Natural Resources in writing using the Request for Boat and/or Motor Status Change - ( Adobe PDF - file size 24Kb) within 30 days (For Tax purposes) of any change of ownership of watercraft or outboard motor, furnishing full information and mail to:

SC Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202

Fax to 803-734-4138

Seller should keep copy for tax records. S.C. Law prohibits the sale or purchase of watercraft without a valid title issued in the seller's name to assign over to the purchaser at the time of sale.

Watercraft - Previously registered/titled and/or purchased from another state

The following application, forms, supporting documentation and required fees will be needed to obtain a title for your Watercraft previously registered and titled from another state:

• Title in seller's name if seller is from a titling state.
• Current Owner's Registration Card, if available, otherwise, provide the registration number.
• Pencil tracing (if traceable), or printed photograph of Hull Identification Number.
• Bill of Sale, signed and notarized.
• When purchasing a watercraft from an individual, you are required to pay Casual Excise Tax. The tax is 5% of the purchase price up to $10,000.00. Anything over $10,000.00 caps at $500.00 Casual Excise Tax fee. Please include this fee along with your transfer fee. If purchasing from a dealer taxes are collected by the dealer. If boat and motor are purchased as a unit it is 5% of the total purchase price.
• Completed and Signed Application
• Fee of $20 for SC Registration and Title
• Late Fees

Outboard Motor - Previously titled in another state or purchased from another state

The following application, forms, supporting documentation and required fees will be needed to obtain S.C. title for your Outboard Motor.

• If you purchased your Outboard Motor from a titling state (Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas or Utah) you will have a Title in the seller's name that you will need to send. If you purchased your Outboard Motor from any other state, send a Bill of Sale or statement explaining how the outboard motor was obtained.
• A Pencil tracing (if traceable), or printed photograph of Serial Number on outboard motor.
• Bill of Sale, signed and notarized.
• When purchasing an outboard motor separately from an individual, there is no cap. You are required to pay Casual Excise Tax. The tax is 5% of the purchase price with a cap of $500.00. Please include this fee along with your transfer fee. If purchasing from a dealer, taxes are collected by the dealer.
• Completed and Signed Application
• Fee - $10 for new title
• Late Fees

Watercraft - Move here from another state

The following application, forms, supporting documentation and required fees will be needed to obtain a S.C. title and registration for your Watercraft.

• Title in your name if you are moving from a titling state.
• Provide your Current Registration Card, if available, otherwise provide registration number.
• Pencil tracing (if traceable), or printed photograph of Hull Identification Number.
• Completed and Signed Application
• Fee of $40 for new registration and title

Outboard Motor - Move here from another state

The following application, forms, supporting documentation and required fees will be needed to obtain a S.C. title for your Outboard Motor.

• Title in your name if you are moving from titling states (Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas or Utah). If you are moving from any other state, send a Bill of Sale or statement explaining how the outboard motor was obtained.
• Pencil tracing (if traceable), or printed photograph of Serial and Model Number on outboard motor.
• Completed and Signed Application
• Fee of $10 for new title

Watercraft - Purchased from out-of-state marine dealer

The following application, forms, supporting documentation and required fees will be needed to obtain a S.C. title and registration for your Watercraft.

• Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, if purchased from titling state.
• Bill of Sale, signed and notarized
• There is a Use Tax fee required when purchasing a boat or motor from an out of state dealer. You must include the dealer invoice when submitting paperwork. If no taxes have been paid to dealer you must include the 5% tax along with your registration fee. Anything over $10,000.00, caps at $500.00. If you have paid a portion of the sales tax in another state and the total tax does not compute to 5% you may pay on the remainder of the portion due, up to $500.00, to SCDNR.
• Completed and Signed Application
• Fee of $20 for new registration and title
• Late Fees

Outboard Motor - Purchased from out-of-state marine dealer

The following application, forms, supporting documentation and required fees will be needed to obtain a S.C. title for your Outboard Motor.

• Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, if purchased from titling state. (Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas or Utah)
• Bill of Sale, signed and notarized
• There is a Use Tax fee required when purchasing a boat or motor from an out of state dealer. You must include the dealer invoice when submitting paperwork. If no taxes have been paid to the dealer you must include the 5% tax along with your registration fee. If you have paid a portion of the sales tax in another state and the total tax does not compute to 5% you may pay the remainder of the portion due, up to $500.00, to SCDNR.
• Completed and Signed Application
• Fee of $10 for new title
• Late Fees

All watercraft are required to be registered and titled: except Documented Vessels, Wind surfers, Watercraft propelled only by human power with oars, paddles or similar devices. All outboard motors under five (5) horsepower are not required to be titled.

Casual excise tax is charged upon the issuance of a title or proof of ownership for a boat or motor. The casual excise tax for a boat or boat and motor purchased as a package is 5% of purchase price with a maximum fee of $500.00. The casual excise tax for a motor purchased alone is 6% with no maximum.

• Boat and Motor or Boat Only: Purchase Price X .05, the maximum tax is $500.
• Motor Only: Purchase Price X .05, the maximum tax is $500.

If you did not pay taxes out-of-state, then you submit 5% tax with the registration fee.

Tax Exempt if Purchased from Immediate Family
If you acquire the watercraft or outboard motor from immediate family, you are exempt from the excise tax. Immediate family includes:

• parent
• child
• sister
• brother
• grandparent
• grandchild
• spouse.

You must complete the exempt form on the back of the Watercraft/Outboard Motor Application to be exempt.

Military persons are not exempt from Casual Excise or Use Tax on boats and Outboard Motors.

Casual Excise tax can also be paid to the S.C. Department of Revenue Tax Service Centers.

SCDNR can collect both casual excise tax and use tax on behalf of the Department of Revenue. You may also contact SCDOR for payment of these taxes. Casual excise or use tax is 5% of purchase price and caps at $500 for a boat or a boat and motor purchased as a package. Casual excise or use tax for a motor purchased separately is 5% and caps at $500.

If casual excise or use tax has been paid to SCDNR or another state we must have a receipt showing it was paid.

State registration laws do not require you to show proof of insurance to register the boat in South Carolina.

SC does not require titles on boat trailers unless they weigh 2,500 lbs empty. If you do wish to title, it should be done through the Department of Motor Vehicles call 803-896-5000.

§56-3-130. Exemption of certain boat, farm and other utility trailers.

Boat trailers under twenty-five hundred pounds, farm trailers and other utility trailers which are privately owned and not for hire need not be licensed or registered.

Effective January 1, 2020 watercraft registrations will be renewed annually instead of every 3 years. For current boat owners the registration renewal fee and property taxes will be due the month printed on the expiration decals for the boat. Beginning in 2021 registration renewal fees will be included with the property tax notice for your boat.

For boats newly titled and registered in SC the property taxes and registration renewal month will be based on the date of purchase. For example, if you buy a boat in June your registration renewal fee and property taxes will be due in June. If your boat is Documented with the US Coast Guard, you will be required to pay personal property taxes to your county of residence if your boat is determined to be taxable by your county.

You will need to fill out the Watercraft/Outboard Motor Titling & Registration Application and enclose the appropriate fee.

If you have a lien on the title, you must have a signed notarized lien satisfaction form completed by the lien holder.

You must contact your County Tax Collector or Treasurer.

You can use your boat for 60 consecutive days in the state of South Carolina as long as your boat is currently registered in your state and a valid decal is on the bow of your boat. You must have your registration card on the vessel when operating it in South Carolina.

If your decals have not expired you will need to fill out the Boating Renewal, Duplicate Decals, and Registration Cards Application and enclose the appropriate fee.

If your outboard motor decals have faded you will need to fill out the Boating Renewal, Duplicate Decals, and Registration Cards Application and enclose the appropriate fee.

SCDNR Customer Service locations statewide will open at 9:30 am on Wednesday mornings for staff training.

SCDNR Regional Office locations.