- Boat Insurance
- Boat Browser
- Boating Courses
- Boat Registration
- Boating License
-
Boating Safety
Equipment
| South Carolina Boating Registration |
|
South Carolina 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. The following watercraft are required to have a current title and registration:
Exceptions The following watercrafts are exempt from having to be titled and or licensed in South Carolina.
Boat Classifications
Your boat's classification is determined by its length and type of propulsion. The class will determine applicable laws and required equipment.
|
| Class A Vessels (less than 16’ in length) |
| Class 1 Vessels (16’ to less than 26’ in length) |
| Class 2 Vessels (26’ to less than 40’ in length) |
| Class 3 Vessels (over 40’ in length) |
|
Registration Fees: |
|
In South Carolina, boating fees such as titling and or registration fees and some taxes are paid at the same time. |
| TYPE OF FEE |
FEE |
| South Carolina Title and Registration | $40.00 |
| Renew Boat Registration | $30.00 |
| Transfer South Carolina Boat Registration and Title | $16.00 |
| Unpowered Watercraft Title | $10.00 |
| Sailboats using wind power only Registration and Title | $10.00 |
| Sailboats with alternate propulsion Registration and
Title (Includes inboards, outboards, trolling motors or diesel engines) |
$40.00 |
| New Motor Title | $10.00 |
| Transfer SC Outboard Motor Title
(Only Outboard Motors titled in South Carolina) |
$10.00 |
| Duplicate or Corrected Boat Title
(Lost, adding a lien, name / address changes) |
$5.00 |
| Duplicate or Corrected Motor Title
(Lost, adding a lien, name / address changes) |
$5.00 |
| Duplicate Registration Card
(Lost, or need more than one) |
$5.00 |
| Duplicate Watercraft/Outboard Motor Decal |
$5.00 |
|
Casual Excise Tax - The fee for casual excise tax 5% of the purchase price and has a maximum of $300 if the boat and motor are purchased from the same owner. When a boat is purchased as one unit, the casual excise is 5% of the purchase and has a maximum of $300. |
5% or $300 |
|
Casual Excise Tax - When an outboard motor is purchased as one unit, the casual excise is 6% of the purchase and has no maximum fee. |
6% of purchase |
|
Use Tax - is required when a watercraft or outboard motor is purchased from an out of state dealer. If tax is paid to an out of state dealer, you must visit one of the Dept. of Revenue offices and have them calculate the amount owed based on the tax paid or tax already paid to dealer. (If you did not pay taxes out-of-state, then you submit 5% tax with the registration fee for boat and motor purchased together or 6% if outboard motor is purchased separately.) |
5% of purchase |
|
Use Tax -required when an outboard motor is purchased from an out of state dealer If tax is paid to an out of state dealer, you must visit one of the Dept. of Revenue offices and have them calculate the amount owed based on the tax paid or tax already paid to dealer. (If you did not pay taxes out-of-state, then you submit 6% tax with the titling fee for the outboard motor if it is purchased separately and has no maximum fee. |
6% of purchase |
For more details, please visit South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources website. The Certificate of Number (Registration number) and validation decals are obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to the Department of Natural Resources Boat Titling and Registration Office P.O. Box 167 Columbia, SC 29202. You can find the application here. Once a proper application is submitted with the required fee, you will receive a Certificate of Registration and two (2) validation decals. The Certificate of Registration must be carried on board when boat is in use. The validation decals must be affixed to the boat. See below for placement instructions.
Numbering Your Vessel
Once your boat has been assigned a registration number and decals, you must display them on your boat correctly. The registration number must be displayed on each side of the bow, read from left to right and in a position to be distinctly visible. The letters and numbers must be of a plain BLOCK design, at least three (3) inches tall and of a color that contrasts to the color of the hull. There must be a letter size space or hyphen between letter and number groups: Home-Built Vessels Before you can register your homemade boat, you must first apply for a Hull Identification Number with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). You can find the application here. How to Renew Your Boat Registration You can renew your boat registration in person or by mail. Complete the application and include the $30 renewal fee. You will find the application here. Renew In Person To renew in person, take the application and fee to one of these Department of Natural Resources' offices:
1000 Assembly St., Rm. 104 OR
217 Fort Johnson Rd. Renew by Mail To renew your boat registration by mail, place your completed application and a check made out to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and mail to
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Replace Your Lost Registration You can replace your boat registration in person or by mail at the same addresses given above for how to renew your boat registration. Complete the application and include the $5 replacement fee. You will find the application here. Some requests and renewals also can be handled on theSouth Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) |