City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a personal watercraft in Charleston, South Carolina. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.
Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.
DMV / Title Office
SC SCDMV – Charleston Office
Address
3790 Leeds Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
Phone
(803) 896-5000
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$15.00
Sales Tax Rate
9.00%
Base Registration Fee
$40.00
South Carolina Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund (IMF) fee: $500 max on vehicle purchases instead of regular sales tax
South Carolina does not require notarization for private vehicle sales.
County Clerk / Recorder
Charleston County Clerk of Court
Phone
(843) 958-5000
The most common personal watercraft makes in private-party sales are Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki. Average private-party personal watercraft prices range from $3,000–$20,000. Personal watercrafts average 1.2 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Steering, Hull.
Before completing a personal watercraft bill of sale in South Carolina, verify these safety items:
PWC insurance averages $200–$500/year. Many marinas require proof of insurance. PWC depreciate 40–50% in the first 3 years. Three-seat models retain value better than single-seat. Peak season for private personal watercraft sales is april–may before summer water season, with an average of 30 days on market.
Personal Watercrafts are classified as "Personal watercraft (state-registered, minimum operator age varies by state)" for registration purposes. PWC are classified by engine hours. Average recreational lifespan is 300–500 hours. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to personal watercrafts.
Charleston residents completing a personal watercraft bill of sale should be aware of local requirements in addition to South Carolina state rules. The state sales tax rate is 5%, 5% infrastructure maintenance fee (imf), capped at $500. The most popular personal watercraft makes in South Carolina include Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 1,283 bill of sale documents for South Carolina transactions, with 35 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
Charleston is in Charleston County. Title transfers are handled by the SC SCDMV – Charleston Office at 3790 Leeds Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM. Phone: (803) 896-5000.
The combined rate is 9.00%. South Carolina Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund (IMF) fee: $500 max on vehicle purchases instead of regular sales tax.
No. South Carolina does not require notarization for private vehicle sales.
Title transfer fee: $15.00. Base registration fee: $40.00. Sales tax at 9.00% is collected at the time of title transfer.