New Vehicle Purchase Tax Bill

Have you purchased a New Vehicle?

Auditor's Office (843) 563-0118 or (843) 832-0118

Note:

Before you begin, please make sure you have access to a document scanner or some way to upload required documents in pdf format to the application.

If you do not have a way to upload your documents, please return to the auditor's department for a new bill to be created with all documentation in hand.

Please ensure to check your junk and spam folders for emails that you will receive from us in regards to this form. 

OnlineForms@dorchestercountysc.gov

What is the procedure for registering my vehicle?

State law provides 45 days from the date you move here to pay property taxes. You will need to come into the office with your previous registration, title or bill of sale for the vehicle.

To obtain a SC license and registration (moving to Dorchester County or a new vehicle purchase)

  1. Previous registration, title or bill of sale for the Auditor's office to generate a tax notice.
  2. Take notice from Auditor's office to Treasurer's office to pay taxes.
  3. Take your paid receipt and any DMV required documents to the DMV to obtain a SC registration and license plate for your vehicle.

Please ensure to check your junk and spam folders for emails that you will receive from us in regards to this form. 

NoReply@DorchesterCountySC.gov

Is there a Co-Owner?
Are you Active Duty Military Personnel?

You will need to send in Titles for each vehicle (so if you have more than one vehicle you are registering, there should be titles for each). All the information on the back side of the titles must be completed and signed by the owner(s).

 

All purchasers must be listed on the title.

For Requirements, refer to Act PL 111-97    Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
S.C. Code Ann. Section 12-4-320 (200 and Supp. 2008)
S.C. Code Ann. Section 1-23-10 (4) (2005)
SC Revenue Procedure # 09-3

Due to being Active Duty Military Personnel please provide a copy of the following for requirements with this application :

Do you have a different mailing address? Special Mailing Address
Mailing Address same as Previous

In Order to Register Vehicle:

  1. Take the “Blue Exemption Slip” to the SCDMV to register the vehicle
     
  2. If you are out of state you will need to mail the documentation to the SCDMV to have it registered.

MAILING ADDRESS:
SCDMV
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016

Q: I am new in the state. What is the procedure for registering my vehicle?

  • State law provides 45 days from the date you move here to pay property taxes. You will need to come into the office with your previous registration, title or bill of sale for the vehicle.
  • To obtain a SC license and registration (moving to Dorchester County or a new purchase)
  1. Bring your registration, title or bill of sale to the Auditor's office for a tax notice to be generated.
  2. Take notice from Auditor's office to Treasurer's office to pay taxes.
  3. Take your paid receipt and any DMV required documents to the DMV to obtain a SC registration and license plate for your vehicle.

 

Q: I no longer own the vehicle shown on my tax notice. What should I do?

  • Please contact our office for further assistance before paying or discarding this bill.

 

Q: I am military. Am I exempt from taxes for my vehicle?

  • If you are currently active duty military stationed in South Carolina or have a home in South Carolina and you claim another state as your home of record you may be exempt from property tax. You must provide a current LES for the exemption. If you have a spouse's name on the title, we will need a copy of their dependent ID. If the vehicle is jointly owned and one person is active duty or their spouse and the other is not, you will receive a 50% reduction of the tax bill.

 

Q: What do you need to qualify for an exemption of  taxes?

  • You may be approved for an exemption on 2 vehicles and your permanent residence. If you are a disabled veteran, you will need to contact  the Veteran's Affair office for Dorchester County at 843-832-0116. If you are not a veteran, there is a form in the Auditor's office that can be completed and sent to the Department of Revenue, they will let you know if you qualify.  Once you receive your letter of exemption from the Department of Revenue, please provide us with a copy of the letter for an adjustment.

 

Q: I recently paid the taxes for a vehicle that I have now sold. How do I get a refund for my taxes?

  • In order to process a refund we need a copy of the Form 5051 (tag turn-in receipt) and a copy of a bill of sale or title. The title or bill of sale must include the buyer and seller signatures along with the date of sale. If the vehicle was totaled, please provide 5051 form and a letter from the insurance company that shows the date of total loss.

 

Q: I recently paid the taxes for a vehicle and now I am moving out of state. How do I get a refund for my taxes?

  • You can either: 1. Mail your tag to the Auditor's office along with a copy of your new state's registration and a good contact telephone number. 2. If the tag is mailed to the DMV, they should send a receipt to you acknowledging they received the tag, then;send a copy of that receipt along with your new state’s registration and a good contact telephone number.
  • When submitting a refund, please provide a good address to mail the refund to and a contact number. Please mail refund paperwork to the St. George Auditor's office.

 

Q: How do I change my address on my vehicle registration card?

  • If you need to change your address on your vehicle registration, you do it though the DMV. If you have already received a Green vehicle tax bill and you have moved to another location in Dorchester County, you will need to contact our office. If you have moved out of the county and you have a Green vehicle tax bill, you will need to register in your new county. If your tax bill is Yellow, please contact our office for further assistance.

If you are approved, it takes 24 Hours once the tax bill is created to show up in our system.

Please ensure you have only uploaded PDF or image files as this is what the systems require. 

File formats:  .pdf, .jpeg, .tiff, .bmp, jpg, .png, .gif