South Carolina: titling an imported car
South Carolina's statute lets SCDMV put an 'Off Road Use Only' brand on a vehicle brought in from abroad that does not meet FMVSS, and the department then will not register it.
Sources checked 2026-10-17. Not legal advice; rules change.
At a glance
- Import ease (where verified): Official sources state barriers or hold-ups for typical 25-year imports. Statute lets SCDMV brand vehicles from abroad that do not meet FMVSS 'Off Road Use Only', which blocks registration.
- Kei / mini-truck: No kei or mini-truck rule found in the sources read. No kei or mini-truck rule found in the official pages read.
What the official sources say
- S.C. Code §56-1-10(37): 'Off Road Use Only' is a brand the department adds to a title to designate a vehicle whose manufacturer's certificate of origin or equivalent says it was not manufactured for use on public roads; the department shall not register and license such a vehicle. 'Vehicles brought into this State from a foreign jurisdiction without a title that clearly says "Off Road Use Only", or its equivalent, which do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards may be subject to this brand at the department's discretion.'
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws §56-1-10(37) - SCDMV Form 4030 (Translation Document): foreign documents (certificate of origin, foreign registration, certificate of title) need an English translation; the form must be completed in full, and the translator must also give a letter of verification from his employer on letterhead qualifying him as a translator.
Source: SCDMV Form 4030 (Rev. 2/16)
Not verified (do not rely on ImportClock for these)
- The SCDMV pages on moving to the state and types of vehicles loaded no import checklist; the CBP/HS-7/EPA document list SCDMV requires was NOT verified from an official page.
- How SCDMV uses its discretion to apply the brand to 25-year-old imports, and its kei policy, were not found.
- Property-tax payment and fee requirements for imports were not verified.