I bought a boat/motor combo recently and SC’s boater registration page makes no sense. I’m looking for two tidbits of info.
Do I need to have the boat and motor titles notarized before I take them to the DNR?
If I paid $250 for the boat, $250 for the motor, how much do you think all this (counting the normal fees, tax etc) will cost me for Dorchester county? It’s chump change compared to what most of y’all pay I know lol.
I need to go Friday to get this all done.
The DNR page is unclear on whether “it” means that the application for a replacement title must be notarized or if the signed original title (for the purchase) must be notarized.
I despise bureaucracy and it’s only getting worse.
EDITED AND UPDATED BASED ON CALL TO THE BOATER REGISTRATION OFFICE
Fill out sections A, B, C, D, and F of the WATERCRAFT/OUTBOARD MOTOR APPLICATION (SCWMRD form BTR-1). If you have the title for both the boat and motor, you don’t need to fill out the Bill of Sale on the back of that form, which is used for obtaining the duplicate title, so you don’t need the $5 duplicate title fee. Remember, you need titles for both the motor and the boat. EDIT: TITLES DO NOT NEED TO BE NOTARIZED. They have to be filled out by the seller, not you. You fill out the BTR-1. BTR-1 does not need to be notarized.
When bought together, add the cost of the motor to the cost of the boat, and that it your CASUAL EXCISE TAXABLE AMOUNT. Multiply this by 5% to calculate your tax.
NOTE: If the boat was purchased from immediate family, you don’t have to pay casual excise tax!
Include $16 for transfer of boat and $10 for transfer of motor.
EDITED: ADD TAX TO TOTAL AMOUNT OF YOUR CHECK
Send your BTR-1, original titles to boat and motor (note, make copies of titles!), And your check for $26 PLUS TAX AMOUNT.
That should do it. If you are not sure, call (803) 734-3857. They are pretty good about answering your questions.
you don’t need the titles notarized. i’ve got new titles for boats/motors several times and never had the title s notarized. the only thing you would have to have notarized is; if you only had a bill of sale and no title. but since you have the titles, you don’t need a bill of sale, and thus, no notary. the titles just need to be signed by the previous owner (or a signature that looks like the previous owner’s).
you don’t need the titles notarized. i’ve got new titles for boats/motors several times and never had the title s notarized. the only thing you would have to have notarized is; if you only had a bill of sale and no title. but since you have the titles, you don’t need a bill of sale, and thus, no notary. the titles just need to be signed by the previous owner (or a signature that looks like the previous owner’s).
taxes should not be much.
Just called in, and you are correct! They don’t care if the titles are notarized or not.
NOTE: You also don’t have to pay your taxes separately and send in a receipt (as it says on the website). You can just send in a check that includes transer fees plus the tax amount.
I’m 32 days past the day I bought it, I got slack lol so I’ll have to cough up a fine for being late.
I despise all the forms. “Fill out this form, then this form that’s the exact same thing, then this form that says you filled out that form, and then sign this form that says you did not fill out this form, yadda freakin yadda”
If it is currently titled in SC and you are selling or buying and it is staying in SC…then no Notary or bill of sale is even needed, as the title is the bill of sale…has purchase price info, etc on the back of title and buyer and seller sign it
I’m 32 days past the day I bought it, I got slack lol so I’ll have to cough up a fine for being late.
I despise all the forms. “Fill out this form, then this form that’s the exact same thing, then this form that says you filled out that form, and then sign this form that says you did not fill out this form, yadda freakin yadda”
I bought a jetski and had the signed title for 3 months before I transferred it. I did not have a fine to pay. You will have to pay state sales tax on the boat and motor at time of transfer. Another thing I found is it doesn’t matter what you paid when it comes to county taxes. I bought a bayliner with new trailer for 500 with a blown motor. Chs county charged me 107$ in taxes. (all within the same year) then fixed it and sold it to a guy in Alabama. I sent in the paper stating I sold it and still got a tax bill for the next year. After many heated discussions with the tax office even showing the paperwork with dates, I still had to pay another 10.