After purchasing a boat or watercraft, you have 30 days to title and/or register it with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
If purchased from a private seller with a South Carolina title, the registration process will start with the Beaufort County Auditor's Office. They're the team responsible for calculating taxes and will generate a tax bill for you based on the month of purchase.
If purchased from a South Carolina dealer, the registration process will begin at DNR. Once the title is transferred, DNR will send the Auditor’s Office the information they need to create your tax bill.
Here are some of the documents you may need:
- Signed over title
- Driver’s License