SCDNR doesn’t call you when something is wrong with your application — they mail it back. That means weeks of delay, another trip to the county tax office, and starting the process over. Here are the three mistakes that cause most rejections.

1. Missing the County Property Tax Receipt

This is the single most common reason applications get returned for in-state purchases.

If you bought a used boat from a private seller already located in South Carolina, you must pay county property taxes before SCDNR will process your application. The paid receipt from your county needs to be included with your BTR-1 submission.

Many buyers either don’t know this requirement exists, or they assume SCDNR and the county communicate automatically. They don’t. If the receipt isn’t in the envelope, the application comes back — often with a generic rejection letter that doesn’t clearly explain the reason.

What to do: Before submitting anything to SCDNR, contact your county treasurer’s or auditor’s office to find out how to pay the boat property tax. Get the paid receipt, then include it with your BTR-1.

2. Signature Errors on the Title or BTR-1

The title signature rules in South Carolina are specific, and getting them wrong is a guaranteed rejection.

On the existing title:

  • If the title lists owners with “and” — every owner must sign the back of the title
  • If the title lists owners with “or” — only one owner’s signature is required

Miss a co-owner’s signature and the title transfer is invalid.

On the BTR-1 form itself:

  • All applicants must sign Section F of the form
  • If there’s no existing title (missing title or out-of-state purchase from a state that doesn’t issue boat titles), you need a notarized bill of sale — either a separate document or Section H of the BTR-1, completed and signed before a notary

Unsigned sections or an unnotarized bill of sale when one is required will send the application straight back to you.

3. Missing Supporting Documents (Especially for Out-of-State Boats)

Buyers bringing a boat in from another state are the most likely to submit incomplete packages. SCDNR requires more documentation for out-of-state purchases, and the checklist is easy to miss.

For out-of-state purchases, SCDNR typically requires:

  • Original title from the previous state (notarized if that state’s title has a notary field)
  • Written bill of sale
  • Pencil tracing or photograph of the Hull Identification Number (HIN)
  • Pencil tracing or photograph of the motor serial number
  • Out-of-state registration card (if available)

The HIN and motor serial tracings are the most frequently forgotten items. They’re not optional — SCDNR uses them to verify the boat’s identity. A photo works, but it needs to clearly show the full number.

Special case: If the previous state doesn’t issue boat titles at all (this applies to several states), you’ll need the registration card and a notarized bill of sale in place of a title.

Avoid the Round-Trip

BoatForms walks you through your specific situation — in-state, out-of-state, family transfer, missing title — and tells you exactly which documents you need before you submit. It also auto-fills your BTR-1 and calculates fees. Free to use.