South Carolina Vehicle Power of Attorney

Q: Which form is the South Carolina vehicle power of attorney?

SCDMV form 5047, titled Power of Attorney for Odometer Disclosure, in the revision marked 5047 (Rev. 7/14). It is the only numbered power of attorney the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles publishes for a vehicle title transaction. It runs to two pages: a vehicle description block and Parts A, B and C on the first, and the instruction page with the filing copy rules on the second. For documents outside the title signing it covers, the SCDMV asks for a non-secured power of attorney instead.

Q: Does a South Carolina vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

Form 5047 carries no notary acknowledgment block on either of its pages. Parts A, B and C each take a plain signature, printed name, date and address, and the deterrent the SCDMV prints on the face of the form is a penalty warning rather than an oath: providing a false statement may result in fines or imprisonment under 49 USC 32709 and S.C. Code Section 56-19-240(4). For a non-secured power of attorney, the contents the SCDMV lists include a witness signature.

Q: When may a South Carolina 5047 be used, and when may it not?

The notice on the form sets the limit: it may be used only when the title is physically held by a lienholder or has been lost. The instruction page repeats it in fuller terms, saying to use the form if you have a vehicle that is subject to odometer disclosure and the title is lost, destroyed or physically held by a security interest holder. If the certificate of title is in hand, 5047 is not the right document, and the SCDMV's dealer course says that signing any other document for a customer calls for a non-secured power of attorney.

Q: Which parts of the South Carolina 5047 do I complete?

Part A is the power of attorney to disclose mileage. The seller completes the odometer disclosure and signs, and the buyer then carries that disclosure to the title once it arrives. Part B is used only where Part A has already been used and the vehicle is resold before the title is received, and the form states that Part B is invalid unless Part A has been completed. Part C is the certification, completed once the title is received, that the title and any reassignment documents have been reviewed and no mileage discrepancies exist.

Q: Can South Carolina accept an electronic signature on a 5047?

No. The SCDMV's dealer titling course states that the DMV does not accept electronic signatures on secured documents, and form 5047 is one of the secured documents it names, alongside the manufacturer's certificate of origin, the title and the odometer disclosure. Electronic signatures are accepted only on electronic versions of other paperwork such as the Form 400 title application. So a 5047 is signed in wet ink, and photocopied only afterwards for record keeping.

Q: How does a company sign a South Carolina 5047?

Twice over. The instruction page provides that where the buyer or seller is a company, the person completing the assignment on behalf of the company must print and sign the name of the company as well as their own personal name. That lets the office see both the entity that holds the authority and the individual who exercised it. The form also prints separate lines for the transferee's name as a business or company and the printed name of the individual signing as transferee.

Q: Where do the South Carolina 5047 and its copies go?

The notice on the form says it must be submitted to the DMV by the person exercising the power of attorney, and that failure to do so may result in fines or imprisonment. The form is a single original that may be copied for record keeping only. The original is attached to the certificate of title when it is received and submitted with that title when a new title is applied for. The first copy makes a separate odometer filing with the state, and the second copy is retained by the grantee for five years.

Q: Who in South Carolina needs a power of attorney on a title application?

Anyone who is not the owner. The SCDMV's dealer titling course states that if someone other than an owner signs the application, a power of attorney must accompany the application, and the Form 400 title and registration application itself allows the owner's signature line to be signed in ink by an owner or an authorized agent with a power of attorney attached. Which power of attorney you need depends on the document: 5047 for the title signing with an odometer disclosure, a non-secured power of attorney for the rest.

South Carolina's numbered vehicle power of attorney is SCDMV form 5047, Power of Attorney for Odometer Disclosure. No notary block. For other documents the SCDMV wants a non-secured power of attorney. Attorney review available.

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Introduction

Power of Attorney for Odometer Disclosure is the full name the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles prints across the top of form 5047, and that title does most of the work of explaining the form. It is a mileage instrument, not a standing authority to run somebody's errands at a DMV branch. The posted revision reads 5047 (Rev. 7/14). Directly under the title the SCDMV prints a notice setting the boundary: this form may be used only when title is physically held by lienholder or has been lost, and this form must be submitted to the DMV by the person exercising Power of Attorney, with a warning that failure to do so may result in fines or imprisonment. Part A is the appointment. The seller appoints the dealer or buyer as attorney in fact to sign all papers and documents required to secure the title and further grants the authority to endorse and transfer title thereto and to disclose the mileage on the title for the vehicle described above, exactly as stated in my following disclosure. The seller then writes the odometer reading in the same box, with two check boxes for a reading in excess of the odometer's mechanical limits or one that is not the actual mileage. Part B covers a resale before the title arrives, and the form states that it is invalid unless Part A has been completed. Part C is the certification, signed once the title is in hand, that no mileage discrepancies exist. No notary signs any of it: there is no notary block on either page. For any document other than the title signing that 5047 covers, the SCDMV requires a non-secured power of attorney, for which it publishes no standard format. DocDraft builds your South Carolina vehicle power of attorney from your facts, with attorney review available before you sign.

Key Things to Know

1
Form 5047, titled Power of Attorney for Odometer Disclosure, is the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles form that appoints a buyer or dealer as attorney in fact to sign all papers required to secure the title, to endorse and transfer it, and to disclose the mileage on it exactly as the seller disclosed it on the form.
2
No notary is involved. Neither page of form 5047 carries a notary acknowledgment block. Parts A, B and C take plain signatures, and the deterrent printed on the form is a penalty warning citing 49 USC 32709 and S.C. Code Section 56-19-240(4).
3
The SCDMV restricts when 5047 may be used at all. The notice on the form says it may be used only when title is physically held by a lienholder or has been lost, and the instruction page repeats it: use this form if the vehicle is subject to odometer disclosure and the title is lost, destroyed or physically held by a security interest holder.
4
For anything other than the title signing 5047 covers, the SCDMV wants a different document. Its dealer titling course puts it bluntly: to sign any other document on behalf of the customer you must have a non-secured power of attorney, and there is no standard format for one.
5
The SCDMV does list what a non-secured power of attorney must contain: the individual's name, the attorney in fact, a vehicle description with VIN, year, make and model, the individual's signature, and a witness signature. The attorney in fact does not need to sign, and copies are acceptable.
6
Form 5047 is a secured document, and the SCDMV does not accept electronic signatures on secured documents. The form also warns that it is void if any information entered on it has been erased or altered by any means, and that unauthorized printing or reproduction is strictly prohibited.
7
There is one original and three set destinations for the copies. The original is attached to the certificate of title when it is received and submitted with that title, the first copy makes the separate odometer filing with the state, and the second copy is retained by the grantee for five years.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Vehicle Power of Attorney in South Carolina, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Vehicle Power of Attorney guide walks through them.

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SOUTH CAROLINA POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR ODOMETER DISCLOSURE (SCDMV FORM 5047)

Use this worksheet to gather every entry SCDMV form 5047 asks for, in the order the form asks, before the parties sign. The posted revision is 5047 (Rev. 7/14). It is void if any entry is erased or altered by any means.

NOTICE PRINTED ON THE FORM This form may be used only when title is physically held by lienholder or has been lost. This form must be submitted to the DMV by the person exercising Power of Attorney. Failure to do so may result in fines or imprisonment.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION Year: [YEAR] Make: [MAKE] Model type: [MODEL TYPE] Body type: [BODY TYPE] Vehicle identification number: [VIN]

PART A, POWER OF ATTORNEY TO DISCLOSE MILEAGE I, [PRINT SELLER OR TRANSFEROR NAME], appoint [PRINT DEALER OR TRANSFEREE NAME] as my attorney in fact, to sign all papers and documents required to secure the title and further grant the authority to endorse and transfer title thereto and to disclose the mileage on the title for the vehicle described above, exactly as stated in my following disclosure. Odometer now reads, no tenths: [MILEAGE] miles Check if the reading reflects mileage in excess of its mechanical limits: [ ] Check if the reading is NOT the actual mileage, odometer discrepancy: [ ] Transferor signature, printed name, date of statement: _______________________________ Transferor address, street, city, state, ZIP: [ADDRESS] Transferee signature and printed name of the individual signing: _______________________________ Transferee business or company name, licensed dealer, and address: [BUSINESS AND ADDRESS]

PART B, POWER OF ATTORNEY TO REVIEW TITLE DOCUMENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGE DISCLOSURE Part B is invalid unless Part A has been completed. Use it only where the vehicle is resold before the title arrives. I, [PRINT NEW BUYER OR TRANSFEREE NAME], appoint [PRINT DEALERSHIP NAME] as my attorney in fact, to sign the mileage disclosure on the title for the vehicle described above, only if the disclosure is exactly as disclosed here. Signatures, printed names and addresses: _______________________________

PART C, CERTIFICATION Complete once the title or a replacement title is received. The person exercising the power of attorney certifies that the title and any reassignment documents have been received and reviewed, and no mileage discrepancies exist. Signature, printed name, date of certification: _______________________________ Street address, city, state, ZIP: [ADDRESS]

NO NOTARY, AND NO ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE There is no notary block on either page of form 5047. The SCDMV does not accept electronic signatures on secured documents, and 5047 is one. Sign in wet ink.

IF YOU NEED AUTHORITY FOR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT The SCDMV requires a non-secured power of attorney, for which it publishes no standard format. It must contain the individual's name, the attorney in fact, a vehicle description with VIN, year, make and model, the individual's signature, and a witness signature. Copies are acceptable.

FILING COPIES Single original, copied for record keeping only. Original: attached to the certificate of title when received, and submitted with that title when a new title is applied for. First copy: the separate odometer filing with the state. Second copy: retained by the grantee for five years.

WHERE IT GOES To the South Carolina DMV, submitted by the person exercising the power of attorney, with the title.

Note: this worksheet mirrors SCDMV form 5047 and the SCDMV dealer titling course, under S.C. Code Section 56-19-240 and 49 CFR Part 580. For the generic template and other states, see the Vehicle Power of Attorney hub.

Once your Vehicle Power of Attorney is ready, you can check whether it needs to be notarized in South Carolina in about a minute, and notarize it online through DocDraft if it does.

South Carolina Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

SCDMV Form 5047, Power of Attorney for Odometer Disclosure
South Carolina's numbered vehicle power of attorney is form 5047, titled Power of Attorney for Odometer Disclosure, published by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles in the revision marked 5047 (Rev. 7/14). Part A appoints the buyer or dealer as attorney in fact to sign all papers required to secure the title, endorse and transfer it, and disclose the mileage on it.
No Notary Block on Form 5047
Neither page of form 5047 carries a notary acknowledgment block. Parts A, B and C take plain signatures with printed names, dates and addresses. The deterrent the SCDMV prints on the form is a penalty warning: providing a false statement may result in fines or imprisonment under 49 USC 32709 and S.C. Code Section 56-19-240(4).
Used Only When the Title Is Held or Lost
The notice on form 5047 limits it: this form may be used only when title is physically held by lienholder or has been lost. The instruction page puts it as using the form if the vehicle is subject to odometer disclosure and the title is lost, destroyed or physically held by a security interest holder.
Non-Secured Power of Attorney for Every Other Document
The SCDMV dealer titling course states that to sign any other document on behalf of the customer you must have a non-secured power of attorney, and that there is no standard format. It must contain the individual's name, the attorney in fact, a vehicle description with VIN, year, make and model, the individual's signature and a witness signature. The attorney in fact does not need to sign, and copies are acceptable.
Parts A, B and C, and Part B Depends on Part A
Part A is the power of attorney to disclose mileage. Part B is used only on a resale before the title arrives, and the form states that Part B is invalid unless Part A has been completed. Part C is the certification, completed once the title is received, that the title and any reassignment documents have been reviewed and no mileage discrepancies exist.
No Electronic Signatures, and Erasures Void It
The SCDMV does not accept electronic signatures on secured documents, and form 5047 is a secured document. The form itself adds that it is void if any information entered on it has been erased or altered by any means, and that unauthorized printing or reproduction of the document is strictly prohibited.
A Company Signs Its Own Name and the Signer's
Where the buyer or seller is a company, the instruction page requires that the person completing the assignment on behalf of the company print and sign the name of the company as well as their own personal name, so the office can see both the entity and the individual who acted.
One Original, Three Destinations for the Copies
The form is a single original and may be copied for record keeping only. The original is attached to the certificate of title when it is received and submitted with that title when a new title is applied for. The first copy makes the separate odometer filing with the state, and the second copy is retained by the grantee for five years. The person exercising the power of attorney must submit the form to the DMV.

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in South Carolina?

Whether a Vehicle Power of Attorney needs to be notarized depends on your state. Upload yours, pick your state, and get the current rule with the official source behind it, free and with no account. If yours does need a notary, online notarization is part of your DocDraft plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which form is the South Carolina vehicle power of attorney?

Does a South Carolina vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

When may a South Carolina 5047 be used, and when may it not?

Which parts of the South Carolina 5047 do I complete?

Can South Carolina accept an electronic signature on a 5047?

How does a company sign a South Carolina 5047?

Where do the South Carolina 5047 and its copies go?

Who in South Carolina needs a power of attorney on a title application?

Find out where you stand in South Carolina

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Vehicle Power of Attorney Template with DocDraft

South Carolina Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

SCDMV Form 5047, Power of Attorney for Odometer Disclosure

No Notary Block on Form 5047

Used Only When the Title Is Held or Lost

Non-Secured Power of Attorney for Every Other Document

Parts A, B and C, and Part B Depends on Part A

No Electronic Signatures, and Erasures Void It

A Company Signs Its Own Name and the Signer's

One Original, Three Destinations for the Copies

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in South Carolina?

Frequently Asked Questions