After you pass in South Carolina: restrictions and your licence
Passing the road test is a big step, but for drivers under 17 it does not mean full freedom yet. A conditional or special restricted license comes with time and passenger limits designed to keep you out of the riskiest situations while you build experience.
Drivers who pass at 18 or older get a regular Class D license with no teen limits, though every South Carolina driver must follow the hands-free, seat belt and alcohol laws.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can state when you may drive alone and when you need a supervisor.
- You can apply the two-passenger rule and its exceptions.
- You can decide whether a special restricted license waiver would help you.
- You can explain how and when your restrictions end.
What you need to know and understand
- Solo driving: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or to 8 p.m. during daylight saving time.
- Evening until midnight: a licensed driver 21 or older must be in the car.
- Midnight to 6 a.m.: only with a licensed person listed in SC Code 56-1-100(A), such as a parent or guardian.
- No more than two passengers under 21 unless a licensed adult 21 or older is present; family members and students going to or from school are exempt.
- Under 17 with 6 or more points in your first year: six-month suspension.
- Full privileges at 17, or after one year on a teen license with no traffic offenses and no at-fault collisions.
- SCDMV mails a sleeve for your license when restrictions end; no branch visit is needed.
A typical week on a teen license
In November, school ends at 3:30 p.m. and you drive yourself and two classmates home: that is fine, and school runs are exempt from the passenger limit anyway. A 7 p.m. basketball game is different. Daylight saving time has ended, so after 6 p.m. you need a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the car. In June, the same game would be fine to drive to alone because the cut-off moves to 8 p.m.
The waiver for work and activities
At 16, if you hold a special restricted or conditional license, you may apply for a waiver to drive alone until midnight because of work or certain extracurricular activities. It never allows driving after midnight.
- Visit an SCDMV branch and complete the application (Form 447-NC).
- Have a qualified adult complete the Consent for Minor (Form 447-CM) in front of an SCDMV employee or agent.
- Bring a letter from your school, church, work or activity explaining why you need the waiver.
- Bring a letter from your parent or legal guardian approving it.
- Pass the vision test and pay $25 for the new license.
Rules that apply to every driver
- Hands-free law: no holding a phone; $100 for a first offense, $200 and 2 points after that.
- Primary seat belt law for you and every passenger.
- Under 21, a BAC of 0.02 percent or more means a suspension of at least three months.
- Carry your license, registration and insurance card every time you drive.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the time change in November. The solo cut-off drops back to 6 p.m.
- Treating a 20-year-old friend as an adult supervisor. Evening supervisors must be licensed and at least 21.
- Driving after midnight with a waiver. The waiver only extends solo driving to midnight.
- Losing the sleeve SCDMV mails. You must keep your license in it to use full privileges.
- Getting complacent once you drive alone. Keep the same careful habits your supervisor taught you.
Test yourself: After you pass in South Carolina: restrictions and your licence
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Sources: South Carolina Driver's License Manual, Section 1 Graduated Driver's License Program and Regular Driver's License, and Section 3 (South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, revised June 2024, current edition on the SCDMV website); South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 56-1-100. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the South Carolina licensing agency.