Category: South Carolina

Photo: JamieS93, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you are 18 or older in South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) says you must hold a beginner’s permit for a minimum of 30 days before the road test, instead of the 180 days teens wait. The conditional and special restricted licenses, with their curfews and passenger limits, are teen stages, so an adult moves straight from the permit to a regular Class D license. This guide sets out that timeline, the supervision rules, what the road test asks you to do and the retest waits.

Key facts

• Permit hold at 18 or older: at least 30 days (SCDMV; 180 days for ages 15 to 17).
• Permit tests: a vision screening and a knowledge test on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving.
• Fees (as of November 2026): $2 per knowledge test and $2.50 for the beginner’s permit (SCDMV fee schedule).
• Permit supervision (6 a.m. to midnight): a licensed driver at least 21 with at least one year of driving experience.
• Road test retest waits: 2 business days after a first fail, 7 calendar days after a second, 30 calendar days after that.

Your South Carolina timeline as an adult

When	What happens
Day 1	Vision screening and knowledge test at an SCDMV branch (not started after 4 p.m.), or at an approved One Stop Driver Training and Testing Program. Pay for the permit.
Days 1 to 30	Practice with a qualified supervisor. Book your road test for a date after day 30.
Day 30 or later	Road test. Pass, and you get a regular Class D license.
If you fail	Retest after 2 business days (first fail), 7 calendar days (second) or 30 calendar days (third and later).

The 2026 Driver’s Manual states it directly: at 18 or older you hold the beginner’s permit at least 30 days and may apply for your license on the 31st day.

Getting the beginner’s permit at 18 or older

1. Study the SCDMV Driver’s Manual. Its “Test Your Knowledge” section has sample questions, and our South Carolina permit practice test adds more.
2. Bring your documents. Use the US documents checklist and decide about a REAL ID.
3. Take the vision screening. It is free at branches, or bring a Certificate of Vision Examination from a licensed eye care professional dated within the past 36 months.
4. Pass the knowledge test. Format and tips: the South Carolina beginner’s permit test guide.
5. Pay the fees: $2 per knowledge test and $2.50 for the permit.

Practicing on a South Carolina permit

From 6 a.m. to midnight, a licensed driver at least 21 years old with at least one year of driving experience must be with you. Driving after midnight on a permit is only allowed with a supervisor who qualifies under SC Code 56-1-100. The Consent for Minor form that names those supervisors is a teen document, so if you plan to practice after midnight as an adult, ask SCDMV who may supervise you.

Adults are not required to log hours, but 30 days is a short window for a complete beginner. Aim to cover parking, backing, hills, turnarounds and busy roads before test day. A plan you can follow: the supervised practice plan.

Do adults need driver’s ed in South Carolina?

SCDMV ties driver education (8 hours classroom and 6 hours driving) to the teen conditional and special restricted licenses. The 2026 Driver’s Manual lists driver education, the 40-hour log and school attendance only for applicants who are 15 or 16, so an adult does not need them. Teen rules: South Carolina driver education and the 40-hour requirement.

What is on the South Carolina road test?

What to bring

• Your beginner’s permit
• A licensed driver to accompany you
• Proof of liability insurance from a company licensed in South Carolina
• A car with a valid plate, registration card and insurance card (in a rental, the contract must list you as insured)
• Glasses or contacts if you need them

The vehicle check

Headlights, brakes, wipers, safety belts, turn signals, mirrors, speedometer, defroster and horn must all work. The examiner can refuse to test an unsafe car.

Skills you may be asked to perform

• parallel parking
• backing 100 feet in a straight line
• parking on a hill
• a two-point turnaround and a three-point turn
• lane changes and turns in traffic

Book through its “Schedule a Road Test” page. Full walkthrough: the South Carolina road test explained.

After you pass: rules for new adult drivers

• Phones: the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act took effect September 1, 2025. You may not hold or support a phone while driving. A first offense is a $100 fine; a later offense within three years is $200 and 2 points.
• Points: 12 points suspends a license. See the South Carolina points system.
• Under 21: a blood alcohol content of 0.02 or more means a suspension of at least three months.

Common questions

How long do I have to hold a permit in South Carolina if I’m over 18?

At least 30 days, according to SCDMV. The 180-day rule is for ages 15 to 17.

Do the conditional license curfew rules apply to me?

No. The conditional and special restricted licenses, and their time and passenger limits, are teen stages.

Can I take the road test at a driving school?

SCDMV approves One Stop Driver Training and Testing Programs as third-party testers. Ask your school whether it can give the skills test.

Can I use a rental car for the test?

Yes, if the rental contract lists you as insured. See road test car rules.

I’m moving to South Carolina with a license. Do I need a permit?

The transfer route for existing license holders is different from the first-time route. See moving to South Carolina.

What does it cost?

$2 per knowledge test and $2.50 for the permit (as of November 2026). Check the SCDMV fee schedule for the license fee before you go. Comparison: license costs by state.

Back to learning to drive in South Carolina. Other states: learning to drive as an adult in the US.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Beginner’s Permit” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Regular License Testing” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver’s License Manual” and “Revision History” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Fees” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teenage Drivers” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Points System” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Public Safety, hands-free law information (scdps.sc.gov)

Photo: Cliff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

SCDMV points are added to your South Carolina driving record when you are convicted of a moving violation. At 12 points your license is suspended, and teens on a beginner’s permit, conditional or special restricted license are suspended at just 6. This explainer covers the point values new drivers most often face, how points fall off, and the one-time defensive driving reduction.

Key facts (South Carolina, as of November 2026)

• 12 or more points: license suspended.
• Permit, conditional or special restricted license: 6 or more points brings a six-month suspension for Excessive Points.
• Points are cut in half one year after the violation date on the ticket.
• An approved defensive driving course removes 4 points, once in any three-year period.

South Carolina point values for common violations

Violation	Points
Speeding, 10 mph or less over the limit	2
Speeding, more than 10 but less than 25 mph over	4
Speeding, 25 mph or more over	6
Reckless driving	6
Disobeying a traffic control device (signal, sign)	4
Following too closely	4
Hands-free law, second or later offense within three years	2

The full schedule is in SC Code Section 56-1-720 and SCDMV’s Points System page. Many other moving violations carry 4 points and several carry 2; check the schedule for anything not listed here.

Worked example: a teen driver

A driver on a conditional license is ticketed for running a red light (4 points). Two months later they are caught 12 mph over the limit (4 points). That is 8 points, over the 6-point teen threshold, so the license is suspended for six months. Two small tickets are enough.

How points come off a South Carolina record

• Time: points are reduced by half one year after the violation date on the ticket.
• Defensive driving course: completing an approved course after points are assessed reduces your total by 4 points.

Point reduction course rules

• The course is the National Safety Council defensive driving course: at least eight hours of classroom training taught in South Carolina.
• The 2026 Driver’s Manual says the course cannot be completed online. SCDMV’s points page has mentioned a National Safety Council virtual classroom, so ask the school whether its format is certified for the four-point reduction before you enroll.
• Take it after the violation date. Look for a school certified for the four-point reduction.
• You can use the reduction only once in a three-year period.
• Finish it before a suspension starts. Once a suspension has begun, the course will not cancel or shorten it.
• It never lifts an Excessive Points suspension for a permit, conditional or special restricted license.

Warning letters

• Ages 15 and 16: SCDMV sends a warning letter at 2 points and again at 4 points.
• Age 17 and older: a warning letter at 6 points; 12 points means suspension.
• Under 17 with 6 or more points in the first year on a conditional or special restricted license: six-month suspension.

Zero tolerance and other suspensions

Points are not the only route to losing your license in South Carolina:

• Under 21 with a BAC of 0.02 percent or more: immediate suspension of at least three months.
• Refusing a breath or blood test: suspension of at least six months.

More: zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21 and implied consent and DUI in the US.

Common questions

How many points does it take to lose your license in SC?

12 for a regular license. 6 for a beginner’s permit, conditional or special restricted license.

How long do points stay on your license in South Carolina?

They are halved one year after the violation date. The manual gives no further schedule, so ask SCDMV when the rest drops off.

Can I take the defensive driving course online?

Only the National Safety Council’s virtual classroom counts. Other online courses do not.

Does the course help if I am already suspended?

No. It must be finished before the suspension starts.

Do tickets from other states add points in SC?

Yes. The manual says convictions in any other state, and military court-martial traffic convictions, are sent to SCDMV and posted to your record with points. See how points and suspensions work in the US.

Do points raise my insurance?

Insurers set their own rules, but violations usually matter. See car insurance for new drivers.

Related: South Carolina conditional and special restricted license rules. Back to the full guide to learning to drive in South Carolina.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Points System” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver’s License Manual” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Legislature, “Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 1” (scstatehouse.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Public Safety, “Hands Free SC” (scdps.sc.gov)

Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

South Carolina drivers ed requirements apply when you move from the beginner’s permit to a conditional or special restricted license: a driver education course plus at least 40 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them in darkness. This checklist is for teens and parents planning the six months between permit and road test in South Carolina.

Key facts (South Carolina, as of November 2026)

• Driver education course: 8 hours of classroom and 6 hours of driving, as described by SCDMV.
• Supervised practice: at least 40 hours, including at least 10 hours in darkness.
• Practice log: SCDMV Supervised Driving Log, Form DL-008A.
• Not needed for the beginner’s permit itself.

Checklist: from permit to conditional license

1. Get the beginner’s permit at 15. See the South Carolina beginner’s permit test guide.
2. Enroll in driver education with a provider SCDMV recognizes (SCDMV licenses driver training schools). When you finish, the program gives you the Certification of School Attendance, Driver’s Education and Driving Practice (SCDMV Form PDLA), which you complete and bring to SCDMV.
3. Stay enrolled in school with satisfactory attendance (not suspended or expelled). This is checked on the PDLA form.
4. Complete the classroom part (8 hours).
5. Complete the behind-the-wheel part (6 hours) with the instructor.
6. Log 40 hours of supervised practice on Form DL-008A, at least 10 after dark.
7. Hold the permit 180 days.
8. Book and pass the road test. See South Carolina road test explained.

Who can supervise practice hours in South Carolina?

The law requires the 40 hours to be supervised by a licensed person listed in SC Code Section 56-1-100(A)(1-7). For everyday permit driving, SCDMV’s rule is:

• 6 a.m. to midnight: a licensed driver at least 21 with at least one year of experience.
• Midnight to 6 a.m.: only a licensed person listed on your Consent for Minor (SCDMV Form 447-CM).

The people listed in that law are: your father or mother; your legal guardian; a person who has custody, care and control of you; a person approved in writing by the Department of Social Services (give SCDMV a copy); a person who has stood in place of a parent for at least 60 days in a row; or a responsible adult with notarized written permission from one of those people (give SCDMV a copy). A driving instructor or an older friend who is not on that list does not count toward the 40 hours.

A 40-hour plan that covers the road test

Spread the hours across the 180 days rather than cramming. One way to split them:

Hours	Focus
1 to 5	Empty parking lot: starts, stops, steering, mirrors, reversing
6 to 15	Quiet residential streets: stop signs, turns, four-way stops
16 to 25	Busier roads and lane changes; parallel parking and 100-foot straight backing
26 to 30	Highways and freeway merging
31 to 40	Night driving (at least 10 hours in total after dark), rain, hills, mock road tests

This split is a suggestion, not an SCDMV rule. Only the 40-hour and 10-hour night minimums are required. National comparison: supervised driving hours by state.

Logging tips

• Fill in the log after every drive: date, time, length, day or night, and what you practiced.
• Count only time behind the wheel, not waiting time.
• Keep the log with your permit so it is ready for the branch.

Common questions

Do I need driver’s ed in South Carolina if I am 18?

No. The manual applies the driver education, 40-hour and school attendance rules to applicants who are 15 or 16. At 18 or older you hold the permit 30 days and then take the road test.

Can driver education hours count toward the 40 hours?

Ask your driver training school or SCDMV before counting instructor time twice.

Can I take driver education online in South Carolina?

Ask SCDMV or a licensed driver training school which formats are approved; the behind-the-wheel part has to be done in a car.

What counts as darkness?

Check the definition with SCDMV, and log only drives clearly after sunset with headlights on, and record them separately so the 10-hour minimum is easy to show.

Where do I get the practice log?

SCDMV publishes it as Form DL-008A, the Supervised Driving Log, on dmv.sc.gov.

Next: the conditional and special restricted license rules you will drive under, or back to the full guide to learning to drive in South Carolina.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teenage Drivers” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Ready for the Road? A Step by Step Guide to the Licensing Process for Teens” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Supervised Driving Log, DL-008A” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver’s License Manual” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Legislature, “Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 1” (scstatehouse.gov)

Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

South Carolina has two teen licenses between the beginner’s permit and a full license: the conditional license (from 15 years 6 months) and the special restricted license (from 16). Both let you drive alone only in daytime hours and limit how many young passengers you carry. This explainer sets out the exact SC conditional license restrictions, the special restricted waiver and how to graduate to a regular license.

Key facts (South Carolina, as of November 2026)

• Alone: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight saving time).
• From 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time) to midnight: only with a licensed driver 21 or older.
• After midnight: only with a licensed person listed on your Consent for Minor (SCDMV Form 447-CM).
• Passengers: no more than 2 under 21 unless a licensed adult 21 or older is with you. Family members and students going to or from school are exempt.
• 6 or more points: six-month suspension.

Conditional vs special restricted license in South Carolina

	Conditional license	Special restricted license
Earliest age	15 years 6 months	16
Before you apply	180 days on the permit, driver education, 40 practice hours (10 in darkness), road test	Same list: 180 days on the permit, driver education, 40 practice hours (10 in darkness), school enrollment and attendance, vision and road test. A 16-year-old conditional holder can move to it without retesting
Solo driving hours	6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. daylight saving time)	Same, unless you hold a waiver
Waiver for later solo driving	Yes, once you turn 16	Yes: drive alone until midnight for work or certain extracurricular activities
Passenger limit	2 under 21 unless a licensed adult 21+ is present	Same

What time can a teen drive alone in South Carolina?

Read the clock, then the calendar:

1. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.: you may drive alone all year.
2. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: alone only during daylight saving time (spring and summer). Outside daylight saving time you need a licensed driver 21+.
3. Until midnight: only with a licensed driver who is at least 21.
4. Midnight to 6 a.m.: only with a licensed person listed on your Consent for Minor form.

Scenario: home from practice in November

Your basketball practice ends at 7 p.m. in November, after daylight saving time has ended. On a conditional license you cannot drive home alone; a licensed driver 21 or older must ride with you. On a special restricted license with a waiver covering that activity, you could drive yourself until midnight.

Passenger limit for SC teen drivers

• Maximum 2 passengers under 21.
• No limit while a licensed adult 21 or older is in the car.
• Exception: carrying family members, or students to and from school.

How to get the special restricted waiver

The waiver extends solo driving to midnight if you work or take part in certain extracurricular activities. It never covers driving after midnight. You must be 16 and hold a special restricted or conditional license. At an SCDMV branch you:

• complete the application (SCDMV 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, employer or activity saying why you need the waiver;
• bring a letter from your parent or legal guardian agreeing to it and saying why;
• pass the vision test and pay $25 for the new license showing the waiver.

When do you get a full license in South Carolina?

SCDMV says the restrictions come off at 17, or after you have held the conditional or special restricted license for one year, provided you had no traffic offenses and no at-fault collisions. You do not need to visit a branch: SCDMV mails you a sleeve to wrap around your license, and you must keep the license in it to use full privileges.

Points can cost you the license

Holders of a beginner’s permit, conditional or special restricted license are suspended for six months for Excessive Points at 6 points. That is one reckless driving conviction, or one ticket for speeding 25 mph or more over the limit. See the South Carolina points system.

Common questions

Can I drive my siblings to school on a conditional license?

Yes. Family members and students going to and from school are the exception to the 2-passenger limit.

Does the curfew change with daylight saving time?

Yes. Solo driving ends at 6 p.m. normally and at 8 p.m. during daylight saving time.

Can I drive after midnight if my parent is with me?

Yes, if your parent is licensed and listed on your Consent for Minor form.

Can I use my phone hands-free on a teen license?

South Carolina’s hands-free law bans holding or supporting a phone while driving for every driver. The manual adds no separate phone rule for teen licenses, so the same hands-free law applies to you. Background: hands-free and texting laws.

How do South Carolina’s rules compare with other states?

See GDL laws by state.

Related: South Carolina road test explained, driver education and 40-hour practice. Back to the full South Carolina learner guide.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teenage Drivers” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Ready for the Road? A Step by Step Guide to the Licensing Process for Teens” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver’s License Manual” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Legislature, “Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 1” (scstatehouse.gov)

Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The SC road test is the driving skills test you take after holding your beginner’s permit for 180 days (ages 15 to 17). An SCDMV examiner checks your car, then rides with you while you handle parking, backing, turnarounds and normal traffic. This guide lists what to bring, what you may be asked to do and what happens if you fail in South Carolina.

Key facts (South Carolina, as of November 2026)

• Permit hold before the test: at least 180 days if you are 15 to 17; SCDMV lists a 30-day minimum at 18 or older.
• Retest waits: two business days after a first fail, seven calendar days after a second, 30 calendar days after that.
• Teens also need driver education and 40 hours of logged practice (10 at night) before a conditional or special restricted license.

What to bring to the SC road test

• Your beginner’s permit (or any old license).
• A licensed driver to accompany you.
• Proof of liability insurance from a company licensed in South Carolina.
• A car with a valid plate, registration card and insurance card. In a rental, the contract must list you as insured.
• Glasses or contacts if you need them to drive.
• For teens: your driver education completion and supervised practice record. See South Carolina driver education and 40-hour practice.

Vehicle check: what must work

The examiner can refuse to test in an unsafe car. Check these the day before:

Item	Quick check
Headlights	Low and high beams on
Brakes	Firm pedal; brake lights work (ask a helper to look)
Turn signals	Front and rear, both sides
Wipers and defroster	Both run
Horn	Sounds
Mirrors	Present, not cracked, adjusted
Speedometer	Works
Safety belts	Every belt latches

What is on the South Carolina road test?

SCDMV lists these skills you may be asked to perform:

• Parallel parking.
• Straight-line backing for 100 feet. Look back over your shoulder, keep slow and steady, and keep the car straight.
• Parking on a hill. Turn your wheels the right way for uphill or downhill and set the parking brake. Refresher: US parking rules.
• Two-point turnaround (forward or reverse) and three-point turn.
• Lane changes and turns in traffic: mirrors, signal, head check, smooth steering.
• Working the controls on request: headlights, wipers, turn signals and four-way flashers, and a brake light check.
• Identifying road signs.
• Interstate driving.

Rules on the day

• Wear your seat belt. Not wearing it is an automatic fail.
• Only you and the SCDMV examiner may be in or around the car during the test.
• If the car is not safe, the test is postponed.
• Be ready: SCDMV may randomly select you to take the skills test again before it issues your license (SC Code 56-1-15).

Scenario: the two-point turnaround

You are asked to turn the car around, usually using a driveway or side opening. Signal, check mirrors and blind spots, then either back into the driveway and pull out forward in the new direction (reverse), or pull in forward and back out (forward). Stop fully before moving out, and yield to traffic and pedestrians.

How to book

SCDMV takes road test appointments through its “Schedule a Road Test” page on dmv.sc.gov. Check the page for branch times and walk-in rules before you go.

If you fail the SC road test

Attempt failed	Wait before retesting
First	2 business days
Second	7 calendar days
Third and later	30 calendar days

Most fails come from habits, not one big mistake: rolling stops, missed head checks, wide turns. See common reasons people fail the US driving test.

Common questions

Can I take the road test at my driving school?

SCDMV approves One Stop Driver Training and Testing Programs as third-party testers. Ask your school whether it is approved to give the skills test, and confirm on dmv.sc.gov.

Can I use a rental car for the SC road test?

Yes, if the rental contract lists you as insured.

Is parallel parking on the South Carolina road test?

It is on SCDMV’s list of skills you may be asked to perform, so practice it. Compare states: US road tests by state.

Who has to come with me?

SCDMV lists a licensed driver among the things to bring. That person can also drive you home if you do not pass.

What license do I get if I pass at 15 or 16?

A conditional license (from 15 years 6 months) or a special restricted license (at 16), each with time and passenger limits. See South Carolina conditional and special restricted license rules.

Back to the full guide to learning to drive in South Carolina, or review the beginner’s permit rules.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Regular License Testing” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Schedule a Road Test” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “South Carolina Driver’s Manual: Driving Tests” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Beginner’s Permit” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teenage Drivers” (dmv.sc.gov)

Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The SC permit test is two checks at an SCDMV branch (or an approved third-party tester): a vision screening and a knowledge test on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving. Pass both at 15 or older and you get a beginner’s permit. This guide covers what to bring, what it costs, how to study, and the supervision rules once you have the permit.

Key facts (South Carolina, as of November 2026)

• Minimum age: 15.
• Knowledge test: $2 per attempt. Beginner’s permit: $2.50 once you pass.
• Vision screening: free at SCDMV branches.
• Branches do not give knowledge tests after 4 p.m.
• Hold the permit at least 180 days before the road test if you are 15 to 17.

Steps to get an SC beginner’s permit

1. Study the SCDMV Driver’s Manual. The test covers traffic laws, road signs and safe driving rules, all from the manual.
2. Gather your documents. Check SCDMV’s current document list on dmv.sc.gov before your visit, and see REAL ID and your first US driver’s license if you want a REAL ID card.
3. Complete the Consent for Minor (SCDMV Form 447-CM) if you are under 18.
4. Go to a branch before 4 p.m. or book a One Stop Driver Training and Testing Program, which can test first-time Class D permit applicants.
5. Pass the vision screening and knowledge test, then pay $2.50 for the permit.

The vision test

A vision screening is required the first time you apply for a South Carolina beginner’s permit or license. Bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them. Instead of screening at the branch, SCDMV may accept a Certificate of Vision Examination from a licensed eye care professional, dated within the past 36 months.

How many questions are on the SC permit test?

Confirm the number of questions and the pass mark for the Class D knowledge test with SCDMV before your visit. What is official:

• The test covers traffic laws, road signs and safe driving.
• The Driver’s Manual has a “Test Your Knowledge” section with sample knowledge test questions. Work through it until you can explain each answer, not just recognize it.
• Each attempt costs $2.
• No manuals or study aids are allowed. You fail automatically if you leave the test area before finishing, talk to anyone, or bring in written material or an electronic device such as a phone, laptop or tablet.
• SCDMV also offers a free practice app, “SC DMV Driver Exam”, with randomly chosen questions based on the manual.

What to study hardest

• Sign shapes and colors: US road signs by shape and color.
• Right of way at intersections: four-way stops.
• Lines and signals: pavement markings and traffic signals.
• South Carolina teen rules (curfew, passengers, points). These are state specific, so learn them from the manual, not a national quiz.

How states compare: US permit tests by state.

Beginner’s permit supervision rules in South Carolina

Time	Who must be in the car with you
6 a.m. to midnight	A licensed driver at least 21 years old with at least one year of driving experience
Midnight to 6 a.m.	Only a licensed person who qualifies under SC Code Section 56-1-100(A) and is listed on your Consent for Minor form

How long you must hold the permit

• Ages 15 to 17: at least 180 days before any license or road test.
• Age 18 or older: at least 30 days; you may apply on the 31st day (2026 Driver’s Manual).

Supervised practice hours

Before a conditional or special restricted license you need at least 40 hours of supervised practice, with at least 10 hours in darkness. Track them on SCDMV’s Supervised Driving Log (Form DL-008A). Details: South Carolina driver education and 40-hour practice.

Common questions

Can I take the SC permit test online?

SCDMV lists branches and approved One Stop third-party testers. Check dmv.sc.gov for any online option before assuming one exists.

What happens if I fail the knowledge test?

You can retake it; each attempt is $2. Check with your branch or tester about when you can return.

Do I need driver’s ed before the permit?

No. Driver education is required for the conditional or special restricted license, not the beginner’s permit.

Can I drive with friends in the car on a permit?

Only with your qualified supervisor in the car. The permit never allows solo driving.

Can I drive after midnight on a permit?

Only with a licensed person who qualifies under the law and is listed on your Consent for Minor form.

Can I drive in another state on my SC permit?

Rules depend on the other state. See driving with a permit in another state.

Next steps: the South Carolina road test, or back to the full guide to learning to drive in South Carolina.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Beginner’s Permit” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver’s License Manual” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Ready for the Road? A Step by Step Guide to the Licensing Process for Teens” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Fees” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Regular License Testing” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Supervised Driving Log, DL-008A” (dmv.sc.gov)

Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To get a driver’s license in South Carolina as a teen, you get a beginner’s permit at 15, hold it for 180 days, and then move through a conditional license (from 15 years 6 months) or a special restricted license (from 16) before you reach a full license. This guide maps every step for South Carolina learners and parents, with links to the detailed posts on each stage.

Key facts (South Carolina, as of November 2026)

• Beginner’s permit: from age 15, after passing a vision test and a knowledge test.
• Fees: $2 per knowledge test and $2.50 for the beginner’s permit (SCDMV fee schedule).
• Hold the permit at least 180 days before the road test if you are 15 to 17.
• Before a conditional license: driver education plus 40 hours of supervised practice, at least 10 of them in darkness.
• Teen license curfew: alone only from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight saving time).
• Passenger limit: no more than 2 passengers under 21 unless a licensed adult 21 or older is with you.
• Points: 12 points suspends a license; 6 points suspends a permit, conditional or special restricted license for six months.

The South Carolina teen license stages

Stage	Earliest age	What it lets you do
Beginner’s permit	15	Drive only with a qualified supervisor in the car
Conditional license	15 years 6 months	Drive alone in daytime hours, with passenger and night limits
Special restricted license	16	Same time and passenger limits; a waiver can allow solo driving to midnight for work or certain activities
Regular (full) license	17, with a clean record	No teen restrictions

Full details: South Carolina conditional and special restricted license rules.

Step 1: Get your South Carolina beginner’s permit

1. Be at least 15.
2. Take the vision screening. It is free at SCDMV branches, or you can bring a Certificate of Vision Examination from a licensed eye care professional dated within the past 36 months.
3. Pass the knowledge test on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving. Branches do not start knowledge tests after 4 p.m. For a first-time Class D permit you can also test with an approved third-party tester (a One Stop Driver Training and Testing Program).
4. Pay the permit fee. Teens also complete the Consent for Minor (SCDMV Form 447-CM), which names the licensed adults who may supervise you after midnight.

How to prepare and what the supervision rules are: South Carolina beginner’s permit test guide. For identity documents, see REAL ID and your first US driver’s license.

Step 2: Practice under supervision

• 6 a.m. to midnight: a licensed driver at least 21 with at least one year of driving experience must sit with you.
• Midnight to 6 a.m.: only with a licensed person who qualifies under the law and is listed on your Consent for Minor form.
• Log at least 40 hours, including 10 in darkness. SCDMV publishes a Supervised Driving Log (Form DL-008A) for this.

Step 3: Driver education

Driver education is required for a conditional or special restricted license, not for the permit. SCDMV describes the course as 8 hours in the classroom and 6 hours of driving. See South Carolina driver education and the 40-hour practice requirement.

Step 4: Pass the South Carolina road test

After 180 days on the permit (ages 15 to 17), book the road test. Bring a safe, insured, registered car and a licensed driver. Skills can include parallel parking, backing 100 feet in a straight line, parking on a hill, a two-point or three-point turnaround, lane changes and turns. If you fail, the wait is two business days after the first attempt, seven calendar days after the second and 30 calendar days after that. Full walkthrough: South Carolina road test explained.

What the South Carolina Driver’s Manual covers

The knowledge test is drawn from the SCDMV Driver’s Manual. Study these areas, and use the US-wide guides below for the topics that work the same way nationally:

• Signs, signals and markings: US road signs by shape and color, traffic signals, pavement markings.
• Rules of the road: four-way stops, right on red, speed limits, school buses, parking, roundabouts.
• Safe driving: freeway driving, bad weather, railroad crossings, what to do after a crash.
• Sharing the road: motorcycles, bicycles and trucks, pedestrians, move over laws, emergency vehicles.
• Before you drive: seat belts and car seats, insurance.

South Carolina rules from the Driver’s Manual worth memorizing

• Carry your papers: whenever you drive, have your license (or permit), the vehicle registration and a valid insurance card with you, or you can be fined.
• Seat belts: South Carolina has a primary belt law, so an officer can stop you just for an unbelted driver or passenger. Children 7 and younger ride in a car seat in the back seat; under 2 rear-facing; never put a rear-facing seat in front of an air bag.
• Signals: state law requires a turn signal at least 100 feet before you turn, change lanes or merge.
• Following distance: the manual teaches a minimum of 4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead.
• Headlights: dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 200 feet of a vehicle you are following.
• Parking: no more than 18 inches from the curb or edge of the pavement.
• School buses: on a two-lane road, everyone stops for a bus with red lights flashing or the stop arm out. On a highway with at least two lanes each way, only traffic behind the bus must stop.
• Move over: for a stopped emergency vehicle, slow down and move to a lane away from it if it is safe; if not, slow down and pass with caution.
• Golf carts: you must be at least 16 with a valid driver’s license, and the cart needs an SCDMV permit decal. Daytime only, within four miles of the registered address or a gated community gate, on secondary roads posted 35 mph or less.
• Litter: throwing trash, including cigarette butts, from a vehicle is illegal and can mean a fine and roadside litter pickup.
• Traffic stops: South Carolina does not require you to sign a ticket.
• Selective Service: males under 26 who are US citizens or immigrants complete Form 447-SEL when applying, and SCDMV passes the details to Selective Service at 18.

Phones: South Carolina’s hands-free law

The Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act took effect September 1, 2025, and officers began writing citations on February 28, 2026, after a warning period. You may not hold or support a phone with any part of your body, read or send texts, or watch video while driving. Voice-only and hands-free use is allowed. A first offense is a $100 fine; a later offense within three years is $200 and 2 points. Background: hands-free and texting laws for US drivers.

Alcohol, drugs and implied consent in South Carolina

• Under 21 with a BAC of 0.02 percent or more: your privilege to drive is suspended immediately for at least three months.
• Refusing a breath or blood test: suspension of at least six months.
• Driving in South Carolina means you have consented to chemical testing.

More: zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21, implied consent and DUI, drugged driving.

Points and suspensions

South Carolina adds points for moving violations. Reaching 12 points suspends a regular license. Permit, conditional and special restricted holders are suspended for six months at 6 points, so one reckless driving ticket (6 points) is enough. See South Carolina driver points system explained.

Common questions

How old do you have to be to drive in South Carolina?

You can get a beginner’s permit at 15 and a conditional license at 15 years 6 months, after holding the permit 180 days.

Do I need driver’s ed in South Carolina?

Not for the beginner’s permit. You need it before a conditional or special restricted license.

What time can a 15-year-old drive alone in South Carolina?

On a conditional license, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or to 8 p.m. during daylight saving time. Until midnight a licensed driver 21 or older must ride with you.

How many passengers can a South Carolina teen driver carry?

No more than 2 under 21, unless a licensed adult 21 or older is in the car. Family members and students going to or from school are the exception.

I am 18. Do I still need to hold my permit 180 days?

No, the 180-day rule is for ages 15 to 17. The 2026 Driver’s Manual says applicants 18 and older hold the permit at least 30 days and may apply on the 31st day.

I moved to South Carolina with a license from another state. What now?

Apply for a South Carolina license within 45 days of moving and turn in your old license; tests are needed only if it has been expired more than nine months. Details: moving to South Carolina. See also transferring your license to another state and, for permit holders, driving with a permit in another state. Check SCDMV’s current transfer rules before you visit.

Comparing states? See how to get a driver’s license in the US and GDL laws by state.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Beginner’s Permit” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teenage Drivers” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver’s License Manual” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Ready for the Road? A Step by Step Guide to the Licensing Process for Teens” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Regular License Testing” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Fees” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Points System” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Public Safety, “Hands Free SC” (scdps.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Legislature, “Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 1” (scstatehouse.gov)

Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The South Carolina beginner’s permit test is a knowledge test on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving, taken with a vision screening at an SCDMV branch or an approved One Stop tester. This page gives you 30 original practice questions across the SCDMV Driver’s Manual, finishing with South Carolina’s permit, conditional license and points rules. The questions are unofficial, not SCDMV’s.

SC permit test: key facts

• Minimum age: 15.
• $2 per knowledge test attempt; $2.50 for the beginner’s permit once you pass (as of November 2026).
• SCDMV branches do not give knowledge tests after 4 p.m.
• No manuals or other testing aids are allowed during the test.
• The Driver’s Manual has its own sample questions in its “Test Your Knowledge” section. Use them with this page.

Documents, the vision rule and booking: the South Carolina beginner’s permit test guide.

Quick-fire signs and signals (1 to 10)

1. A red octagon sign tells you to:

• A. Yield
• B. Slow down
• C. Come to a complete stop
• D. Merge

Answer: C. Manual topic: signs.

2. A round yellow sign with an X and RR means:

• A. A railroad crossing ahead
• B. Road repairs
• C. A rest area
• D. A right turn only

Answer: A. Manual topic: signs.

3. A pennant-shaped yellow sign on the left side of the road means:

• A. A school zone
• B. Yield ahead
• C. A narrow bridge
• D. A no-passing zone

Answer: D. Manual topic: signs.

4. A sign with a red circle and slash over a symbol means:

• A. Information only
• B. The action shown is prohibited
• C. A detour
• D. Caution ahead

Answer: B. Manual topic: signs.

5. A yellow diamond sign is used to:

• A. Warn of a hazard or change in the road
• B. Give directions
• C. Show the speed limit
• D. Show services

Answer: A. Manual topic: signs.

6. A flashing red signal is treated like:

• A. A green light
• B. A yield sign
• C. A stop sign
• D. A school zone

Answer: C. Manual topic: signals.

7. A steady yellow light means:

• A. Speed up to beat the red
• B. The light is about to turn red: stop if you can do so safely
• C. Go, you have the right of way
• D. Pedestrians only

Answer: B. Manual topic: signals.

8. A flashing yellow left-turn arrow means:

• A. A protected turn
• B. Stop and wait
• C. Left turns banned
• D. You may turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians

Answer: D. Manual topic: signals.

9. A solid yellow line on your side of the center line means:

• A. Do not cross it to pass
• B. Passing is allowed
• C. A bike lane
• D. A turn lane

Answer: A. Manual topic: pavement markings.

10. Orange signs mean:

• A. Parks
• B. Hospital
• C. A work zone: slow down and watch for workers
• D. Toll road

Answer: C. Manual topic: signs, work zones.

Right of way and road rules (11 to 19)

11. Two drivers reach an uncontrolled intersection together. Who goes first?

• A. The driver on the left
• B. The driver on the right
• C. The larger vehicle
• D. The one who honks

Answer: B. The driver on the left yields. Manual topic: right of way.

12. You are turning right on a red light where no sign prohibits it. You must first:

• A. Slow to 5 mph
• B. Flash your lights
• C. Honk
• D. Come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and traffic

Answer: D. Right on red after a full stop is allowed in most places unless a sign forbids it. The SCDMV manual allows right on red unless a sign prohibits it, after you stop and yield to pedestrians and other traffic. Manual topic: turns.

13. You hear a siren behind you. You should:

• A. Pull to the right edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle passes
• B. Speed up
• C. Stop where you are, even in an intersection
• D. Move to the left lane

Answer: A. Manual topic: emergency vehicles.

14. A school bus stops ahead of you with red lights flashing. Traffic behind it must:

• A. Pass on the left
• B. Stop only if children are near
• C. Stop and stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing
• D. Slow to 15 mph

Answer: C. On a two-lane road, oncoming traffic stops too. On a highway with at least two lanes each way, only traffic behind the bus must stop. Manual topic: school buses.

15. You approach a stopped police car or tow truck with flashing lights on a multi-lane highway. Generally you should:

• A. Keep your speed
• B. Stop beside it
• C. Use the shoulder
• D. Move over a lane if you safely can, or slow down

Answer: D. The SCDMV manual says to slow down and change to a lane away from a stopped emergency vehicle if it is safe; if not, slow down and pass with caution. Manual topic: sharing the road.

16. A pedestrian is crossing at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. You should:

• A. Honk and go
• B. Yield to the pedestrian
• C. Speed up to pass first
• D. Go around them

Answer: B. Intersections have crosswalks whether marked or not. Manual topic: pedestrians.

17. At a roundabout you should:

• A. Yield to traffic already in the circle and travel counterclockwise
• B. Stop inside the circle
• C. Drive clockwise
• D. Speed up to merge

Answer: A. Manual topic: roundabouts.

18. The speed limit is 55 mph, but there is thick fog. The right speed is:

• A. 55 mph
• B. 60 mph to keep pace
• C. Any speed with high beams on
• D. As slow as needed to stop within the distance you can see

Answer: D. In fog use low beams, which reflect less glare. Manual topic: speed and adverse conditions.

19. You are following a large truck. You are in its blind spot if:

• A. You can see its side mirrors
• B. You cannot see the driver in its side mirrors
• C. You are 10 car lengths back
• D. You are in the next lane, well ahead

Answer: B. If you cannot see the driver’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you. Manual topic: sharing the road with trucks.

Alcohol, phones and emergencies (20 to 24)

20. In South Carolina, a driver under 21 with a BAC of 0.02% or more faces a suspension of:

• A. At least three months
• B. One week
• C. Nothing below 0.08%
• D. A warning only

Answer: A. Refusing the test brings at least six months. See zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21. Manual topic: alcohol and drugs.

21. Under South Carolina’s hands-free law (in force since September 1, 2025), drivers may not:

• A. Listen to the radio
• B. Use voice commands
• C. Hold or support a phone while driving
• D. Use GPS in a mount

Answer: C. Voice and hands-free use are allowed. A first offense is a $100 fine. Topic: hands-free law.

22. Which of these lowers your blood alcohol level?

• A. Coffee
• B. A cold shower
• C. Exercise
• D. Only time

Answer: D. Manual topic: alcohol and drugs.

23. Your rear wheels skid on a wet road. You should:

• A. Brake hard
• B. Ease off the gas and steer gently in the direction you want to go
• C. Jerk the wheel the opposite way
• D. Accelerate

Answer: B. Manual topic: emergencies.

24. Your car stalls on a railroad track and a train is coming. What do you do?

• A. Try to restart the engine
• B. Stay in the car
• C. Push the car
• D. Get everyone out and move away from the tracks at once

Answer: D. Get clear first; call for help once everyone is safe. Manual topic: railroad crossings.

South Carolina permit, conditional license and points (25 to 30)

25. Between 6 a.m. and midnight, a South Carolina beginner’s permit holder must drive with:

• A. Any passenger aged 18
• B. A licensed driver at least 21 years old with at least one year of driving experience
• C. A sibling with a conditional license
• D. No one, in daylight

Answer: B. After midnight, only a licensed person listed on your Consent for Minor (Form 447-CM) may supervise. Manual topic: beginner’s permit.

26. If you are 15 to 17, how long must you hold the beginner’s permit before a license or road test?

• A. 30 days
• B. 90 days
• C. At least 180 days
• D. 1 year

Answer: C. Manual topic: beginner’s permit.

27. How much supervised practice is required before a conditional or special restricted license?

• A. 40 hours, including at least 10 in darkness
• B. 20 hours
• C. 50 hours, including 15 at night
• D. None

Answer: A. Log it on the Supervised Driving Log (Form DL-008A). See SC driver education and 40 hour practice. Topic: practice requirements.

28. On a conditional license outside daylight saving time, you may drive alone from:

• A. 6 a.m. to midnight
• B. 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• C. Any time
• D. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Answer: D. During daylight saving time, it is 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Until midnight you need a licensed driver 21+. See SC conditional license rules. Topic: conditional license.

29. How many passengers under 21 may a conditional license holder carry without a licensed adult 21+ in the car?

• A. None
• B. One
• C. Two, not counting family members or students going to or from school
• D. Four

Answer: C. Topic: conditional license.

30. A beginner’s permit, conditional or special restricted license holder reaches 6 points. What happens?

• A. A six-month suspension for Excessive Points
• B. A warning
• C. Nothing until 12 points
• D. A $50 fine

Answer: A. One reckless driving conviction, or speeding 25 mph or more over the limit, is 6 points on its own. Topic: points.

Your score

Correct out of 30	What to do next
27 to 30	Book your test, then do the manual’s sample questions as a final check
24 to 26	Reread the sections behind your misses
Under 24	Read the whole manual again before you pay for an attempt

Check the pass mark with SCDMV, and aim for 27 or more to leave a margin.

Common questions

Are these the real SCDMV questions?

No. They are original, unofficial practice questions. The official sample questions are in the Driver’s Manual.

How many questions are on the South Carolina permit test?

Ask your branch or One Stop tester.

How much does the SC permit test cost?

$2 per attempt, then $2.50 for the permit (as of November 2026).

Can I take the test after school?

Only if you get to the branch before 4 p.m., when knowledge testing stops. A One Stop driver training program may offer other times.

Do I need driver’s ed for the permit?

No. Driver education is needed for the conditional or special restricted license, not the beginner’s permit.

Where are practice tests for other states?

See US permit practice tests. The full route is in learning to drive in South Carolina.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver’s Manual” (2026) (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Beginner’s Permits” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teenage Drivers” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Points System” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Public Safety, “Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act” (scdps.sc.gov)

Photo: Washuotaku, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Moving to South Carolina permanently with a valid license from another state? SCDMV says you must apply for a South Carolina license within 45 days of moving, and you have 45 days to transfer your vehicle registration too. Most movers with a current license skip testing. This guide explains the deadlines, when tests come back in, what to bring, the property tax step for your car, and what teens should expect.

Key facts (South Carolina, as of November 2026)

• License deadline: apply within 45 days of moving to South Carolina permanently.
• Tests: if your out-of-state license has been expired for more than nine months, you must pass the knowledge, skills and vision tests.
• You must turn in your out-of-state license or ID to get a South Carolina one.
• Vehicle: 45 days to transfer registration, and you pay county property tax first.
• One-time fee for a vehicle previously registered in another state: $250 (SCDMV fees page).
• Temporary residents such as students and active-duty military don’t have to switch licenses.

Who has to switch, and by when?

SCDMV’s Moving to SC page says anyone with a valid out-of-state license or ID who moves to South Carolina permanently must apply for a South Carolina license or ID within 45 days of moving. Active-duty military members and US government employees are exceptions.

People moving to South Carolina temporarily (for example, students or service members stationed in the state) aren’t required to get a South Carolina license, but they must keep a valid out-of-state license to drive.

After you are licensed, SCDMV gives you 10 days to update your address whenever you move within the state.

Will you have to take a test?

Here is how SCDMV’s rules sort out for movers:

• Valid license, or expired nine months or less: no knowledge or skills test, but a vision screening is required when you surrender an out-of-state license (free at branches, or a Certificate of Vision Examination dated within 36 months). Bring documents and turn in the old card.
• License from another country: SCDMV waives the knowledge and skills tests only if your country has a formal reciprocity agreement with South Carolina and the license has not been expired more than nine months. Otherwise you start with a beginner’s permit.
• Expired more than nine months: you take the knowledge, skills and vision tests before you get a license.
• No old license to turn in: bring a driving record from your former state as proof of driving.

If you do need to test, see the South Carolina knowledge test guide and the South Carolina road test explained.

Documents to bring to SCDMV

1. Your out-of-state license or ID card, or a driving record from that state if you don’t have it.
2. Proof of identity, Social Security number and South Carolina address. SCDMV publishes the accepted document list; bring originals.
3. Extra proof if you want a REAL ID. See REAL ID and your first US license.
4. Payment for the license fee. Check the amount on SCDMV’s fees page.

Registering your car: tax first, then SCDMV

South Carolina is unusual: you can’t register until you have paid local property tax. SCDMV’s vehicle moving page sets out the order:

1. Contact your county auditor with the VIN and your most recent registration card. The auditor produces a property tax bill.
2. Pay the bill at the county treasurer and keep the original paid receipt.
3. Apply to SCDMV for title and registration with the paid receipt and your out-of-state title or registration.
4. Pay SCDMV fees. The fees page lists a one-time $250 fee for a new vehicle previously registered in another state. SCDMV’s own estimate for a typical passenger car is about $305 in total, not counting the property tax.

• Deadline: SCDMV says you have 45 days to transfer registration. Its title application warns that missing 45 days from the date of purchase, or the date the vehicle began operating in South Carolina, triggers a penalty fee.
• No SC license yet? If you keep your car in South Carolina without an SC license (for example, as a student or active-duty service member), SCDMV uses Form TI-006C, Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina.

Line up South Carolina insurance before you register. See minimum car insurance by state and title, registration and inspection in the US.

Moving to South Carolina as a teen

Ask SCDMV how a license or permit from another state converts for a driver under 17. Plan on South Carolina’s teen rules applying:

• A beginner’s permit holding period of 180 days for ages 15 to 17.
• Driver education (8 hours of classroom and 6 hours of driving) and 40 hours of practice, 10 after dark, for the conditional license.
• Conditional license limits on night driving and passengers until full privileges.

The details are in South Carolina conditional and special restricted license rules and driver education and the 40-hour practice requirement. Bring your out-of-state permit, license, driver ed certificate and driving log, and ask SCDMV how your time and training will be counted.

Common questions

How long do I have to get a South Carolina license after moving?

45 days from moving to South Carolina permanently.

Do I need to take the written test to transfer my license to South Carolina?

Not if your license is current or has been expired for nine months or less. Beyond nine months, you take the knowledge, skills and vision tests.

Why does the DMV need a property tax receipt?

South Carolina requires you to pay county property tax on the vehicle before SCDMV will register it.

How much does it cost to bring a car to South Carolina?

The SCDMV fees page lists a $250 one-time fee for a vehicle previously registered in another state. SCDMV estimates about $305 in total for a typical car before property tax.

I’m a college student from Georgia. Do I need an SC license?

No. SCDMV treats students as temporary residents who don’t have to switch, but you must keep a valid license from home.

What if I can’t find my old license?

Bring a driving record from your former state as proof of driving.

Moving between other states? See moving to a new state: transferring your license, or the full South Carolina license guide.

Sources

• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Moving to SC: License” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Moving to SC: Vehicle” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Fees” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Form 400: Application for Certificate of Title and Registration” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “TI-006C: Statement of Vehicle Operation in South Carolina” (dmv.sc.gov)
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, “Teenage Drivers” and “Beginner’s Permit” (dmv.sc.gov)