South Carolina Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your South Carolina learner's permit — age, fees, documents for the written test, supervised-hours rules, and what the road test itself checks — summarized from the official DMV pages and linked to the source.
South CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
South CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
South CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: SCDMV — Beginner's Permit ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
The South Carolina licensing timeline
Each stage below carries what DMV itself publishes, the people it applies to, the page it came from, and the date we last checked it. Where The state agency publishes no figure, the card says so instead of guessing one.
1Eligibility
Regular beginner's permit minimum age
2Documents
DMV lists these for the knowledge-test visit:
- Social Security number
- Government-issued birth certificate
- Proof of current physical address
- Adult consent if under 18
The knowledge test and the permit itself are handled in the same visit.
South CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
3Required education
South Carolina's own published steps name a training requirement:
- Complete driver education and at least 40 practice hours, including 10 at night
South CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
4Application
Permit feeThe state agency does not publish a verified feeSouth CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
What the permit itself takes, once you pass:
- Certification of School Attendance, Driver's Education, and Driving Practice (SCDMV Form PDLA), completed before the road test for a first license at 15 or 16
5Knowledge test
Questions on the official testThe state agency does not publish thisSouth CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Official passing scoreThe state agency does not publish thisSouth CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Wait before a retakeThe state agency does not publish a verified retake waitSouth CarolinaDMVSC official knowledge-test sourceChecked 2026-08-12Official source
6Permit restrictions
Permit validityThe state agency does not publish a verified validity periodSouth CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Restrictions South Carolina puts on a new driver:
- Permit supervision: Regular beginner's permit holders may practice from 6 a.m. to midnight with a licensed driver age 21+ with at least one year of experience in the front seat; midnight to 6 a.m. requires a qualified individual in the front seat
- Conditional passenger rule: Conditional and Special Restricted license holders may not have more than two passengers under 21 unless with a licensed adult age 21+, transporting family members, or transporting students to and from school
- Conditional time rule: Conditional and Special Restricted license holders may drive alone 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight saving time), with a licensed driver age 21+ until midnight, and with a qualified individual from midnight to 6 a.m.
South CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
7Supervised driving
Supervised driving for applicants under 1740 hours (10 at night)South CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
That is a graduated-licensing rule, and this state cuts it off at 17 rather than 18 — an applicant who is already 17 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
8Road test
Minimum permit hold6 monthsSouth CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
9Full licence
Unrestricted driving age15 years 6 monthsSouth CarolinaDMVSCDMV — Beginner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Conditional license eligibility at 15.5 after the beginner's permit hold, driver education, practice hours, and tests; Special Restricted license at 16
How to get your permit in South Carolina
- At 15+, pass the vision and knowledge tests and get the beginner's permit
- Hold the beginner's permit for more than 180 days if applying for a first license at 15 or 16
- Complete driver education and at least 40 practice hours, including 10 at night
- Bring the completed SCDMV Form PDLA and pass the vision and road test
- Follow Conditional or Special Restricted license passenger and time-of-day restrictions
What is different about South Carolina
Rules that are set by South Carolina rather than nationally, and where they depart from what most states do. Compared against DMV Prep's verified rules for all 51 jurisdictions — unverified figures are left out of both sides of every comparison.
- Supervised-driving requirement: 40 hours here. The most common supervised-driving requirement is 50 hours (29 of 49 states we have verified).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in South Carolina?
You can get a learner's permit in South Carolina at 15. Regular beginner's permit minimum age.
How long do you have to hold your permit in South Carolina?
You must hold your South Carolina permit for at least 6 months before the driving test.
How many practice driving hours does South Carolina require?
South Carolina requires 40 hours of supervised practice driving for applicants under 17, including 10 at night. That is a graduated-licensing rule, and this state cuts it off at 17 rather than 18 — an applicant who is already 17 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
Where can I practice for the South Carolina permit test?
Right here — take a free South Carolina practice test, review every answer, and build readiness in your browser. The free DMV Prep app adds offline study and native reminders.
