South Carolina DMV Permit Practice Test 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   What is the minimum age for a South Carolina beginner's permit?

   • A16
   • B15½
   • C15
   • D14
   Show answer

   Answer: C. 15

   South Carolina issues a beginner's permit at 15.

2. Question 2 of 25

   How long must you hold a South Carolina beginner's permit before applying for a license?

   • AAt least 90 days
   • BAt least one year
   • CAt least 180 days
   • DAt least 30 days
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   Answer: C. At least 180 days

   You must hold the permit for at least 180 days and may apply on day 181.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Between 6 a.m. and midnight, who may supervise a South Carolina beginner's permit holder?

   • AAny licensed driver 18 or older, seated anywhere in the vehicle
   • BAny adult passenger 21 or older, licensed or not
   • CA licensed driver at least 21 with at least one year of driving experience, in the front seat
   • DOnly a parent, who must have at least five years of experience
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A licensed driver at least 21 with at least one year of driving experience, in the front seat

   From 6 a.m. to midnight, the supervisor must be a licensed driver 21 or older with one year of experience, sitting in the front seat.

4. Question 4 of 25

   How much practice driving must a South Carolina permit holder aged 15 or 16 complete?

   • AAt least 60 hours, including 15 at night
   • BAt least 50 hours, including 10 at night
   • CAt least 40 hours, including 10 at night
   • DAt least 30 hours, including 5 at night
   Show answer

   Answer: C. At least 40 hours, including 10 at night

   Permit holders aged 15 and 16 need at least 40 hours of practice, including 10 hours of night driving.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What driver education is required for a first South Carolina license at age 15 or 16?

   • A30 hours in the classroom only
   • B8 hours in the classroom and 6 hours of driving
   • C2 hours online
   • DNo driver education is required
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 8 hours in the classroom and 6 hours of driving

   First-time applicants aged 15 or 16 need driver education with eight classroom hours and six hours of driving.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Which South Carolina license can a teen get from age 15½ to under 16?

   • AA full license
   • BA special restricted license
   • CA conditional license
   • DA commercial license
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A conditional license

   The conditional license is for drivers 15½ to under 16. Drivers 16 to under 17 get a special restricted license.

7. Question 7 of 25

   When may a South Carolina conditional license holder drive alone (outside daylight saving time)?

   • A5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
   • B6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
   • C6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
   • DAny time
   Show answer

   Answer: C. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

   Conditional drivers may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or until 8 p.m. during daylight saving time.

8. Question 8 of 25

   A South Carolina conditional license holder wants to drive at 7 p.m. in winter. What is required?

   • AA police permit
   • BThey may not drive at all
   • CNothing; they may drive alone
   • DA licensed driver 21 or older must be with them
   Show answer

   Answer: D. A licensed driver 21 or older must be with them

   From 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time) to midnight, a licensed driver 21 or older must ride along.

9. Question 9 of 25

   How many passengers under 21 may a South Carolina conditional or special restricted license holder carry without a licensed adult 21 or older?

   • ANone
   • BNo more than two
   • COne
   • DNo more than four
   Show answer

   Answer: B. No more than two

   You cannot have more than two passengers under 21 unless a licensed adult 21 or older is with you. Family members and students going to or from school are exempt.

10. Question 10 of 25

    When can a South Carolina teen get a full license?

    • AAt 17, or after one year on a conditional or special restricted license with no traffic offenses or at-fault crashes
    • BAt 18, after two years on a conditional license with no more than one offense
    • CAt 16½, after six months on a beginner's permit with a parent's written approval
    • DAt 16, as soon as the special restricted license is issued, whatever the record
    Show answer

    Answer: A. At 17, or after one year on a conditional or special restricted license with no traffic offenses or at-fault crashes

    Full privileges come at 17, or after one year on a conditional or special restricted license with a clean record.

11. Question 11 of 25

    A South Carolina driver under 21 has a BAC of 0.02% or more. What happens?

    • ATheir driving privilege is suspended immediately for at least three months
    • BA warning letter
    • CA 7-day suspension
    • DNothing, because the BAC is under 0.08%
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Their driving privilege is suspended immediately for at least three months

    For drivers under 21, a BAC of 0.02% or greater means immediate suspension for at least three months.

12. Question 12 of 25

    A South Carolina driver under 21 refuses a breath, blood or urine test. What is the penalty?

    • ALoss of driving privileges for at least six months
    • BA 30-day suspension
    • CNo penalty if they are sober
    • DA warning only
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Loss of driving privileges for at least six months

    Under implied consent, a driver under 21 who refuses testing loses driving privileges for at least six months.

13. Question 13 of 25

    How is South Carolina's seat belt law enforced?

    • AIt applies only on interstates
    • BIt is a primary law; an officer can stop you just for not wearing a belt
    • CIt applies only to drivers under 18
    • DIt is a secondary law
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It is a primary law; an officer can stop you just for not wearing a belt

    South Carolina has primary enforcement. An officer may stop a driver for not wearing a belt or not using a child restraint.

14. Question 14 of 25

    In South Carolina, children of what age must ride in a car seat in the back seat?

    • AThree and younger
    • BTwelve and younger
    • CSeven and younger
    • DFive and younger
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Seven and younger

    Children seven and younger must ride in a car seat in the back seat.

15. Question 15 of 25

    When may a South Carolina child use an adult seat belt instead of a booster?

    • AAt age 12, whatever their height
    • BAt age 4, whatever their height
    • CAt age 6 or 40 pounds, whichever comes first
    • DAt age 8 or 57 inches tall, if the belt fits properly
    Show answer

    Answer: D. At age 8 or 57 inches tall, if the belt fits properly

    Children may use an adult belt at age 8 or 57 inches tall, if it fits properly.

16. Question 16 of 25

    What does South Carolina law say about using a phone while driving?

    • APhones are allowed at speeds under 25 mph
    • BOnly drivers under 18 are restricted
    • CIt is unlawful to use a wireless device if it requires either hand
    • DCalls are allowed but texts are not
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It is unlawful to use a wireless device if it requires either hand

    It is unlawful to use a wireless communication device while driving if it requires the use of either hand.

17. Question 17 of 25

    You are driving on a South Carolina highway with two lanes in each direction. A school bus stops on the other side with its stop arm out. What must you do?

    • AStop only if children are in the road
    • BHonk and pass
    • CYou do not have to stop, but drive with care
    • DStop until the bus moves
    Show answer

    Answer: C. You do not have to stop, but drive with care

    On multi-lane highways with at least two lanes each way, traffic going the opposite direction does not have to stop. Traffic behind the bus must stop.

18. Question 18 of 25

    On a South Carolina four-lane highway, you are behind a school bus that stops with its stop arm out. What must you do?

    • APass on the right
    • BSlow down and continue
    • CStop
    • DPass on the left
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Stop

    Traffic traveling behind a stopped school bus must stop, even on a multi-lane highway.

19. Question 19 of 25

    How many points lead to a license suspension for a South Carolina driver 17 or older?

    • A6 or more
    • B15 or more
    • C8 or more
    • D12 or more
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 12 or more

    Drivers 17 and older get a warning letter at six points and a suspension at 12 or more.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What happens to points on a South Carolina driving record after one year?

    • AThey are all removed
    • BNothing changes
    • CThey are reduced by half
    • DThey double
    Show answer

    Answer: C. They are reduced by half

    Points are reduced by half one year after the violation date.

21. Question 21 of 25

    A South Carolina driver under 17 gets six or more points before holding a license for one year. What happens?

    • AA 30-day suspension
    • BNo penalty
    • CA six-month suspension
    • DA warning letter only
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A six-month suspension

    Drivers under 17 with six or more points before a year on their license face a six-month suspension.

22. Question 22 of 25

    What vision standard does South Carolina require?

    • A20/70 in both eyes
    • B20/40 corrected in at least one eye
    • C20/40 without glasses in both eyes
    • D20/20 in both eyes
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 20/40 corrected in at least one eye

    The minimum standard is 20/40 corrected in one eye.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What happens if you do not wear your seat belt during the South Carolina skills (road) test?

    • AYou get a warning
    • BYou lose a few points
    • CNothing
    • DYou automatically fail
    Show answer

    Answer: D. You automatically fail

    Not using your seat belt during the skills test is an automatic fail.

24. Question 24 of 25

    You fail the South Carolina skills test for the first time. How long must you wait to retest?

    • A30 calendar days
    • BSix months
    • CTwo business days
    • DSeven calendar days
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Two business days

    Wait two business days after a first failure, seven calendar days after a second and 30 calendar days after a third or later.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Who may drive a golf cart on a South Carolina road?

    • AA licensed driver at least 14, on any road during daylight
    • BA licensed driver at least 16, in a cart with an SCDMV permit decal, on roads posted 35 mph or less
    • CAnyone 12 or older, in any golf cart, on any road
    • DAny adult without a license, on roads posted 45 mph or less
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A licensed driver at least 16, in a cart with an SCDMV permit decal, on roads posted 35 mph or less

    Golf cart operators must be 16 or older with a license, and the cart needs an SCDMV decal. Daytime use is limited to roads posted 35 mph or less near the registration address.

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