How old do you have to be to get a permit in South Carolina?

15. You must pass a vision test and the knowledge test at an SCDMV branch.

How long do I have to hold my beginner's permit in South Carolina?

At least 180 days. You may apply for your license on day 181.

What is a conditional license in South Carolina?

A license for drivers 15½ to under 16. You may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time), and with a licensed adult 21 or older until midnight.

Can I use my phone while driving in South Carolina?

Not in your hand. It is unlawful to use a wireless device while driving if it requires either hand.

South Carolina DMV Permit Practice Test 2026

Question 1 sur 25

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

16
15½
15
14

Voir la réponse

Réponse: C. 15

South Carolina issues a beginner's permit at 15.

Question 2 sur 25

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

At least 90 days
At least one year
At least 180 days
At least 30 days

Voir la réponse

Réponse: C. At least 180 days

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

Question 3 sur 25

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

Any licensed driver 18 or older, seated anywhere in the vehicle
Any adult passenger 21 or older, licensed or not
A licensed driver at least 21 with at least one year of driving experience, in the front seat
Only a parent, who must have at least five years of experience

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 4 sur 25

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

At least 60 hours, including 15 at night
At least 50 hours, including 10 at night
At least 40 hours, including 10 at night
At least 30 hours, including 5 at night

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 5 sur 25

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

30 hours in the classroom only
8 hours in the classroom and 6 hours of driving
2 hours online
No driver education is required

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 6 sur 25

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

A full license
A special restricted license
A conditional license
A commercial license

Voir la réponse

Réponse: C. A conditional license

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

Question 7 sur 25

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

5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Any time

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 8 sur 25

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

A police permit
They may not drive at all
Nothing; they may drive alone
A licensed driver 21 or older must be with them

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 9 sur 25

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

None
No more than two
One
No more than four

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 10 sur 25

When can a South Carolina teen get a full license?

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

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 11 sur 25

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

Their driving privilege is suspended immediately for at least three months
A warning letter
A 7-day suspension
Nothing, because the BAC is under 0.08%

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 12 sur 25

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

Loss of driving privileges for at least six months
A 30-day suspension
No penalty if they are sober
A warning only

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 13 sur 25

How is South Carolina's seat belt law enforced?

It applies only on interstates
It is a primary law; an officer can stop you just for not wearing a belt
It applies only to drivers under 18
It is a secondary law

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 14 sur 25

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

Three and younger
Twelve and younger
Seven and younger
Five and younger

Voir la réponse

Réponse: C. Seven and younger

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

Question 15 sur 25

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

At age 12, whatever their height
At age 4, whatever their height
At age 6 or 40 pounds, whichever comes first
At age 8 or 57 inches tall, if the belt fits properly

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 16 sur 25

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

Phones are allowed at speeds under 25 mph
Only drivers under 18 are restricted
It is unlawful to use a wireless device if it requires either hand
Calls are allowed but texts are not

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 17 sur 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?

Stop only if children are in the road
Honk and pass
You do not have to stop, but drive with care
Stop until the bus moves

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 18 sur 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?

Pass on the right
Slow down and continue
Stop
Pass on the left

Voir la réponse

Réponse: C. Stop

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

Question 19 sur 25

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

6 or more
15 or more
8 or more
12 or more

Voir la réponse

Réponse: D. 12 or more

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

Question 20 sur 25

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

They are all removed
Nothing changes
They are reduced by half
They double

Voir la réponse

Réponse: C. They are reduced by half

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

Question 21 sur 25

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

A 30-day suspension
No penalty
A six-month suspension
A warning letter only

Voir la réponse

Réponse: C. A six-month suspension

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

Question 22 sur 25

What vision standard does South Carolina require?

20/70 in both eyes
20/40 corrected in at least one eye
20/40 without glasses in both eyes
20/20 in both eyes

Voir la réponse

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

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

Question 23 sur 25

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

You get a warning
You lose a few points
Nothing
You automatically fail

Voir la réponse

Réponse: D. You automatically fail

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

Question 24 sur 25

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

30 calendar days
Six months
Two business days
Seven calendar days

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

Question 25 sur 25

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

A licensed driver at least 14, on any road during daylight
A licensed driver at least 16, in a cart with an SCDMV permit decal, on roads posted 35 mph or less
Anyone 12 or older, in any golf cart, on any road
Any adult without a license, on roads posted 45 mph or less

Voir la réponse

Réponse: 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.

South Carolina DMV Permit Practice Test 2026

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