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South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles

South Carolina permit test the clock decides

In South Carolina, the time of day controls what a new driver can do. A beginner's permit at 15 lets you drive from 6 a.m. to midnight with a qualified adult. A conditional license at 15½ lets you drive alone only until 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in summer). This page explains the time windows, the conduct rules that fail you on the spot, and what's in the June 2024 manual.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026 · South Carolina Driver's Manual, revised 06/2024

Conditional license: your day in three parts

6 a.m. – 6 p.m.

(8 p.m. during daylight saving time)

Alone

6 or 8 p.m. – midnight

With a licensed driver 21+

Midnight – 6 a.m.

Only with a parent or guardian

Also: no more than two passengers under 21, unless a 21+ adult is along or they're family or students on the way to school. The special restricted license (16–17) has the same limits, and a $25 waiver can extend driving to midnight for work or activities.

Getting the beginner's permit

At an SCDMV branch, hand in Form 447-NC and the Consent for Minor (Form 447CM). Bring original proof of U.S. citizenship, identity, date and place of birth, SSN and your SC address (see the US Citizen Checklist). Then you take vision and knowledge tests. Some applicants can test through a One Stop Driver Training and Testing Program instead.

On the test, avoid these

  • Leaving the test area before you finish: automatic fail
  • Talking to anyone: automatic fail
  • Bringing aids, written material, or a phone, laptop or tablet: automatic fail

The test covers traffic laws, road signs and driving safety. The manual has its own practice test in Section 12. It doesn't give the question count, pass score, languages, retake rules or permit fee.

Life on the permit

Drive 6 a.m.–midnight with a licensed driver 21+ with a year of experience in the front seat. After midnight, only a parent or guardian-type supervisor will do (SC Code §56-1-100(A)). Hold the permit 180 days, whatever your age, and apply on day 181.

To get a license at 15–16, you also need:

  • Driver's ed: 8 classroom hours + 6 driving hours
  • School enrollment and attendance
  • 40 hours with a parent or guardian, 10 at night

Full privileges come at 17, or after a year on the conditional license with a clean record. A license costs $25.

School buses: amber counts

Stop for a school bus that's stopped or preparing to stop with red or amber lights or its stop arm out. If you're behind it, you always stop. You don't stop if you're meeting it going the opposite way on a highway with four or more lanes, or if it's in an off-road loading zone (§56-5-2760).

More from the manual

  • Phones: you can't use a wireless device that requires either hand while driving (§56-5-3890).
  • Alcohol: under 21 at .02 or more means an immediate suspension of at least 3 months. Refusing a test means at least 6 months.
  • Points: an 8-hour, in-person defensive driving course in SC removes 4 points, once every three years.
  • Golf carts: allowed within 4 miles of the registration address, on roads posted 35 mph or less.
  • Steering: use hand-to-hand steering above 10–15 mph. Roundabouts eliminate head-on and high-speed right-angle crashes.
  • If you cancel insurance before returning your plate, fees can reach $400.

South Carolina DMV practice test

25 questions from the 06/2024 manual, scored against an 80% target. That's our benchmark, not SCDMV's.

Free quiz · no sign-up

South Carolina permit practice test

Questions
25
To pass
80%
About
17 min

Instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.

Preview the 25 free questions

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

    • 14
    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16

  2. Who can supervise permit driving during the day?

    • Anyone 18+
    • A licensed driver 21+ with 1 year of experience
    • Only someone 25+
    • Any adult

  3. When may you drive with that supervisor?

    • 5 a.m.–11 p.m.
    • 6 a.m.–midnight
    • 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
    • Any time

  4. What is the minimum time you must hold the permit?

    • 90 days
    • 180 days
    • 270 days
    • 1 year

  5. How many practice hours do 15- and 16-year-olds need?

    • 30
    • 40
    • 50
    • 60

  6. How many of those must be at night?

    • 5
    • 10
    • 15
    • 20

  7. How many classroom hours are in driver's ed?

    • 6
    • 8
    • 30
    • 40

  8. How many driving hours are in driver's ed?

    • 4
    • 6
    • 8
    • 10

  9. What is the minimum age for a conditional license?

    • 15
    • 15½
    • 16
    • 16½

  10. How many passengers under 21 may a conditional licensee carry?

    • 0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3

  11. Until what time may you drive alone during standard time?

    • 5 p.m.
    • 6 p.m.
    • 8 p.m.
    • 10 p.m.

  12. Until what time during daylight saving time?

    • 6 p.m.
    • 7 p.m.
    • 8 p.m.
    • 9 p.m.

  13. How long must you hold the conditional license before full privileges?

    • 6 months
    • 1 year
    • 18 months
    • 2 years

  14. What does a special restricted license with a waiver cost?

    • $10
    • $12.50
    • $25
    • $50

  15. At what BAC is a driver under 21 immediately suspended?

    • .00
    • .02
    • .05
    • .08

  16. How long is that suspension?

    • 1 month
    • 3 months
    • 6 months
    • 1 year

  17. How long is the suspension for refusing a test?

    • 3 months
    • 6 months
    • 1 year
    • 2 years

  18. Is it legal to use a handheld phone while driving?

    • Yes
    • No, if it requires either hand
    • Only at lights
    • Only under 25 mph

  19. You meet a stopped bus going the opposite way on a four-lane highway. You:

    • Must stop
    • Don't need to stop
    • Slow to 15 mph
    • Honk

  20. You're behind a stopped school bus on any highway. You:

    • Pass on the left
    • Must stop
    • Pass on the right
    • Honk

  21. Which bus signals require you to stop?

    • Red only
    • Flashing red or amber lights, or the stop arm
    • Hazard lights
    • None

  22. What speed limit must roads have for golf cart use?

    • 25 or less
    • 35 or less
    • 45 or less
    • Any

  23. How many points does a defensive driving course remove?

    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 6

  24. What happens if you leave the testing area before you finish?

    • Nothing
    • Automatic failure
    • The test pauses
    • A warning

  25. What happens if you talk to someone during the knowledge test?

    • Nothing
    • You fail
    • It's OK if you ask the examiner about answers
    • A fine

Neighbors: North Carolina and Georgia.

South Carolina permit test FAQ

How many questions are on the South Carolina permit test?

The SCDMV Driver's Manual (06/2024) covers what the test includes, traffic laws, road signs and safety rules, but not the number of questions or the pass score. We couldn't confirm either.

What gets me an automatic fail on the SC permit test?

Leaving the test area before you finish, talking to anyone, or bringing aids. No written material or electronic devices (phone, laptop, tablet) are allowed.

How old do you have to be for a South Carolina beginner's permit?

15. You take vision and knowledge tests, and a parent signs the Consent for Minor (Form 447CM).

When can I get my SC license after the permit?

You must hold the permit 180 days, so you can apply on day 181. At 15–16, you also need driver's ed (8 classroom hours + 6 driving hours), school enrollment and attendance, and 40 practice hours with 10 at night.

Can I drive at night on a South Carolina conditional license?

Alone, only 6 a.m.–6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight saving time). Until midnight with a licensed driver 21+. Midnight–6 a.m. only with a parent or guardian.

Do I stop for a school bus with amber lights in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina requires stopping for a bus that's stopped or preparing to stop with red or amber lights or its stop arm out, unless you're meeting it on a highway with four or more lanes or it's in an off-road loading zone.

Keep studying

Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual (06/2024); SCDMV. Not affiliated with SCDMV.