Free South Carolina DMV practice tests
Free South Carolina driver's license practice questions from the official driver handbook, with every answer explained.
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- Every answer explainedSee why each option is right or wrong
Driver's license tests
6 tests, 150 questions
- South Carolina DMV driver's license practice test 1 25 questions
- South Carolina DMV driver's license practice test 2 25 questions
- South Carolina DMV driver's license practice test 3 25 questions
- South Carolina DMV driver's license practice test 4 25 questions
- South Carolina DMV driver's license practice test 5 25 questions
- South Carolina DMV driver's license practice test 6 25 questions
South Carolina written test facts
Facts checked against official sources.
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles handles driver licensing in South Carolina. The minimum age for a permit is 15. Our practice questions come from the South Carolina Driver's Manual. We checked these facts against official sources on October 2, 2026.
- Minimum age for a permit
- At least 15 years old
- Official handbook
- South Carolina Driver's Manual
Sources
Checked on October 2, 2026
How to get a South Carolina driver's license
This is how SCDMV describes a first license for teens, based on the South Carolina Driver's Manual (revised 06/2024) and the SCDMV pages on beginner's permits and driving tests. Check dmv.sc.gov for current fees and requirements before you go.
Get a beginner's permit at 15
Pass the vision and knowledge tests at an SCDMV branch, with a parent, guardian, or other qualified adult to consent. Drive only with a licensed driver 21 or older beside you.
Practice and finish driver's ed
Hold the permit at least 180 days. Log 40 supervised hours, 10 of them at night, and complete a course with 8 hours in class and 6 hours of driving. Your school program gives you the PDLA form.
Pass the road test
At 15½ you can test for a conditional license, or at 16 for a special restricted license. Bring a safe, insured vehicle with working lights, brakes, and signals, and wear your seat belt.
Earn full privileges
Keep your record clean for a year, or reach 17. SCDMV then mails a sleeve for your license, and the time and passenger limits end.
Based on:South Carolina Driver's Manual (SCDMV, revised 06/2024)Beginner's Permit (SCDMV)
Checked on October 2, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the South Carolina permit test?
SCDMV doesn't publish the number of questions or the passing score. The knowledge test covers traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving from the South Carolina Driver's Manual. You take it at any SCDMV branch, arriving before 4 p.m., or through an approved One Stop driver training program. You can't use the manual or any device, and talking to anyone during the test means you fail. SCDMV also has a free practice app, SC DMV Driver Exam.
How old do you have to be for a beginner's permit in South Carolina?
15. You pass the vision and knowledge tests, and if you're under 18, a qualified adult such as a parent or guardian comes with you to consent. From 6 a.m. to midnight you may drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21, has at least one year of experience, and sits in the front seat. After midnight, only a qualified person listed in state law, such as a parent or guardian, may supervise.
How long do I have to hold my beginner's permit?
At least 180 days if you're under 18, and you can apply on the 181st day. If you're 15 or 16, you also need 40 hours of supervised practice (10 at night), a driver's education course with 8 hours in class and 6 hours of driving, and satisfactory school attendance, all certified on form PDLA. SCDMV's beginner's permit page gives a minimum of 30 days for drivers 18 and older.
What are the rules for a conditional or special restricted license?
A conditional license is for drivers from 15½ to 16, and a special restricted license for 16-year-olds; both need the vision and road tests. You may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight saving time) and with a licensed driver 21 or older until midnight. After midnight, a qualified person listed in state law must supervise. You can't carry more than two passengers under 21 without a licensed adult 21 or older, except family members or students going to or from school. Under 17, six or more points in your first year brings a six-month suspension.
What happens if I fail the road test?
After a first failure you wait two business days to retest. After a second, you wait seven calendar days, and after a third or later failure, 30 calendar days, whatever your age. Not wearing your seat belt during the test is an automatic fail.
When do South Carolina teens get full driving privileges?
At 17, or after holding a conditional or special restricted license for one year with no traffic offenses and no at-fault collisions. You don't need to visit a branch. SCDMV mails you a sleeve to keep wrapped around your license.