South Carolina Driver's License Guide 2026

Everything below is taken from the South Carolina DMV’s own pages. Where the DMV does not publish a figure, this guide says so rather than inventing one.

What the knowledge test costs and when you can sit it

The SCDMV charges $2.00 for the knowledge test and $2.50 for the beginner’s permit after you pass. You must arrive at an SCDMV branch before 4 p.m. to be tested. You take a vision test as well as the knowledge test, and you need your social security number, a government-issued birth certificate and proof of your current physical address - two proofs if you want a Real ID. The SCDMV publishes the full document list as Form MV-93 for US citizens and Form MV-94 for lawfully present non-citizens.

How old you have to be, and how long you hold the permit

You must be at least 15 to apply for a regular (Class D) or motorcycle (Class M) beginner’s permit, and at least 18 for a Class E or F permit. If you are under 18 a qualified adult must come with you to consent. You must hold the permit for 180 days if you are under 18, or 30 days if you are 18 or older, before taking a road test.

What you may and may not do on a beginner’s permit

A Class D permit lets you practise from 6 a.m. to midnight with a licensed driver who is at least 21 and has at least one year of experience in the front seat. Between midnight and 6 a.m. a qualified individual must be in the front seat. A Class M motorcycle permit lets you ride alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or to 8 p.m. during daylight saving, and at any other time only under supervision.

Renewing, and what happens if you fail

A Class D permit can be renewed for $2.50 when it expires, and may be renewed online if you meet the SCDMV’s conditions. A motorcycle permit cannot be renewed more than three times. If you fail the skills test on your first attempt you must wait two days before retesting, whatever your age.

Practising before you go

Our free South Carolina practice questions cover the same topics as the South Carolina Driver's Manual, and every question shows the correct answer. They are practice questions written to those topics - they are not the DMV’s own test questions.

• South Carolina practice tests
• South Carolina car practice test