How to Get a South Carolina Driver’s License
Teens will need to go through a graduated licensing program. To transfer an out-of-state license, you only need to show some documents.
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To get a South Carolina driver’s license, teens must go through a graduated licensing program aimed at helping them become safe drivers. Adults moving to the Palmetto State will have an easier time transferring their licenses — they’ll only need to show some important documentation at a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) location.
Here’s what you should know about getting a South Carolina driver’s license.
The SCDMV sets standard requirements for anyone to get a South Carolina driver’s license. In addition to a complete application, you’ll need to provide proof of identity, U.S. citizenship, date of birth, Social Security number, and proof of your current South Carolina address.1
If you’ve legally changed your name, you’ll need to show proof of that as well. In addition, you’ll need to pass a vision test and pay all applicable fees before you receive your license.
South Carolina’s graduated licensing system starts with a beginner’s permit. You’ll need to be at least 15 to apply for one. The permit allows you to drive between 6 a.m. and midnight, provided you have a passenger who’s 21 or older and who’s had a driver’s license for at least a year. To get a beginner’s permit, you’ll need to pass a written test and a vision test.
You must keep your beginner’s permit for at least 180 days, take a driver’s education course with a minimum of eight hours in a classroom setting, and complete six hours of behind-the-wheel training. Plus you’ll need to practice 40 total hours of driving, with 10 of those hours at night.
The next step after the beginner’s permit is a conditional driver’s license, which is for drivers between 15½ and 16. It can allow you to legally drive between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. with no more than two passengers under 21. To receive a conditional license, you’ll have to pass a South Carolina road test and submit several documents.2
If you’re 16 years old but less than 17, you may receive a special restricted license and waive restricted driving times so you can drive for school or work purposes. You may earn full, unrestricted driving privileges once you turn 17 or have held your conditional license for one year, as long as your record is free of traffic offenses and at-fault accidents.
If you move to South Carolina and already have a driver’s license from a different state, it’s easy to get a South Carolina license. You’ll need to visit an SCDMV location, where you’ll surrender your old driver’s license and provide the following documents:
Proof of a current, physical South Carolina address
Social Security number
Proof of identity, date, place of birth, and authorized length of stay in the U.S.
Legal documents related to any name changes
Car insurance information
Your South Carolina driver’s license will expire every eight years, typically on your birthday. The SCDMV allows you to renew driver’s licenses online, via mail, or in person at an SCDMV location.
To renew your license online, visit the SCDMV website and pay a $25 fee with a credit or debit card. Keep in mind that if you have unpaid traffic fines, are convicted of an offense, or have a suspended license, you won’t be eligible for renewal.
If you receive a DUI or accumulate too many points on your driver’s license, for example, the SCDMV may suspend your license. To reinstate it, you must fulfill your suspension period, meet any court requirements, and pay a reinstatement fee of $100. If applicable, you’ll also need to complete an alcohol and drug safety program and install an ignition interlock device.
In addition, the SCDMV will require you to get the hardship license that makes the most sense for your situation, such as a temporary alcohol license, provisional driver’s license, or a route-restricted driver’s license. Each option will run you $100.
South Carolina, like most states, requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance. You’ll need to show proof of insurance to register a vehicle in the state. The liability insurance requirements in South Carolina are:5
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
$25,000 per accident for property damage
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury
While states don’t require full-coverage insurance, if you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender or leasing company will require you to have comprehensive and collision insurance in addition to your liability coverage.
Learn More: Compare Car Insurance Rates