South Carolina DMV practice test
Prepare for the South Carolina learner permit knowledge test with questions written from the official driver handbook, in English, Russian and Spanish.
South Carolina practice tests
Every test is free and works in English, Russian and Spanish. Your progress is saved in this browser.
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Full practice tests in the format of the real South Carolina knowledge test. Questions do not repeat between tests.
Road signs
Shapes, colors and meanings of the signs on the test.
Rules of the road
Right of way, turns, parking and sharing the road.
South Carolina laws
Rules that are specific to South Carolina.
Final exam prep
Check that you are ready before test day.
Key rules from the South Carolina handbook
These numbers come straight from the official handbook. Each one is also a question in our tests.
Getting your permit and license
- You can apply for a learner's permit at 15 years old.
- Hold the permit at least 6 months before the road test.
- At least 40 hours of supervised driving are required.
- At least 10 hours of the practice must be at night.
- No more than 2 non-family passengers under 21 at first, unless supervised.
- Conditional license: alone 6 a.m.–6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight saving time); with a licensed adult 21+ until midnight.
- At 12 or more points, the license is suspended.
- Points are cut in half one year after the violation date.
- At 12 or more points the license is suspended.
- An 8-hour course; the 4-point reduction can be used once every three years.
- Up to nine months; longer requires testing.
- Online and mail renewals issue an eight-year license; the fee is $25.
- The minimum standard is 20/40 corrected in one eye.
Rules of the road
- Children age seven and younger must ride in a car seat in the back seat, i.e., until they turn 8.
- Signal at least 100 feet before you turn or change lanes.
- Keep at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead; add more in bad weather.
- Look at least 20 seconds ahead of your vehicle.
- Sit at least 10 inches from the airbag cover (center of the wheel to your breastbone).
- Drivers on the opposite side of a divided highway separated by a median do not have to stop; drivers behind the bus must stop.
- At 50 mph on dry pavement, braking alone takes about 158 feet — plus reaction distance.
- Six inches of water reaches the bottom of most cars; two feet of moving water can carry most vehicles away.
- Driver at least 16 with a valid license; within four miles of the registered address; roads posted 35 mph or less.
- Under 2: rear-facing; 7 and younger: car seat in the back; 8 or 57 inches: seat belt.
- Six inches reaches the bottom of most cars; two feet of moving water can carry most vehicles away.
- Signal 100 feet or more before passing.
- Zipper merging can shorten backups by as much as 40%.
Parking
- Park with your wheels within 18 inches of the curb.
Alcohol and drugs
- A first refusal means a 6-month license suspension.
- For drivers under 21 the limit is 0.02%.
- Under 21 with .02% or more: immediate suspension for at least three months.
How to get a driver's license in South Carolina
- Pass the written knowledge test to get a learner's permit (minimum age 15 years old).
- Hold the permit for at least 6 months.
- Complete 40 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.
- Pass the road (driving) test.
Steps include only rules confirmed in the official handbook; your state may have more requirements (documents, fees, driver education).
South Carolina driving rules in numbers
Learner's permit and teen license rules by state
- Learner's permit from age
- 15 years old
- Hold the permit at least
- 6 months
- Supervised driving hours
- 40 hours
- Of them at night
- 10 hours
- Teen passengers allowed
- 2
Drunk driving laws by state: BAC limits
- Refusing a chemical test (1st time)
- 6 months
- Under 21
- 0.02%
Parking distances by state
- Wheels from the curb
- 18 inches
School bus, move over and bicycle passing laws by state
- Bus on the other side of a divided highway
- Do not have to stop, but should watch for children
Car seat and booster seat laws by state
- Car seat until at least
- 8 years old
Sample questions
In South Carolina, what is the minimum age to get a learner's permit?
- 14 years old
- 14½ years old
- 15 years old
- 15½ years old
South Carolina: you can apply for a learner's permit at 15 years old.
In South Carolina, if you refuse a chemical test for alcohol for the first time, your license is suspended for:
- 2 months
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
South Carolina: a first refusal means a 6-month license suspension.
In South Carolina, children must ride in a car seat until they turn what age?
- 7 years old
- 8 years old
- 9 years old
- 10 years old
South Carolina: children age seven and younger must ride in a car seat in the back seat, i.e., until they turn 8.
South Carolina permit test: questions and answers
According to the South Carolina driver handbook, the minimum age is 15.
From the official South Carolina driver handbook (South Carolina Driver's Manual (rev. 06/2024)). We write our own questions; the DMV does not publish its real exam questions.