Military Personnel (and their dependents) and students
temporarily in South Carolina are not required to obtain a South Carolina
Driver's license. However, you must have a driver's license from your home state
to operate in South Carolina.
NEED TO KNOW INFORMATION: If
you have a driver's license from one of the following states: California,
Alaska, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Montana. You can drive using these
licenses, however; if you commit a driving offense in South Carolina while
driving on a license from this state, you WILL be issued a court summons or
asked to pay the fine on the spot. Failure to pay on the spot will result in
your ARREST! You will remain in jail for 10 days or until you can
post bond. This does not affect military members, but does affect
non-military family members and DoD civilians. Please check with the
Department of Motor Vehicles for requirements for civilian family members and
DoD civilians on obtaining a South Carolina drivers license while you are
stationed at Shaw Air Force Base if your are from one of these 5 states.
If you are a new resident, you may use a valid driver's license from
your former state for up to 90 days. However, you must convert to a South
Carolina driver's license before the end of the 90-day period. If your driver's
license from your home state has expired, you must also pass the knowledge and
road tests.
Each qualified driver can have only one driver's license. You
may not have a valid license from South Carolina and another state. To qualify
for a SC driver's license, you must pass the eye exam given at all DMV offices
or submit a statement of visual acuity from an eye specialist. A South Carolina
license is valid for five years and must be renewed by your birthday in the
fifth year.
That Section 23-3-460 of the SC Code of Laws states that a
person who has been convicted anywhere of an offense listed in 23-3-430 must
register with the county sheriff within 10 days of establishing residency in
South Carolina. A copy of the Sex Offender Registry Law is available
upon request.
Conditional License for 15 Year Old Drivers
If you are
15 years old and have held a beginner's permit for at least 180 days, you are
eligible for a conditional license.
To get a Conditional
License:
You must be with your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your
application.
You must have your birth certificate, social security card,
proof of residency and insurance information.
You must submit Form PDLA this
form certifies you have:
Completed a driver's education course
Satisfactory school attendance
Verifies you practiced driving with your
licensed parent or guardian for 40 hours, including 10 hours of driving practice
at night.
Form PDLA allows you to submit all of these certifications and is
available at your school and this website:
You must pass the vision and road
skills tests.
Driving Restrictions:
You may drive alone during
daylight hours from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. (or 8 p.m. during daylight savings
time).
From 6 p.m. (or 8 p.m. during daylight savings time) until midnight,
you may drive if a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age accompanies.
Between midnight and 6 a.m., you may drive if your licensed parent or legal
guardian accompanies you.
You cannot transport more than two passengers
under the age of 21 unless you are accompanied by a licensed adult who is at
least 21 years old. The only exception is if you are transporting family members
or students to and from school.
You may obtain full driving privileges when
you are 16 if you have had your license for one year and have no traffic
offenses or been involved in any at-fault accidents. If you are under the age of
17 and accrue six or more points on your record before you have held your
license for one year, your license will be suspended for six months.
Special Restricted License for 16 Year Old Drivers
If you are 16
years old and have held your beginner's permit for at least 180 days or have a
conditional license, you are eligible for a special restricted license.
To get a Special Restricted License:
To get a special restricted
driver's license, you must bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign
your application.
You must bring your birth certificate, social security
card, proof of residency and insurance information.
You must submit Form
PDLA that certifies you have:
Completed a driver's education course
Had
satisfactory school attendance
Practiced driving with your licensed parent
or guardian for 40 hours, including 10 hours of driving practice at night.
Form PDLA allows you to submit all of these certifications and is available
at your school and this website.
You must pass the vision and road skills
tests.
Driving Restrictions:
You may drive alone during daylight hours
from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. (or 8 p.m. during daylight savings time).
From 6
p.m. (or 8 p.m. during daylight savings time) until midnight, you may drive if a
licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age accompanies.
Between
midnight and 6 a.m., you may drive if your licensed parent or legal guardian
accompanies you.
You cannot transport more than two passengers under the age
of 21 unless you are accompanied by a licensed adult who is at least 21 years
old. The only exception is if you are transporting family members or students to
and from school.
You will obtain full driving privileges when you are 16 if
you have had your special restricted license for one year and have no traffic
offenses or been involved in any at-fault accidents. If you are under the age of
17 and accrue six or more points on your record before you have held your
license for one year, your license will be suspended for six months.
Waiver of Time Restrictions:
If the time limitations for a
special restricted driver's license cause problems for you at your job or
school, they can be waived. You must prove to the department that they interfere
with your job, education or travel between home, school, vocational training or
employment opportunities by submitting two notarized statements:
A
notarized statement from your parent or legal guardian
A notarized statement
from your employer or school official.
Both statements must give the reason
for the waiver.
Regular Driver's License for 17 Year Old and Older
Drivers
If you are at least 17 years old and have held a beginner's permit
for 180 days, you are eligible for a regular SC Driver's License. To
get a Regular Driver's License:
If you are under 18 years of age and have
never been licensed, you must bring your parent or legal guardian with you to
sign your application.
If you are 18 years old or older, you do not need
the signature or your parent or legal guardian.
You must bring your birth
certificate, social security card, proof of residency and insurance information.
You must pass the vision and road skills tests.
Motorcycle
License:
If you are 15 years old and have held another class beginner permit
for 180 days, you are eligible for a motorcycle beginner's permit by taking the
vision test and motorcycle knowledge test. If you have a conditional driver's
license, you can get a motorcycle conditional license by taking the vision test,
the motorcycle knowledge test and the motorcycle skills test.
If you are
15 years old and have never had a license or beginner's permit, you must have
your motorcycle beginner's permit for at least 180 days before you can apply for
a motorcycle license.
If you are under 18 Years of Age:
You must
bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your application.
You
must bring your birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency and
insurance information.
You must submit Form PDLA that certifies you have:
Completed a driver's education course
Had satisfactory school attendance
Practiced driving with your licensed parent or guardian for 40 hours,
including 10 hours of driving practice at night.
Form PDLA allows you to
submit all of these certifications and is available at your school and this
website:
You must pass the vision and road skills tests.
If you are 18
years of age or older and never obtained a drivers license:
1) You must
bring your birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency and
insurance information.
2) You must pass the vision and road skills tests.
3) You must take the Driver Skills Tests in DMV Office
4) You must have a
licensed driver with you
DMV branch offices do not offer road tests for
any type of driver license during inclement weather. Rainy streets can make
maneuvering a vehicle more difficult for new and inexperienced drivers. Ice on
the roads can be hazardous for all drivers.