Review our Accepted Forms of Identification for obtaining an initial driver license or identification card.

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.

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 name has changed since birth, you must provide all legal documents (adoption records, marriage certificate, certificate of naturalization, court ordered name change) supporting all name changes from birth to present. For more information about documents you will need to get a S.C. license, see Accepted Forms of Identification. If your driver's license from your home state has expired, you must also pass the knowledge and road tests. To schedule a road test, you should call the DMV office where you would like to take the skills test.

If you are 15 years old and have held a beginner's permit for at least 180 days and passed the vision and skills tests, you are eligible for a conditional license.  Application may be made on the 181^st day for a Conditional Provisional License after passing the vision and skills tests. 

To get a Conditional License:

• Bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your application.
• Bring your beginner's permit.
• 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 high school or driver training school:

• You must pass the vision and road skills tests. You must wait two weeks to re-test if you fail the skills test on the 1^st or 2^nd attempt to pass.  You must wait 60 days if you fail on the 3^rd or subsequent attempt before being re-tested.

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 you.
• 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.

If you are 16 years old and have held your beginner's permit for at least 180 days and passed the vision and skills tests, or have a conditional license, you are eligible for a special restricted license.

To get a Special Restricted License you must:

• Bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your application.
• You must bring your beginner's permit.
• 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 high school or driver training school.

• 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 17 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 separate statements:

1. A statement from your parent or legal guardian
2. A statement on letterhead from your employer or school official.

Both statements must give the reason for the waiver.  The fee for the waiver is $12.50.

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 of your parent or legal guardian.
• You must bring your beginner's permit.
• You must pass the vision and road skills tests.

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 beginner's permit.
• 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 high school or driver training school:

• You must pass the vision and road skills tests.

If You are 18 Years of Age or Older:

• You must bring your birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency and insurance information.
• You must pass the vision and road skills tests.

Whether you are a new or experienced rider, the proper training can help you develop and improve your riding skills. The following organizations offer motorcycle training courses approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation®:

S.C. Technical College System Rider Education
www.scridered.org

Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Rock Hill
http://www.coxshdofrockhill.com/default.asp

Thunder Tower Harley-Davidson of Columbia
 http://www.thundertowerharley.com/

SCDMV 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 drivers and ice on the roads can be hazardous for all drivers.

If you plan to operate a motor home that has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) that exceeds 26,0000 lbs., you must obtain a Class E license. If you operate any combination of vehicles exclusively used for recreation (example: a motor home and tow a trailer or other vehicle that has a Gross Combination Weight (GCW) that exceeds 26,000 lbs., you must have a Class F license. You may take the Class E and F knowledge tests at any SCDMV field office which provides full driver license services. Due to the space required for a Class E or F skills test, these tests must be taken at one of the 35 SCDMV field offices that offer commercial driver license testing.

During the basic skills portion of the Class F test, motor home operators will be allowed to disconnect the towed vehicle. However, the towed vehicle must be reconnected for the road test portion of the skills test. 

For more information about Class E and F driver licenses, click here.