Getting a driver’s license in South Carolina is not an overnight process. There are several phases to overcome in order to gain driving benefits based on driving experience and age. The process can start as early as 15 years old, when teenagers can begin their journey into the world of driver education. To begin the process, they must register with the South Carolina Motor Vehicle Administration (DMV), accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. You must pass a period of 180 days and 40 hours of driving, without reporting any type of violation to the South Carolina Graduated driver licensing system.
The next step is the entry-level license, in which you will have the same restrictions as the previous one: only available from the age of 16, not allowed to drive at night without the accompaniment of an adult with a valid driver’s license, and a 6-month duration. After these two phases, the student will be able to access the license without restrictions as long as he/she passes a practical exam in which his/her driving skills are evaluated, as well as an eye exam that he/she must pass. Once they have passed this process, they will become legal drivers on U.S. roads.
Learner´s permit stage: requirements
South Carolina allows 15-year-olds to begin their journey into the world of driving and traffic safety. To qualify for a learner’s permit, that is one of the requirements they must meet. What else?
- Be enrolled in a driving school, demonstrate that they are attending and that progress is positive.
- Present a Certificate of School Attendance, Driver’s Education Certificate or documentation of high school education.
- Submit proof of South Carolina residency.
- Submit birth certificate, Social Security card.
- A parent or legal guardian must sign on your behalf.
Once the necessary documentation has been submitted, you will have to take a theoretical exam, passing 80% of it to pass. In addition, you will also have to pass a vision test. At this point, and passing both tests, you will be able to start driving with supervision. What is the duration of the learner’s permit?
- The young driver must drive for a minimum of 180 days with a learner’s permit.
- South Carolina law states that you must log 40 hours of supervised driving, 10 of which may be at night.
- The parent or legal guardian must certify and sign for these hours.
- You may be accompanied by a driver with a valid driver’s license who is 21 years of age or older and who always rides in the front passenger seat.
Intermediate or Provisional license: requirements
After 180 days and with the obligation of being 16 years old, as long as you have not committed any infraction, you will be able to access the intermediate license. To obtain it, you will first have to take and pass a practical test in which you will have to demonstrate your driving skills, as well as your knowledge of road safety and signaling. What restrictions do you face?
- During the first six months: driving only during daylight hours with a driver of at least 21 years of age, except in the presence of a legal guardian or parent.
- No more than two persons may be in the car, unless they are immediate family members.
- Penalties may lead to loss of license.
Unrestricted license
Having passed the previous two phases, I only wanted to be eligible for the unrestricted license. One of the requirements is that you must be 17 years of age or older, have an uneventful driving record and have been using the intermediate license for a period of one and a half years. If you meet all of these requirements, your license will be upgraded and you will be able to enjoy all the privileges of the driver’s license, as well as the removal of the hitherto active restrictions. You are then considered a full-fledged driver.
Have you thought about which car to buy when you get your driver’s license?
