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The South Carolina road test

A plain-language guide, checked against the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SC DMV): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.

15
Minimum age
1518
180days
Permit period
6 of 12 months
40hrs
Supervised
US avg 45h
38th
Test difficulty
hardest of 51
hardesteasiest
01

The rule that decides your path

The South Carolina road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the SC DMV gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the South Carolina driving test at 15, after holding a learner permit for at least 180 days and logging 40 hours of supervised driving. The drive includes parallel parking.

South Carolina sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Ages 15 to 16 must be enrolled in school with satisfactory attendance and submit form PDLA. Graduated licensing applies from 15 to 17. No supervised-hour requirement is published for age 17 and older.

Below you'll find the full South Carolina road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, South Carolina's written knowledge test ranks 38th-hardest of 51.

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Supervised hours before the South Carolina road test

Supervised practice40 hrs
40 hours behind the wheel before test day, including 10 at night.40 hours of supervised practice, including 10 at night, for ages 15 to 16.

These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.

Before the road test

Pass the South Carolina written test on your first try

Start the free South Carolina practice test →

Nearby road-test guides.

Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.

Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the SC DMV (dmv.sc.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.

Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.

Sources for this guide (3 official SC DMV pages)

Current as of 2026-07-16. Official South Carolina sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.

South Carolina Road Test: Requirements & Auto-Fails (2026) | DMV IQ