The minimum age to get an Instruction (learner’s) Permit in South Carolina is 15 years old.  Visit the Beginner’s Permit page here: http://scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services/Drivers-License/Beginner-Permits

• You must hold your beginner's permit for at least 180 days before you are eligible to get a South Carolina Driver’s License
• You need to take a road test if you do not hold a valid driver’s license

• The graduated driver’s license program is designed for people 15 to 17. It allows you the opportunity to develop your driving skills. It restricts nighttime and unsupervised driving at first, but these restrictions are lifted over time
• You can earn full driving privileges at 17 or after keeping your Conditional or Special Restricted license for one year if you received no traffic offenses and were not at-fault in any collisions. You do not have to visit an SCDMV branch to receive full driving privileges. You will receive a sleeve in the mail from the SCDMV. You must keep your license in this sleeve to take advantage of your full driving privileges

If you're 15 or 16 and applying for your first driver's license, you must complete the Certification of DL Under 18 form and meet the following requirements:

• Hold your beginner's permit for more than 180 days
• Complete a driver's education course with 8 hours in the classroom and 6 hours of driving
• Enrolled in School with satisfactory attendance
• Practice driving with a licensed individual listed on the Consent for Minor form for at least 40 hours, including ten hours of night driving

Conditional Licenses are available to a 15-year-old Driver. If you are at least 15 ½, but less than 16, and have met the above requirements, you are eligible for a Conditional license. Once you pass the required tests for your Conditional license, you will earn full driving privileges once you have held your Conditional license for one year with no traffic offenses and not been at-fault in any collisions.

• A Special Restricted License is available to a 16-year-old Driver. If you are 16, but less than 17, have met the above requirements, and have passed your vision and road test, or if you are 16 and have a Conditional license, you are eligible for a Special Restricted license
• A Special Restricted and a Conditional license have the same nighttime and unsupervised driving restrictions, however, if you have a Special Restricted license and you are 16 years old, you may apply for a waiver to drive alone until midnight

You must pass a knowledge test consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions based on the South Carolina Drivers Handbook. A score of 80% is required. You must answer 24 out of the 30 questions correctly to pass the South Carolina knowledge exam.

Schedule your written test appointment here: http://www.scdmvonline.com/schedule-appointment

Schedule your road test appointment here: https://a.flexbooker.com/widget/8be04538-daff-4207-88f6-177e86a15a13#chooseLocation

When applying for a South Carolina Beginner's Permit, driver's license, or identification card for the first time, you must present originals or government-issued copies of all of the following documents:

• Proof of Identity, US Citizenship, and Date of Birth
• Proof of a Social Security Number
• Two Proofs of Current, Physical SC Address
• Proof of Legal Name Change History (if applicable)
• Liability insurance information (not required for a beginner's permit or ID)

The South Carolina main DMV phone number is 803-896-5000

You can send an email to the South Carolina DMV here:

http://scdmvonline.com/Emergency-Contact

• South Carolina’s DMV website is: http://scdmvonline.com/
• The South Carolina DMV Driver’s License services page is:

http://scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services/Drivers-License

• The South Carolina DMV online services page is: http://scdmvonline.com/Driver-Services
• South Carolina DMV appointments can be made online here:

http://scdmvonline.com/schedule-appointment

South Carolina DMV hours and locations and branch phone numbers can be found here: http://scdmvonline.com/Locations

If you are under 18, you must bring an individual listed on the Consent for Minor (SCDMV Form 447-CM) with you to sign your application. The form is available here:

http://scdmvonline.com/-/media/Forms/447-cm.ashx?la=en&hash=84D8F4AAFE1B6D991F45B7FC7F6317E74853C94B

A vision test is required to obtain a South Carolina Beginner’s Learner’s Permit and Driver’s License

A physical exam is not required to obtain a South Carolina Learner’s Beginner Permit or Driver’s License

A photograph will be taken at the South Carolina DMV

After passing the written knowledge test, you must hold your Instruction Permit for 180 days before you are allowed to take your road test. You must also be get at least 50 hours of driving experience, including 10 hours at night, with a supervising driver. If you are under 17 years old, you have to take a driver’s education course.  If you’re under 18, you must get at least 40 hours of behind the wheel training