South Carolina supervised driving: 40 hours, 10 at night.

Everything a South Carolina parent needs in one place — required practice hours, night-driving rules, permit age, and what the written test looks like — plus a free log that keeps the hours straight.

What South Carolina actually requires

Requirements summarized from the official South Carolina driver handbook.

The South Carolina graduated licensing path

  1. Beginner Permit — from age 15

    Restrictions: Held at least 180 days; drive with licensed driver 21+; daylight only for first 90 days

  2. Conditional/Restricted License — from age 15.5

    Restrictions: No driving after 6pm (EST) / 8pm (EDT) without a licensed adult; no more than two passengers under 21

  3. Full License — from age 16.5

    Restrictions: None

South Carolina laws your teen will be tested on

South Carolina Seat Belt Law

South Carolina has primary safety belt enforcement, so an officer may stop a driver after clearly seeing the driver or an occupant without a safety belt or child restraint. Always fasten your safety belt and ensure every passenger uses a safety belt or child restraint.

South Carolina Speed Limits

Speed limit signs show the maximum legal speed allowed in ideal conditions. Adjust your speed for roadway and traffic conditions, and slow down before entering curves.

South Carolina DUI & Distracted Driving

In South Carolina, if you are under 21 years of age and register a BAC of 0.02 percent or greater, your driving privilege will be suspended immediately for at least three months.

South Carolina Right-of-Way Rules

Yield to oncoming traffic when turning left. At a four-way stop, if two drivers arrive at the same time, yield to the driver on your right; at a roundabout, entering traffic must yield to circulating traffic.

South Carolina School Bus & Pedestrian Rules

Stop for the entire time a school bus is stopped or preparing to stop with red or amber lights flashing or its stop arm extended. Once the lights stop flashing and the stop arm is no longer visible, proceed slowly and watch for children.

South Carolina Move Over & Emergency Scenes

South Carolina’s move-over law requires drivers approaching emergency vehicles to slow down and change lanes. When an emergency vehicle has flashing lights and a siren on, pull to the edge of the road and avoid blocking intersections, roadways, or driveways whenever possible.

A real South Carolina practice question

Which test must an applicant pass to obtain a special restricted license with a waiver?

An applicant seeking this waiver must pass a vision test.

South Carolina driving practice questions, answered

How many supervised driving hours does South Carolina require?
South Carolina requires 40 supervised driving hours, including 10 hours after dark.
What counts as a night driving hour in South Carolina?
Driving between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. local time counts toward the 10-hour night requirement.
How old do you have to be to get a learner's permit in South Carolina?
A South Carolina learner's permit can be issued starting at age 15.
How many questions are on the South Carolina written test?
The South Carolina knowledge exam has 30 questions and requires 80% correct to pass.
Does NextDriver Prep have South Carolina practice questions?
Yes — 18 practice questions written from the official South Carolina driver handbook, with explanations for every answer.
How should we track the 40 hours?
Log each drive the same day it happens. NextDriver Prep's free log records date, duration, day/night split, and conditions, and totals your progress toward South Carolina's 40 hours automatically.
Is the South Carolina driving log free?
Yes. The supervised driving log is free forever, with no card required. The Family Plan adds lessons, coaching scripts, hazard training, and Kai the AI co-pilot.
Does NextDriver Prep submit our log to the state?
No. NextDriver Prep helps your family track and organize practice. The South Carolina licensing agency decides permit and license eligibility.
What restrictions apply during the Beginner Permit stage in South Carolina?
Held at least 180 days; drive with licensed driver 21+; daylight only for first 90 days
What restrictions apply during the Conditional/Restricted License stage in South Carolina?
No driving after 6pm (EST) / 8pm (EDT) without a licensed adult; no more than two passengers under 21
What restrictions apply during the Full License stage in South Carolina?
None

Start logging South Carolina hours today

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