Free South Carolina DMV permit practice test online
Free South Carolina permit practice for road signs, right-of-way, safe driving, and more—with explanations that point back to the official South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles handbook.
The South Carolina permit knowledge test has 30 questions; you need 24 correct (80%) to pass. That sits right at the median of 30 questions across the 51 states QuizLane tracks.
Also preparing for a commercial license? South Carolina CDL practice · Study guides
Official South Carolina permit test
South Carolina DMV permit test facts
These figures reflect the standard South Carolina Class D permit knowledge test and can change. Always confirm current requirements with South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (official source).
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Sample questions
5 South Carolina DMV permit practice questions
Try these South Carolina sample questions now — each shows the correct answer with a plain-language explanation and a source section. The full 171-question bank is in the practice run, including 10 items that test South Carolina law specifically.
1. South Carolina will suspend or deny a license/permit for a person under 21 who drives with an alcohol concentration of:
- 0.02% or more
- B0.10% or more
- C0.08% or more only
- D0.05% or more
Answer: 0.02% or more. S.C. Code §56-1-286 requires DMV to suspend or deny a license or permit for a person under twenty-one who drives a motor vehicle and has an alcohol concentration of two one-hundredths of one percent (0.02%) or more.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws — §56-1-286
2. While operating a motor vehicle on a South Carolina public highway, you generally may not:
- AUse an earpiece for voice communication
- Hold or support a mobile electronic device with any part of the body
- CUse a permanently mounted GPS already set
- DUse the vehicle radio
Answer: Hold or support a mobile electronic device with any part of the body. S.C. Code §56-5-3890 prohibits holding or supporting, with any part of the body, a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle (with an exception for an earpiece or wrist device for voice-based communication), and also prohibits reading/composing/transmitting text.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws — §56-5-3890
3. When a South Carolina school bus is stopped with flashing red lights operating, other drivers meeting or overtaking it must:
- ASlow to 15 mph and pass carefully
- Stop before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the red lights are no longer actuated
- CStop only if children are visible
- DHonk and proceed
Answer: Stop before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the red lights are no longer actuated. S.C. Code §56-5-2770 requires the driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking a school bus stopped with flashing red lights to stop before reaching the bus and not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights are no longer actuated.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws — §56-5-2770
4. It is unlawful in South Carolina to drive a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of:
- A0.02% or more
- B0.05% or more
- 0.08% or more
- D0.10% or more
Answer: 0.08% or more. S.C. Code §56-5-2933 makes it unlawful to drive a motor vehicle within this State while alcohol concentration is eight one-hundredths of one percent or more.
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws — §56-5-2933
5. A South Carolina beginner's permit is generally valid for driving only:
- ABetween 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. only
- BOnly on weekends
- CAnytime unsupervised
- After 6:00 a.m. and not later than midnight, with a qualifying accompanying driver
Answer: After 6:00 a.m. and not later than midnight, with a qualifying accompanying driver. S.C. Code §56-1-50 provides that a beginner's permit is valid in the operation of vehicles after six o'clock a.m. and not later than midnight, and while driving the permittee must be accompanied by a licensed driver twenty-one or older with at least one year of driving experience (with limited midnight–6 a.m. exceptions).
Source: South Carolina Code of Laws — §56-1-50
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