State rules
Driver training rules in South Carolina
What South Carolina requires of driving schools, CDL training and school bus drivers, with every fact linked to its official source.
✓ Checked against official sources · 2026-10-18
Driver training rules in South Carolina for teen and adult driver's education, CDL schools, carriers that train their own drivers and school bus drivers, each with a link to the official source. Federal ELDT rules (49 CFR Part 380) apply in every state on top of these.
| Driver education (teens) | Required for a first license at 15 or 16: driver's education of 8 hours classroom and 6 hours driving.source 1 · source 2 |
|---|---|
| Supervised practice (teens) | 40 hours supervised driving, 10 at night; beginner's permit held 180 days (under 18).source 1 · source 3 |
| New adult drivers | No course required for 18+. Hold a beginner's permit at least 30 days, then take the road test.source 3 · source 2 |
| Who licenses driving schools | SC Department of Motor Vehicles licenses and approves driver training schools.source 4 · source 5 |
| CDL training: state rules beyond federal ELDT | Yes, at licensed CDL schools: ELDT plus state minimums, including a 148-hour course with at least 8 hours behind-the-wheel on public roads.source 6 |
| CDL schools: state license | Yes. Anyone charging a fee to train drivers needs an SCDMV driver training school license (SC Code 56-23-10).source 5 · source 7 |
| CDL schools: state hours or curriculum | Yes. ELDT plus state minimums (S.C. Reg. 90-120): Class A tractor-trailer 148 hours incl. 8 hours behind-the-wheel on public roads (98-hour BTW-only course if theory done elsewhere); Class A non-tractor-trailer 70 hours incl. 4 public-road hours (20-hour BTW-only course); Class B, straight truck or bus 70 hours incl. 4 public-road hours (20-hour BTW-only course).source 8 · source 9 |
| CDL schools: instructor rules | Yes. SCDMV instructor permit (56-23-85; Reg. 90-106/107): age 21+ and a nationwide criminal background check.source 5 · source 8 |
| Carriers training their own drivers: license | Exempt for employers instructing their own licensed employees (SC Code 56-23-20); the truck-school definition excludes 56-23-20 exemptions.source 5 · source 8 |
| Carriers: hours or curriculum | No. The 148-hour minimums apply to licensed truck schools; exempt employer programs follow federal ELDT only.source 5 · source 8 |
| Carriers: instructor rules | No. Instructor permits are required for people connected with driver training schools and are valid only at a licensed school; exempt employer trainers fall under federal 380.605.source 5 · source 8 |
| New school bus drivers | State Dept. of Education certificate: complete the Department's classroom training program, meet training hours set by FMCSA or the Department, and pass the behind-the-wheel road exam.source 10 |
| School bus refresher | At least 10 hours Department-approved in-service training each year to renew (2 hours for another certificate type).source 10 |
Driving manuals and handbooks
Official publications from South Carolina, checked 2026-10-19. Read them here or download them; the state's own copy is always linked.
Driver's manualSouth Carolina Driver's Manual (Driver's License Manual)
Open on the state siteCopyright AAMVA, so it opens on the state's site.
Teen and parent guides
Ready for the Road? A Step by Step Guide to the Licensing Process for Teens in South Carolina (DMVB-35)
Teen and parent guidesThe Parent's Supervised Driving Program
Open on the state siteCopyright J.F. Griffin Publishing and Safe Roads Alliance, so it opens on the state's site.
Commercial (CDL)Commercial Driver License Manual South Carolina
Open on the state siteCopyright AAMVA, so it opens on the state's site.
Motorcycle and mopedMotorcycle and Moped Operator's Manual
Open on the state siteCopyright AAMVA (graphics: Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Highway Safety Services, LLC), so it opens on the state's site.
Driving schools and instructors
Class D Third Party Tester's Safety Officer Manual
Driving schools and instructors
Driver Training School Regulations
Driving schools and instructors
Motorcycle Third Party Tester's Safety Officer Manual
Other driving guides
South Carolina Large Non-Commercial & Recreational Vehicles Driver's Manual
Driving jobs in South Carolina
34,170heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers employed (May 2025)
$51,130median yearly pay (May 2025)
3,880projected openings each year, 2024 to 2034
8.9%projected job growth, 2024 to 2034
U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics, South Carolina, May 2025Projections CentralLong-Term Occupational Projections (2024-2034)
Rules change. Always confirm with the state agency before you rely on a rule. Something out of date? Email terry@eldt.courses.
Federal rules in every state
CDL entry-level driver training must come from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, for a first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade to Class A or B, or a first P, S or H endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). See ELDT record keeping under 49 CFR 380.
Sources
- https://dmv.sc.gov/driver-services/drivers-license/teenage-drivers
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t56c001.php
- https://dmv.sc.gov/driver-services/drivers-license/beginner-permits
- https://dmv.sc.gov/business-customers/driving-schools
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t56c023.php
- https://www.scdmvonline.com/sites/scdmv/files/media/Files/Driver-Training-School-Regulations.pdf
- https://dmv.sc.gov/business-customers/driving-schools/commercial-driving-schools
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/coderegs/Chapter%2090.pdf
- https://dmv.sc.gov/sites/scdmv/files/media/Files/Driver-Training-School-Regulations.pdf
- https://www.scstatehouse.gov/coderegs/Chapter%2043.pdf