Free · 26 short lessons · Quoted from the manual
South Carolina Driver Handbook, Chapter by Chapter
Start with lesson 1Every chapter of the South Carolina Driver's Manual that matters for the written test, cut down to the rules and exact numbers you need. Each point links to the manual text it comes from, with the page, and ends with questions from our free South Carolina practice test.
26 lessons in handbook order
Read one lesson, answer its 3 check questions, then drill that topic in the practice test. Most lessons take about 5 minutes.
- Lesson 1Section 1: The Driver's LicenseLaws and paperwork
License classes and the beginner's permit
A Class D license covers ordinary cars and trucks up to 26,000 pounds, and everyone without a license starts with a beginner's permit at 15 or older. Permit holders under 18 hold the permit at least 180 days, and teens 15 or 16 log 40 practice hours.
10 key points · 7 numbers · Handbook pp. 1-1 to 1-6
- Lesson 2Section 1: The Driver's LicenseLaws and paperwork
Conditional and special restricted licenses
Teens 15 and a half to under 16 can get a conditional license, and 16 year olds a special restricted license, both with passenger and night limits. Full privileges come at 17, or after one year with no offenses and no at fault crashes.
8 key points · 8 numbers · Handbook pp. 1-7 to 1-9
- Lesson 3Section 1: The Driver's LicenseLaws and paperwork
Knowledge and skills tests, moving and renewal
Your first license needs vision, knowledge and skills tests, and not using your seat belt fails the skills test. New residents have 45 days to get an SC license, and licenses expired over nine months require retesting.
8 key points · 7 numbers · Handbook pp. 1-10 to 1-18
- Lesson 4Section 1: The Driver's LicenseLaws and paperwork
The point system and losing your license
Points from traffic violations in any state go on your SC record and are cut in half after one year. At 17 or older, 12 points means suspension, and permit or restricted license holders are suspended at six.
7 key points · 5 numbers · Handbook pp. 1-18 to 1-20
- Lesson 5Section 1: The Driver's LicenseAlcohol and DUI
Provisional and temporary alcohol licenses
After certain alcohol suspensions you may qualify for a provisional, route restricted or temporary alcohol license. Each has strict conditions, such as ADSAP enrollment and fees of $100.
7 key points · 5 numbers · Handbook pp. 1-21 to 1-23
- Lesson 6Section 2: State Laws and Rules of the RoadLaws and paperwork
Golf carts, organ donation and other state laws
To drive a golf cart on a public road you must be 16 with a valid license, and the cart needs an SCDMV decal. Carts may run by day within four miles of home, only on roads posted 35 mph or less.
6 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 2-1 to 2-3
- Lesson 7Section 3: Be in Shape to DriveLaws and paperwork
Vision rules
South Carolina's minimum vision standard is 20/40 corrected in one eye. If you need glasses or contacts to meet it, driving without them is unlawful.
5 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 3-1 to 3-2
- Lesson 8Section 3: Be in Shape to DriveSafe driving
Fatigue, distraction and the hands free law
Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep, and long trips need a stop about every 100 miles or 2 hours. SC's Hands-Free Act bans holding a phone while driving, with fines of $100 and then $200 plus two points.
8 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 3-3 to 3-5
- Lesson 9Section 3: Be in Shape to DriveAlcohol and DUI
Alcohol, other drugs and implied consent
Alcohol and other drugs are involved in about 40 percent of fatal crashes, and impairment starts with the first drink. Under 21, a BAC of 0.02 percent means at least a three month suspension, and refusing a test means at least six months.
10 key points · 6 numbers · Handbook pp. 3-6 to 3-9
- Lesson 10Section 6: Rules of the RoadRight of way
Yielding the right of way
No one should assume they automatically have the right of way. Yield to anyone still in the intersection, to the first to arrive, to oncoming traffic when turning left and to the driver on your right at a four way stop.
7 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 6-1 to 6-2
- Lesson 11Section 6: Rules of the RoadSignals and markings
Traffic lights
A yellow light warns that red is coming, so stop if you can. Right turns on red are allowed after a stop unless a sign prohibits them, and a flashing red works like a stop sign.
7 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 6-3 to 6-4
- Lesson 12Section 6: Rules of the RoadRoad signs
Warning, railroad and work zone signs
Warning signs are usually yellow diamonds, and school and pedestrian signs may be fluorescent yellow. Railroad signs warn of crossings, and orange signs mark work zones where you must follow flaggers.
8 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 6-4 to 6-8
- Lesson 13Section 6: Rules of the RoadRoad signs
Regulatory and guide signs
Regulatory signs are white with black, red or green symbols and tell you laws you must obey. The stop sign has eight sides, and guide signs are green, brown or blue.
7 key points · 1 numbers · Handbook pp. 6-9 to 6-11
- Lesson 14Section 6: Rules of the RoadSignals and markings
Pavement markings, crosswalks and stop lines
Pavement markings divide lanes, show when you may pass or change lanes and mark where to stop. At a sign or signal, stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, and yield to pedestrians in any crosswalk.
7 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 6-10 to 6-15
- Lesson 15Section 7: General DrivingRight of way
Turns, intersections and roundabouts
At every intersection, slow down and search for controls, traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists, and look left, right and left again. In a roundabout, drive counterclockwise and yield to traffic already circling.
8 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 7-2 to 7-8
- Lesson 16Section 7: General DrivingEmergencies
School buses
Stop the whole time a school bus is stopped or preparing to stop with flashing lights or its stop arm out. On a road with two or more lanes each way, oncoming traffic does not have to stop.
6 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 7-8 to 7-10
- Lesson 17Section 7: General DrivingSignals and markings
Turnabouts, parking, lane changes and passing
Park no more than 18 inches from the curb, and turn your wheels correctly on hills. Before changing lanes, check mirrors and your blind spot, and signal 100 feet before passing.
9 key points · 3 numbers · Handbook pp. 7-1 to 7-17
- Lesson 18Section 8: Safe Driving TipsSafe driving
Visual search and speed management
Look 20 to 30 seconds ahead, and adjust speed for curves, slippery roads and water. Never drive through a flooded road, since six inches of water reaches the bottom of most cars.
7 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 8-1 to 8-4
- Lesson 19Section 8: Safe Driving TipsSafe driving
Stopping distance, following distance and signaling
Perception and reaction each take about 3/4 of a second to 1 second, and braking at 50 mph takes about 158 feet. Keep at least a 4 second following distance, and signal 100 feet before turning or changing lanes.
8 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 8-5 to 8-9
- Lesson 20Section 9: Emergency Situations and Avoiding CollisionsEmergencies
Avoiding collisions and vehicle malfunctions
To avoid a collision you can brake, steer or accelerate. With ABS, press hard and hold; know what to do for skids, brake failure, blowouts, stuck accelerators and breakdowns.
8 key points · 1 numbers · Handbook pp. 9-1 to 9-5
- Lesson 21Section 10: Sharing the RoadSpeed limits
Pedestrians, school zones and speed
In a school zone, obey the slower limit when lights flash or children are present. Near playgrounds and homes, drive slower than the limit and be ready to stop.
6 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 6-10 to 10-2
- Lesson 22Section 10: Sharing the RoadRight of way
Yielding to pedestrians and bicyclists
Stop completely for a pedestrian guided by a dog or carrying a white cane, and yield to pedestrians even on green. Bicycles are vehicles, and you yield to them as you would to other vehicles.
7 key points · 0 numbers · Handbook pp. 10-1 to 10-3
- Lesson 23Section 10: Sharing the RoadSafe driving
Motorcycles and commercial vehicles
Give motorcycles a full lane and at least a 4 second following distance. Large trucks need at least 335 feet to stop from 55 mph and have blind spots up to 200 feet behind.
8 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 10-5 to 10-10
- Lesson 24Section 10: Sharing the RoadEmergencies
Emergency vehicles, traffic stops and the Move Over Law
Pull to the edge of the road for emergency vehicles with lights and siren on, and never block intersections. Move a lane away from stopped emergency vehicles when safe, or slow down.
8 key points · 1 numbers · Handbook pp. 10-12 to 10-16
- Lesson 25Section 11: Special Driving SituationsSafe driving
Night driving and work zones
Dim your high beams 500 feet from oncoming vehicles and use low beams within 200 feet behind another car. In work zones, always slow down, even when no workers are visible.
8 key points · 4 numbers · Handbook pp. 6-9 to 11-3
- Lesson 26Section 11: Special Driving SituationsSafe driving
Rural roads, winter driving and trailers
On narrow bridges, the first driver to arrive generally has the right of way. Load a trailer 60 percent in front, and keep most vehicle and trailer combinations at 55 mph or less.
8 key points · 2 numbers · Handbook pp. 11-5 to 11-11
Read, check, then practice
- Read a lesson. Open any point's source to see the exact manual wording and page.
- Answer the 3 check questions at the end without looking back.
- Drill that topic in the free South Carolina practice test, then take a full test when every lesson feels easy.
- Keep the South Carolina cheat sheet for a last look before test day.
Source: the South Carolina Driver's Manual (SCDMV, 2026). Lessons are plain English summaries, not the law itself; where they differ, the manual and the statute govern. Every quote on these pages is checked against our saved copy of the manual. Last checked 2026-09-27.