Knowledge and skills tests, moving and renewal

Key points

1. You will fail the knowledge test if you leave the test area early or talk to anyone.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-10

   “Leave the test room/area before the test is completed Talk to anyone”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-10

2. You automatically fail the skills test if you do not use your seat belt.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-12

   “You will automatically fail the skills test if you do not use your seat belt.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-12

3. The skills test may include parallel parking, 100 feet of straight line backing and parking on a hill.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-12

   “Parallel park 100 feet straight line backing Park on a hill”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-12

4. After a first failed skills test, wait two business days before retesting.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-13

   “If you fail the skills test on your first attempt, you must wait two business days before you can be re-tested”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-13

5. After a third or later failure, wait 30 calendar days.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-13

   “If you fail the skills test on your third attempt or more, you must wait 30 calendar days before you can be retested”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-13

6. New residents must apply for an SC license within 45 days of moving.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-13

   “you must apply for an SC license or ID within forty-five (45) days of moving to SC”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-13

7. Canceling SC insurance before returning your plate can cost up to $400 in fees.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-14

   “If you do not return your plate before you cancel your SC insurance, you could owe up to $400 in fees.”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-14

8. A license expired more than nine months requires the vision, knowledge and skills tests again.

   Source: Handbook p. 1-18

   “If your driver's license is expired for more than nine months, you must visit an SCDMV branch, pass a vision, knowledge, and a skills test”
   South Carolina Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 1-18

Numbers to know

3 questions from the South Carolina practice test

1. 1. After failing a South Carolina skills test on the first attempt, how long must the applicant wait to retest?

   1. Thirty calendar days
   2. Seven calendar days
   3. Two business days
   4. No waiting period
   Show answer

   Two business days. The first failed skills test creates a two-business-day waiting period before retesting, regardless of age or driving experience. Seven calendar days applies after a second failure, and 30 calendar days applies after a third or later failure. The no-wait option ignores the explicit schedule. The helpful sequence is first failure, two business days; second failure, seven calendar days; third or more, 30 calendar days.

2. 2. What testing is required when a South Carolina driver's license has been expired for more than nine months?

   1. Vision, knowledge, and skills tests
   2. Only a vision screening
   3. Only the knowledge test
   4. No testing if the address is unchanged
   Show answer

   Vision, knowledge, and skills tests. An expiration longer than nine months requires a branch visit and three tests: vision, knowledge, and skills. A vision-only or knowledge-only response leaves out required parts of the process. The no-testing option confuses an unchanged address with eligibility to renew without tests. Keep the threshold in mind as a switch: nine months or less permits branch renewal without testing, but more than nine months activates the full testing requirement.

3. 3. What can happen if a South Carolina driver cancels insurance before returning the license plate?

   1. Fees of up to $400
   2. A one year suspension
   3. A $25 fine
   4. Nothing, the plate expires automatically
   Show answer

   Fees of up to $400. If you cancel your South Carolina insurance, turn in your license plate to the SCDMV first. If you do not return your plate before you cancel the insurance, you could owe up to $400 in fees, because the state treats the registered vehicle as uninsured. Return the plate when selling, junking or moving a vehicle out of state as well.

Source: the South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 1: The Driver's License. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.