South Carolina's Teen Driving Laws: A 2025 Guide for Parents and New Drivers

For teenagers in South Carolina, getting a driver's license is a rite of passage symbolizing freedom and maturity. For their parents, it's a period of both excitement and significant concern. To ensure this transition is as safe as possible, South Carolina has a Graduated Driver's License (GDL) program. This system is not meant to be an obstacle; it's a proven method for reducing teen driver crashes by introducing privileges in stages as they gain critical experience.

Understanding these laws is essential for both teens and parents to ensure safety, avoid costly tickets, and protect that newly earned license. Here is a clear guide to South Carolina's teen driving laws for 2025.

The Purpose of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. This is largely due to inexperience combined with high-risk factors like driving at night and being distracted by friends in the car. South Carolina's GDL program directly addresses these risks by placing common-sense limits on new drivers, allowing them to build skills in a safer, more controlled environment.

The program consists of distinct stages, each with its own set of rules.

Stage 1: The Beginner's Permit (Age 15+)

This is the very first step, where all supervised, on-road driving practice begins. A teen must be at least 15 years old to apply.

Key Permit Restrictions:

Constant Supervision: A permit holder must always be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and has a minimum of one year of driving experience.
Front Seat Only: The supervising driver must be seated in the front passenger seat at all times.
Daytime Driving: A permit holder can drive between the hours of 6 a.m. and midnight.
Late Night Driving: Between midnight and 6 a.m., the supervising driver must be the teen's licensed parent or legal guardian.

Stage 2: The Conditional Driver's License (Age 15 ½ to 16)

After holding a permit for at least 180 days, completing driver's education, logging practice hours, and passing the road test, a teen can earn a Conditional License. This is a major step, as it allows for unsupervised driving, but with critical safety restrictions in place.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be at least 15 years and 6 months old.
Must have held a beginner's permit for at least 180 days.
Must complete a state-approved driver's education course.
Must complete 40 hours of supervised driving practice, with at least 10 hours at night, certified by a parent on the PDLA form.

Conditional License Restriction 1: Driving Curfew

Nighttime driving is statistically the most dangerous time for new drivers. The GDL curfew addresses this risk directly.

Curfew Hours: A conditional license holder may drive alone from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. During Daylight Saving Time, this is extended to 8 p.m.
Night Driving with Supervision: From 6 p.m. (or 8 p.m.) until midnight, the teen must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21. After midnight, the supervising driver must be a parent or guardian.
Waiver: A curfew waiver for travel to and from school or work is available.

Conditional License Restriction 2: Passenger Limits

Studies show that a teen driver's crash risk increases dramatically with each peer passenger in the car.

The Rule: A conditional license holder may not transport more than TWO passengers under the age of 21.
Exceptions: This restriction does not apply if the passengers are immediate family members or if the teen is transporting students to or from school. The restriction is also waived if a licensed adult (21+) is in the front passenger seat.

Conditional License Restriction 3: Cell Phones

Zero Tolerance: It is illegal for a teen with a conditional license to use any type of wireless communication device while driving, including for texting or talking.

The Final Stages: Special Restricted and Full License

Special Restricted License: At age 16, a teen who has held their conditional license for one year with a clean record can apply for a Special Restricted License. This removes the time-of-day driving restrictions but keeps the passenger limits in place.
Full Unrestricted License: Once a driver turns 17 and has held their conditional or special restricted license for one year with no traffic offenses or at-fault accidents, all GDL restrictions are lifted.

By partnering with your teen to enforce these rules and setting clear expectations, you can help them navigate this exciting time and become a safe, responsible driver for life.