South Carolina · SCDMV

How to get your CDL permit in South Carolina

In South Carolina you can walk into any SCDMV branch to take your English-only knowledge tests, no appointment needed. The CLP costs $17.50 plus $2 per test and lasts one year.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official SCDMV sources

Start the free South Carolina permit classroom Official South Carolina CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $17.50 ($15 application + $2.50 permit)
Permit valid for: 1 year; renewing means retaking the knowledge tests
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: English only
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Be a South Carolina resident with a valid, unexpired SC driver license.
2Get a DOT physical from a National Registry certified examiner if your driving type requires one.
3Fill out Form 447-CDL and gather your identity documents from the MV-93 checklist.
4Walk into any SCDMV branch before 4:00 p.m. and pass the vision screening.
5Pass General Knowledge plus the tests for your class and endorsements.
6Practice only with a qualified CDL holder beside you, and hold your CLP at least 14 days.
7Finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before your skills test.
8Book a skills test appointment and arrive 30 minutes early.

What to bring

Identity documents from the SCDMV US Citizen's Checklist (Form MV-93), or your green card
Your valid, unexpired South Carolina driver license
A completed Form 447-CDL application
Your medical certificate, if it applies to you

Medical card

Your medical examiner submits your results electronically through the National Registry; SCDMV no longer takes them from drivers. You can check your medical certificate status online at SCDMV.

Fees

Application fee	$15
CLP card	$2.50
Knowledge test	$2 per test, per attempt
Skills test retakeWaived if the test couldn't be finished for reasons outside your control	$25
CDL (8-year)Plus the $15 application fee	$25
HazMat endorsement (5-year)Plus the $15 application fee and $2 knowledge test	$15

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with SCDMV before you go.

The tests you'll take

Vision screening
General Knowledge (everyone)
Air Brakes (if your truck has air brakes)
Combination Vehicles (Class A)
Endorsement tests: Passenger, School Bus, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, HazMat

Testing in South Carolina

Knowledge tests need no appointment at any SCDMV branch, but you must start before 4:00 p.m.
Vision screening is free, or bring an eye doctor's Certificate of Vision Examination from the last 36 months.
Failed a knowledge test? You can retake it the next business day.
Skills test retake waits grow: 2 business days after the first fail, 7 days after the second, 30 days after that.

Study for these tests in the South Carolina classroom

Good to know in South Carolina

South Carolina has some of the lowest fees: $15 application, $2.50 permit, $2 per test.
A P or S endorsement on your CLP means no passengers; an N endorsement means no cargo in a tank vehicle.
Testing is in English only, and no online testing is offered.

Non-domiciled applicants

Since September 29, 2025, SCDMV issues and renews CLPs and CDLs only for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Existing CDLs were not revoked.

Confirm with SCDMV before you go

We couldn't confirm these from official sources, so we left them out rather than guess:

The name or number of the self-certification form.
What proof of your Social Security number SCDMV requires.
How many proofs of residency you need.
What third-party skills testers charge.

Federal rules that apply in every state(show)

Age: You can get a CLP at 18, but until you turn 21 you can only drive a commercial vehicle inside your own state. Hauling hazmat requires you to be 21.
Knowledge tests: Everyone takes General Knowledge. Class A adds Combination Vehicles, and anyone driving a truck with air brakes takes Air Brakes. You need at least 80% on each test.
14-day wait: You must hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you can take the skills (road) test. Some states make you wait longer.
Driving on a CLP: A CDL holder with the right class and endorsements must sit in the front seat whenever you drive. Hazmat is never allowed on a CLP. With a passenger or school bus permit you can't carry passengers, and with a tank permit the tank must be empty.
Entry-Level Driver Training: You must finish ELDT with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before your Class A or B skills test. You do not need it to get the permit itself.
Medical card: You self-certify the kind of driving you will do. Most new drivers are 'non-excepted interstate' and need a DOT physical from a certified medical examiner, who now sends the results to your state electronically.
Clearinghouse check: Before issuing a CLP, your state checks FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. A 'prohibited' status blocks the permit until return-to-duty is complete.

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Short lessons with diagrams, a quick check after each one, and a practice test for every permit exam South Carolina gives. Free.

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Rules and fees change, so always check with SCDMV before you apply.