Driving Tests

What Do You Need for a Beginner's Permit in SC? SCDMV Documents

informational·how to guide·Published July 9, 2026

What documents do you need for a South Carolina beginner's permit?

At an SCDMV branch, a U.S. citizen gives a Social Security number and shows one original proof of identity, U.S. citizenship and date of birth, plus one proof of a current South Carolina address dated within nine months. A REAL ID needs two proofs of address. Under 18, an adult must sign. You must be 15 or older. The knowledge test costs $2.00 and the permit $2.50.

Where these South Carolina permit document facts come from

The age, fees, branch cutoff time and consent rules come from the SCDMV beginner's permit page. The document rules, REAL ID choice and permit delivery come from the SCDMV driver's license page. The accepted documents, proof of address and name change rules come from the MV-93 U.S. Citizens' Checklist (Rev. 06/2026). Details also come from the SCDMV page and MV-94 checklist for lawfully present non-U.S. citizens, the Driver's Manual (April 2026) and South Carolina Code sections 56-1-100 and 56-1-110. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the SCDMV (scdmvonline.com) before you drive.

What a U.S. citizen brings for a first beginner's permit

Your Social Security number. The SCDMV checks it electronically with the Social Security Administration, and the name and date of birth on your application must match that record.
One original proof of identity, U.S. citizenship and date of birth. An unexpired U.S. Passport or Passport Card works. So does a certified birth certificate from the county or the Vital Records Office, with a birth or file, book, volume, page or tracking number and the registrar's signature.
One proof of your current physical South Carolina address. Two proofs if you want a REAL ID.
Originals or government-issued copies only. The SCDMV does not accept copied or scanned identity documents.
You do not need the name of an auto insurance company for a beginner's permit.

Proof of address rules for the SCDMV

Each proof of address must show your own name and your current South Carolina home address. A PO Box is not accepted. Each proof cannot be more than nine months old from the day it was issued.
The MV-93 checklist gives the full list of accepted items. The list can change at the SCDMV's discretion, so open the current MV-93 before you leave home.

Standard permit or REAL ID: what changes

Standard permit or REAL ID: what changes
Item	Card marked "Not for Federal Identification"	REAL ID (star)
Proofs of address	One	Two, from different organizations, same address
Age of each proof	Within nine months	Within nine months
Price	Same	Same
Domestic flights and secure federal buildings	Not allowed	Allowed

Do you need a REAL ID to get a permit?

No. You do not need a REAL ID to drive or to vote, and you choose which card you want. Without the star, you need another federal ID to board a domestic flight, enter a secure federal building or visit a military installation. A valid U.S. Passport, a military ID or another federal ID that airport security accepts can do that job.
A valid U.S. Passport with your current legal name, plus two proofs of address, is what you need for a REAL ID. The passport name must match your Social Security record and your proofs of address.

Which papers fit your case?

Your birth certificate shows a birth outside the U.S.

Give one more citizenship document from the MV-93 list, such as an unexpired U.S. Passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

Your name changed since your birth certificate

Bring papers for your complete name change history: a court order, a divorce decree or a signed, government-issued marriage license. A marriage license cannot change a first name. A U.S. Passport or Passport Card with your legal name can replace these papers.

Your documents are not in English

A qualified or certified translator must translate them on the Translation Document (form 4030).

You are not a U.S. citizen

Use the Lawfully Present Non-US Citizens' Checklist (MV-94) and bring original documents, not photocopies. You may apply only at one of the 30 SCDMV branches that issue licenses and IDs to lawfully present non-U.S. citizens. In the branch search, filter the results to international customers. If you also hold a license from another country, read our guide to a South Carolina foreign driver's license.

What if you are under 18?

An authorized adult must consent to your permit. The adult signs at the SCDMV branch, in front of an SCDMV employee, unless a representative at a driver training school signs and submits the form. The adult must bring a picture ID.
By South Carolina law, the adult who signs is jointly liable with you for damage that your negligent or willful driving causes. This does not apply when you have the liability insurance that state law requires.

Steps at the SCDMV branch

1
Go before 4 p.m.
Visit an SCDMV branch before 4 p.m. to take the knowledge test. Study the South Carolina Driver's Manual first, and read what is on the permit test.
2
Give your papers
Hand over your documents and your Social Security number. If you are under 18, your consent adult signs at this point.
3
Pass the vision and knowledge tests
The knowledge test costs $2.00. After you pass, the permit costs $2.50. Try our free question on the minimum permit age and the tests you take.
4
Take your temporary certificate
You get a temporary driving certificate at the branch. You can drive with it for up to 30 days. The permit comes by mail in seven to 15 business days. If no card comes in 30 days, visit a branch.

Key takeaways

Apply at 15 or older. Bring your Social Security number, one original proof of identity, citizenship and date of birth, and one proof of address.
Each proof of address must show your name and be dated within nine months. A REAL ID needs two proofs from different organizations.
You do not need a REAL ID to drive. The fee is the same either way.
Under 18, bring an authorized adult with a picture ID. Non-citizens use the MV-94 checklist at designated branches.
Next step: practice on the free South Carolina Class D practice test.

South Carolina permit documents: common questions

What can a 15-year-old use as proof of address in South Carolina?

The proof must show your own name, so a utility bill in a parent's name does not count. Items on the MV-93 list that a student may have: an SC school report card with your name and address, an official letter from your school or school district on letterhead, a W-2 or Form 1095-B that lists you as the primary taxpayer or a dependent, or postmarked mail sent to you at home.

Who can sign my permit application if my parents cannot come?

South Carolina law lets your father, mother or guardian sign, or a person who has custody, care and control of you. A person who has stood in place of a parent for at least 60 days in a row can also sign. Another responsible adult can sign with written permission from one of these people, signed and verified before a person authorized to give oaths.

What if I do not have my birth certificate?

Use an unexpired U.S. Passport or Passport Card instead. The MV-93 list also accepts a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship and a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. If you want to use a birth certificate, get a certified copy from the county or the Vital Records Office. It must have a file or tracking number and the registrar's signature.

Can I use the same document twice for a REAL ID?

No. A REAL ID needs two proofs of address from two different organizations, and both must show the same address. For example, a school report card and a tax record that lists you as a dependent come from different organizations. Each one must show your name and be no more than nine months old.