International Students in South Carolina: Home License or SC License?
Can international students drive in South Carolina on a home license?
Yes. SCDMV says a student who moves to South Carolina for a limited time does not need a South Carolina license, but must have a valid license to drive. State law adds limits: you must be 16 or older, carry your license, and keep a permanent home address in your home state or country. You can also choose to get a South Carolina license.
Where the South Carolina student license facts come from
The temporary resident rule and the International Driving Permit advice come from the SCDMV moving to South Carolina page, the SCDMV visiting page and the South Carolina Driver's Manual. The nonresident exemption, the student residency rule, the license term and the fee come from Title 56, Chapter 1 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The documents, tests and renewal rules come from the SCDMV checklist MV-94 for lawfully present non-U.S. citizens and the SCDMV pages on non-U.S. citizens, driver's licenses and fees. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the SCDMV (scdmvonline.com) before you drive.
Can you drive on your home license? Check your case
Should you carry an International Driving Permit?
SCDMV strongly advises visitors from a non-English-speaking country to get an International Driving Permit in the home country. The permit is not a license. It translates your license into English, so a law enforcement officer can read it, and you use it together with your valid license. Always carry your license when you drive. Check the rule with our free question on a license left at home.
Can a student choose to get a South Carolina license?
Yes. For license eligibility, state law counts people whom federal authorities, such as the U.S. Department of State, authorize to study in the United States as South Carolina residents, if they show documents of their intent to study in South Carolina. These students and their dependents can get a South Carolina license or renew one. If you have no valid license from home, you need a South Carolina license to drive here.
What to bring for a South Carolina license as an international student
| Item | What the MV-94 checklist asks for |
|---|---|
| Proof of identity (F-1, J-1 and other non-immigrants) | An unexpired Employment Authorization Card (I-766), or both a passport with an unexpired visa and your I-94 |
| Proof of authorized stay | F-1 or F-2: Form I-20. J-1 or J-2: Form DS-2019 or IAP-66 |
| Proof that you study here | A letter on school letterhead that shows you are enrolled in good standing, signed by the appropriate authority |
| Proof of South Carolina address | A document with your name and South Carolina home address (not a PO box), not more than 9 months old from its issue date |
| Social Security number | The number, or a letter from the Social Security Administration that says it denied you a number |
| Insurance (license only, not a permit) | The name and information of your automobile liability insurance company, licensed to do business in South Carolina |
| Documents not in English | Translation Document (Form 4030), filled in by a qualified or certified translator |
| License or permit from another country | You may need to show it as proof of earlier driving experience. You do not surrender it |
Which students skip the South Carolina driving tests?
A first-time applicant from a country with a formal reciprocity agreement skips the knowledge and skills tests, if the license from home has not expired. The countries are Canada, France, Germany, South Korea and Taiwan, plus some U.S. territories and freely associated states. South Korea and Taiwan need a consulate letter, valid 30 days from its date. Reciprocity does not change the documents you must show. For the full list and the steps for other countries, see our guide to driving in South Carolina on a foreign license.
How to apply for a South Carolina license as a non-U.S. citizen
- 1Read the MV-94 checklist
The checklist lists the documents for the most common visa statuses. Collect each document before you go.
- 2Find a designated branch
A non-U.S. citizen can apply only at specific SCDMV branches. In the SCDMV branch search, filter the results to international customers.
- 3Pass the vision test
Every applicant for a license must pass a vision test.
- 4Take the knowledge and skills tests, or use reciprocity
You take both tests unless you hold a valid driving credential from a reciprocity country or from another U.S. state. A knowledge test costs $2 each time. For the road test, bring liability insurance information from a company licensed to do business in South Carolina.
- 5Get your temporary certificate
You get a temporary driving certificate at the branch. You can drive on it for up to 30 days. The card comes by mail in seven to 15 business days. When SCDMV issues your South Carolina license, it cancels any license from another U.S. state or a province.
How long does a student license last and what does it cost?
For a person who is not a lawful permanent resident, the license expires on the later of two dates: the end of the authorized stay in the U.S. or the end of the employment authorization document. SCDMV issues it for at least one year and at most eight years. The fee is $12.50 for a license valid for four years or less, and $25 for a license valid for more than four years. If you change status, have a change of status pending or ask for a visa extension, SCDMV gives a one-year extension of your license.
What changes if you stay in South Carolina?
The 45-day deadline is for people with a license from another U.S. state who move to South Carolina permanently. They must apply for a South Carolina license within 45 days of the move and turn in the out-of-state license. If you decide to move here permanently, for example for a job after your studies, you can no longer claim the nonresident exemption in the law. If you also hold a license from another U.S. state, the 45-day rule applies to you. Try our free question on the 45-day license rule for new residents.
Key takeaways
- A student in South Carolina for a limited time does not need a South Carolina license, but must have a valid license to drive.
- Under state law, the home license exemption needs a driver aged 16 or older with the license in hand and a permanent home address in the home state or country.
- To get a South Carolina license, bring your identity documents, Form I-20 or DS-2019, a signed school letter, proof of address and the other MV-94 documents to a designated branch.
- A student license lasts until your authorized stay or work authorization ends (the later date), for one to eight years, and costs $12.50 or $25.
- Next step: practice for the knowledge test on the free South Carolina Class D practice test. It is in English only.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Social Security number to get a South Carolina license?
Yes. SCDMV checks your Social Security number electronically with the Social Security Administration. If the Administration denied you a number, bring its letter that says so. The name, date of birth and number on your application must match the Social Security file.
Can I use my college transcript as proof of a South Carolina address?
Yes, if a South Carolina school, college or university issued it. School records from schools outside South Carolina do not count, unless the MV-94 checklist names them. The transcript must show your name and current South Carolina home address, not a PO box. Like other proof of address, it cannot be more than 9 months old from the date that it was issued.
Can I get a beginner's permit first as an international student?
Yes. Apply at a designated branch with the same identity, stay and address documents and your Social Security number or the denial letter. Then pass the vision test and a knowledge test. You do not need insurance information for the permit. You give it when you are ready for the skills test to upgrade to a license.
Where do I renew my South Carolina license as an international student?
Renew at one of the SCDMV branches that process applications for lawfully present non-U.S. citizens, and bring all your identity documents again. The fee is $25 for a license valid for more than four years, or $12.50 for four years or less. If you got five or more points on your driving record in the last two years, you must also take a knowledge test.
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