Driving Tests

South Carolina Special Restricted License: Rules at 16 and the Waiver

informational·how to guide·Published July 5, 2026

What can you do with a special restricted license in South Carolina, and how do you get the waiver?

A special restricted license is for a 16-year-old in South Carolina. You may drive alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time), and with a licensed driver 21 or older until midnight. The waiver lets you drive alone until midnight for work or certain activities. You apply at an SCDMV branch and pay $25.

Where these South Carolina rules come from

The age, the school rule, the limits, the waiver reasons and the points rules come from South Carolina Code Title 56, Chapter 1. The hours, the waiver papers and full privileges come from the SCDMV teenage drivers page. The branch visit, Form 447-CM and the midnight limit of the waiver come from the SCDMV Driver's Manual (April 2026). The SCDMV vision test and points system pages add smaller facts. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the SCDMV (scdmvonline.com) before you drive.

Who can get a special restricted license at 16

You are at least 16 and not yet 17.
You held a beginner's permit for 180 days. You can apply on the 181st day.
You finished driver's education: 8 hours in the classroom and 6 hours of driving.
You practiced driving for at least 40 hours, with at least 10 hours at night, with a qualified, licensed driver.
You pass the vision screening and the road test. A 16-year-old who already has a conditional license can move to the special restricted license.
You meet the school rule: a high school diploma or GED, or you are enrolled in public or private school or homeschooled, with satisfactory attendance and no suspension or expulsion.
You bring Form PDLA, the Certification of School Attendance, Driver's Education, and Driving Practice.

Driving hours on a special restricted license

Driving hours on a special restricted license
Time of day	Without the waiver	With the waiver
6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time)	You may drive alone	You may drive alone
After that until midnight	A licensed driver 21 or older must be with you	You may drive alone
Midnight to 6 a.m.	A licensed person listed in the law must ride with you	The waiver does not allow driving alone after midnight

Who can ride with you from midnight to 6 a.m.

Your father or your mother.
Your guardian, or a person who has custody and care of you.
A foster parent, preadoptive parent or group home caregiver with written approval from the Department of Social Services.
A person who has acted in place of a parent for 60 days or more.
A responsible adult with written permission from one of the people above, signed before a notary or other official who can give oaths.
The person must have a driver's license and must sit in the seat beside you.

How many friends can you drive with a special restricted license?

You may carry no more than two passengers under 21 unless a licensed adult who is 21 or older rides along. The limit does not apply when you drive family members or students to or from school. Try our free question on a 16-year-old with four teammates to check the rule.

Special restricted license or conditional license: what is the difference?

The night and solo driving limits are the same. The difference is age and the waiver. The conditional license is for drivers from 15½ to under 16. The special restricted license is for drivers from 16 to under 17. Only a 16-year-old can get the waiver, and you can apply with a conditional or a special restricted license.

Which reasons count for the South Carolina waiver

Work, or the chance of work.
Travel between home and work or school.
Travel between home or work and vocational training.
Travel to church and church-related or church-sponsored activities.
Travel to sports activities that your parents approve.

How to get the waiver

1
Fill in Form 447-NC
This is the Application for Beginner's Permit, Driver's License, or Identification Card.
2
Get a letter that says you need the waiver
Ask your school, vocational training, church, employer or activity for a signed letter that says you need the waiver.
3
Get a letter from your parent or guardian
Your parent or legal guardian signs a letter that allows the waiver and says why you need it. The law calls this a statement of purpose.
4
Go to an SCDMV branch with a qualified adult
The Driver's Manual says to visit an SCDMV branch. A qualified adult completes the Consent for Minor (Form 447-CM) in front of an SCDMV employee or agent.
5
Pass the vision screening and pay
The SCDMV eye test checks for 20/40 vision or better. Then you pay $25 for a new license that has the waiver added.

What happens if you get points or a ticket on a special restricted license?

You get 6 or more points

The SCDMV suspends your license for 6 months. A defensive driving course does not end this suspension. See our free question on a 16-year-old with 6 points.

You get a traffic ticket or cause a crash

Full driving privileges wait 12 months. You become eligible 1 year after the last offense or at-fault crash, or when you turn 17.

Your parent knowingly lets you break a limit

A parent or guardian who knowingly and willfully lets you break a limit can get a civil fine of up to $500 under Tyler's Law.

When do the limits end?

You earn full driving privileges at 17, or after one year on the license with no traffic offenses and no at-fault collisions. You do not visit a branch. The SCDMV mails you a sleeve, and you must keep your license in it to use the full privileges. For the details, read our guide to full driving privileges at 17.

Key takeaways

The special restricted license is for 16-year-olds. You must hold the permit 180 days, finish driver's education, log 40 practice hours (10 in the dark) and meet the school rule.
Without the waiver you drive alone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time). A licensed driver 21 or older must be with you until midnight.
The waiver lets you drive alone until midnight for work, school, vocational training, church or approved sports. It never allows driving after midnight.
Six or more points mean a 6-month suspension. A ticket or an at-fault crash delays full privileges by 12 months, or until you turn 17.
Next step: practice on the free South Carolina Class D practice test.

South Carolina special restricted license: common questions

Can I drive to a job at 11 p.m. on a special restricted license?

Yes, if you have the waiver and your job is the reason for it. The waiver lets you drive alone until midnight, and your employer gives you a signed letter that says you need it. Without the waiver, a licensed driver who is 21 or older must ride with you after 6 p.m. (8 p.m. in daylight saving time).

Can I get the waiver if I still have a conditional license?

Yes, after you turn 16. The SCDMV says that a 16-year-old with a conditional or a special restricted license may be eligible for the special restricted license with the waiver. You bring the letters from your parent and from your work, school or activity, pass the vision test and pay $25 for the new license.

Can I get a special restricted license if I dropped out of high school?

Only if you have a high school diploma or a GED. The law makes school attendance a condition for this license. Without a diploma or GED, you must be enrolled in a public or private school or be homeschooled. You also need satisfactory attendance and no suspension or expulsion. If you enroll again, you show your school status to the SCDMV on Form PDLA.

Can I drive after midnight with the waiver?

Not alone. The waiver ends at midnight. From midnight to 6 a.m., you can drive only when a licensed parent, guardian or other person on the list in the law sits in the seat beside you. This rule is the same with or without the waiver.

Can I get a special restricted license if I am homeschooled?

Yes. The school rule accepts a teen who is homeschooled and has satisfactory attendance, as it accepts a teen in public or private school. A high school diploma or GED also meets the rule. You still bring Form PDLA, which shows your school attendance, driver's education and driving practice.