IN
To drive with a South Carolina beginner's permit, you must have a qualified supervising driver seated beside you. The supervisor's role is active, ensuring safety and providing instruction.
For ordinary daytime and evening beginner's-permit driving, S.C. Code §56-1-50 requires the person seated beside you to:
The statute does not require that person's license to be issued by South Carolina. Being sober and attentive is essential for safe supervision, but it should not be presented as an extra qualification written into §56-1-50.
| Situation | Who qualifies? |
|---|---|
| 6 AM to midnight beginner's-permit driving | Licensed driver age 21+ with at least one year of driving experience, seated beside the permit holder |
| Midnight to 6 AM | Licensed individual who qualifies under §56-1-100(A)(1)-(7) |
| Teen 40-hour practice requirement | A qualifying licensed individual under §56-1-100(A)(1)-(7); DL-008A may be used as an optional log |
No. Vehicle ownership is not one of the supervisor qualifications in §56-1-50. The vehicle must still meet the applicable registration, insurance, and safety requirements.
During the normal 6 AM to midnight period, a parent, guardian, sibling, friend, relative, or out-of-state visitor may supervise if that person meets the §56-1-50 age, license, experience, and seating requirements.
Midnight to 6 AM is different. The supervisor must be a licensed individual in one of the categories listed in §56-1-100(A)(1)-(7). Form 447-CM is a consent form for a minor; it is not a list that makes additional people eligible to supervise overnight.
No. The 447-CM signer handles minor consent and responsibility. A different adult may provide ordinary daytime supervision if that person independently meets §56-1-50.
Yes. Consent and supervision are separate roles. The supervising driver must meet the rule that applies to the time of day and, for teen practice hours, the applicable §56-1-100(A)(1)-(7) qualification.
An expired or invalid supervisor license means the person does not satisfy the normal license requirement. A valid out-of-state license can qualify for daytime supervision if the driver is at least 21 and has at least one year of driving experience.
Yes, if that person falls within one of the qualifying categories in §56-1-100(A)(1)-(7). For eligible teen applicants, the 40 hours include 10 hours in darkness. SCDMV's DL-008A can be used to track those hours, but the form says use of the log is optional.
The PDLA is different: it is the Certification of School Attendance, Driver's Education, and Driving Practice used in the teen licensing pathway. It is not the same thing as the optional DL-008A driving log.
Before each practice session, check that the supervising driver's license is valid and that the person meets the rule for the time of day.
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