South Carolina DMV Permit Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: How far from a bus stop must you NOT park in SC?

10 feet
20 feet
15 feet (Correct answer)
25 feet

Correct answer: 15 feet

SC law prohibits parking within 15 feet of a bus stop to keep the area clear for buses to pull in and passengers to board safely.

Question 2: What is the BAC limit for commercial vehicle drivers in South Carolina?

0.04% (Correct answer)
0.06%
0.02%
0.08%

Correct answer: 0.04%

Commercial drivers in SC are held to a stricter standard of 0.04% BAC because of the greater responsibility involved in operating large vehicles.

Question 3: What happens to your license if you refuse a breath test in SC after a DUI arrest?

License suspended only if convicted
Automatic license suspension (Correct answer)
A warning is issued only
Nothing — refusal is protected

Correct answer: Automatic license suspension

Refusing a breath test in SC results in an automatic license suspension regardless of whether you are convicted of DUI.

Question 4: How many drinks does it take for alcohol to affect driving?

At least 3 drinks
Even one drink can affect driving (Correct answer)
Only at the legal limit
At least 2 drinks

Correct answer: Even one drink can affect driving

Even one alcoholic drink can begin to impair judgment and reaction time, making any amount of alcohol before driving risky.

Question 5: How far in advance should you signal a turn in South Carolina?

100 feet (Correct answer)
50 feet
200 feet
25 feet

Correct answer: 100 feet

SC law requires drivers to signal at least 100 feet before making a turn to give following drivers adequate warning.

Question 6: When must you turn on your headlights in South Carolina due to reduced visibility?

When you cannot see at least 200 feet ahead
When you cannot see at least 750 feet ahead
When you cannot see at least 1,000 feet ahead
When you cannot see at least 500 feet ahead (Correct answer)

Correct answer: When you cannot see at least 500 feet ahead

SC law requires headlights whenever visibility is reduced to less than 500 feet due to rain, fog, or other conditions.

Question 7: Why should you avoid driving in another vehicle's blind spot on SC highways?

It wastes fuel due to drafting effects
The other driver cannot see you and may change lanes into you (Correct answer)
High-beam headlights are required in blind spots
It reduces your own visibility

Correct answer: The other driver cannot see you and may change lanes into you

Driving in another vehicle's blind spot makes you invisible to that driver, creating a serious risk of a lane-change collision.

Question 8: When may you use high beam headlights in South Carolina?

At all times on rural roads without street lights
When there are no oncoming vehicles within 500 feet (Correct answer)
Only on interstate highways at night
Whenever driving at speeds above 55 mph

Correct answer: When there are no oncoming vehicles within 500 feet

SC law requires drivers to switch to low beams when oncoming vehicles are within 500 feet or when closely following another vehicle.

Question 9: What is the speed limit in a South Carolina school zone when children are present?

15 mph
25 mph
30 mph
20 mph (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 20 mph

South Carolina school zones have a speed limit of 20 mph when the school zone is active and children are present.

Question 10: In SC, when must a driver yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk?

At all crosswalks, marked or unmarked (Correct answer)
Only during school hours
Only at marked crosswalks with a signal
Only when a pedestrian has already stepped off the curb

Correct answer: At all crosswalks, marked or unmarked

South Carolina law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked.

Question 11: A few things that can divert your attention from driving are

checking the traffic behind you frequently.
checking your mirrors.
checking your blind spots.
text messaging or talking on the phone. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: text messaging or talking on the phone.

Text messaging and talking on the phone are significant forms of distracted driving because they divert a driver's visual, manual, and cognitive attention away from the road. These activities severely impair a driver's ability to perceive hazards and react safely. Checking blind spots, mirrors, and traffic behind you are essential, safe driving practices, not distractions.

Question 12: If you are turning left at a red light in South Carolina, you are allowed to do so.

from a one-way street onto another one-way street. (Correct answer)
from a two-way street onto a two-way street.
from a two-way street onto a one-way street.
from a one-way street onto a two-way street.

Correct answer: from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

In South Carolina, a left turn on a red light is permitted only when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after coming to a complete stop and yielding to all traffic and pedestrians. This specific rule allows for efficient traffic movement in certain controlled scenarios while prioritizing safety. Other turn scenarios on a red light are generally prohibited.

Question 13: Which of the following can impair driving similarly to alcohol?

Over-the-counter cold medicines
Prescription medications
Illegal drugs
All of the above (Correct answer)

Correct answer: All of the above

Prescription drugs, OTC medications, and illegal substances can all impair judgment, reaction time, and coordination needed for safe driving.

Question 14: What is the maximum speed limit on most South Carolina interstate highways?

65 mph
75 mph
70 mph (Correct answer)
60 mph

Correct answer: 70 mph

Most South Carolina interstate highways have a posted maximum speed limit of 70 mph for passenger vehicles.

Question 15: What is the minimum tire tread depth required by South Carolina law?

4/32 of an inch
2/32 of an inch (Correct answer)
3/32 of an inch
1/32 of an inch

Correct answer: 2/32 of an inch

SC law requires tires to have a minimum tread depth of 2/32 of an inch to ensure adequate traction, especially on wet roads.

Question 16: You may stop temporarily to pick up a passenger in a no-parking zone in SC if:

You leave the engine running
You display hazard lights for up to 5 minutes
Never — no-parking means no stopping at all
You stay in the vehicle and move immediately when asked (Correct answer)

Correct answer: You stay in the vehicle and move immediately when asked

A no-parking zone generally allows a brief stop for loading/unloading if the driver stays with the vehicle and moves promptly on request.

Question 17: Is it legal to park on a bridge or overpass in South Carolina?

No, parking on bridges is prohibited (Correct answer)
Yes, if the breakdown lane is wide enough
Yes, for less than 30 minutes
Only with hazard lights on

Correct answer: No, parking on bridges is prohibited

SC law prohibits parking on bridges, elevated highways, and overpasses as it creates hazards for traffic flow.

Question 18: When a truck is making a wide right turn in SC, drivers should:

Honk to let the truck know you are there
Squeeze through on the right side
Pass on the left while the truck turns
Wait and not try to pass on either side (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Wait and not try to pass on either side

Large trucks require wide turning radius and may swing left before turning right — never pass during a truck's wide turn.

Question 19: Who has the right of way when a driver is turning left at a green light in SC?

The vehicle in the intersection first
Oncoming traffic and pedestrians (Correct answer)
The driver who signals first
The turning driver

Correct answer: Oncoming traffic and pedestrians

When turning left on a green light, you must yield to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians before completing the turn.

Question 20: In South Carolina, what must you do when an emergency vehicle with lights/sirens approaches?

Pull to the right and stop (Correct answer)
Speed up to clear the road
Pull left to let it pass
Stay in your lane and slow down

Correct answer: Pull to the right and stop

SC law requires all drivers to pull to the right edge of the road and stop when an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and sirens.

Question 21: When driving at night in SC, when should you dim your high-beam headlights?

Only in city limits
At all times in residential areas
Only when another driver flashes their lights at you
Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or 300 feet behind a vehicle you are following (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or 300 feet behind a vehicle you are following

SC law requires dimming high beams within 500 feet of oncoming traffic and 300 feet when following another vehicle.

Question 22: When parking uphill without a curb in SC, your front wheels should be turned:

Straight ahead
Toward the shoulder (right) (Correct answer)
Toward the center line
Away from the shoulder (left)

Correct answer: Toward the shoulder (right)

Without a curb, turning wheels toward the right shoulder means if the vehicle rolls, it moves off the road rather than into traffic.

Question 23: In SC, when may you pass a vehicle on the right?

Never — passing on the right is always illegal
Only on one-way streets
When the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room on the right (Correct answer)
Anytime traffic is slow

Correct answer: When the vehicle ahead is turning left and there is room on the right

SC permits passing on the right only when the vehicle ahead is making a left turn and there is a clear paved lane to the right.

Question 24: When driving near farm machinery or slow-moving vehicles on SC rural roads, you should:

Follow at a safe distance and pass only when it is clearly safe (Correct answer)
Tailgate to signal them to move over
Pass immediately without delay
Honk repeatedly until they pull over

Correct answer: Follow at a safe distance and pass only when it is clearly safe

Farm equipment moves slowly and may make unexpected turns — follow at a safe distance and only pass when you have a clear, safe opportunity.

Question 25: What should you do if a motorcycle suddenly swerves in front of you in SC?

Brake and increase following distance (Correct answer)
Honk your horn
Flash your headlights
Accelerate to pass quickly

Correct answer: Brake and increase following distance

Motorcycles often swerve to avoid road hazards — increase your following distance and brake smoothly to give them space.

Question 26: On a two-lane road in SC, what must you do when a school bus is stopped with flashing red lights?

Stop before reaching the bus and wait (Correct answer)
Pass on the left side only
Slow to 15 mph and pass carefully
Pass only if no children are visible

Correct answer: Stop before reaching the bus and wait

SC law requires all vehicles on a two-lane road to stop before reaching a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights.

Question 27: When driving in a roundabout, drivers must yield to:

The vehicle on the right
Traffic already in the roundabout (Correct answer)
Emergency vehicles only
Vehicles entering the roundabout

Correct answer: Traffic already in the roundabout

Vehicles entering a roundabout must yield to traffic already circulating inside it.

Question 28: What is the minimum tread depth for legally operating a vehicle in South Carolina?

1/32 inch
6/32 inch
4/32 inch
2/32 inch (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2/32 inch

Tires must have at least 2/32 inch of tread depth to be legal in SC; less than this significantly reduces wet weather traction.

Question 29: What is the open container law in South Carolina regarding alcoholic beverages?

Only the driver cannot have open containers
Open containers are allowed if the driver is not drinking
Open alcoholic beverage containers are prohibited in the passenger area of a vehicle (Correct answer)
Open containers are permitted on private property

Correct answer: Open alcoholic beverage containers are prohibited in the passenger area of a vehicle

SC law prohibits open containers of alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public highway.

Question 30: What does it mean if you cannot see a truck driver's mirrors while following the truck?

The truck driver can see you in their side mirrors
You are in a safe following distance
You are in the truck's blind spot (Correct answer)
You are following too far back

Correct answer: You are in the truck's blind spot

If you cannot see the truck's mirrors, the driver cannot see your vehicle — you are in a dangerous blind spot.

Question 31: What is the maximum speed limit in a South Carolina business district unless posted?

35 mph
40 mph
25 mph
30 mph (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 30 mph

The default speed limit in South Carolina business districts is 30 mph unless a different speed is posted.

South Carolina DMV Permit Test

The South Carolina DMV Permit Test evaluates knowledge of road signs and signals, speed limits, right-of-way rules, alcohol and drug laws, sharing the road, parking rules, and safe driving techniques required for a South Carolina driver's permit.

Questions

60 min

Time Limit

80%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds