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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Teen Driving Guide

What parents and teens need to know about getting a driver’s license in Myrtle Beach, SC: six steps, from the first class to the insurance call.

Requirements checked: October 2026, against official state licensing sources: South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV).

Practice plan for Myrtle Beach

Your state sets the hours. Where you spend them is up to you. What’s around Myrtle Beach to practice on, and when:

Roads to practice on

Highways
US-17, US-378, US-501 and US-701 within 15 miles. Save the first merge for a quiet Sunday morning on US-17: one on-ramp, one exit, and back. Then add a weekday at a busier time.
Traffic signals
265 signalized intersections within 5 miles. Plenty of material for unprotected left turns: signals with no green arrow.
Roundabouts
14 within 5 miles. Practice yielding at entry and choosing the lane before you’re in it.
Rail crossings
25 within 5 miles. Talk through it the first time: look both ways, never stop on the tracks.
The six driving environments to cover

Seasons and light

Snow
Rare to none. Rain is the weather to practice in here.
Rain
80 days a year with measurable rain or snow. Count a wet drive as its own lesson: longer following distance, earlier braking.
Freezing nights
55 nights a year below freezing. Early-morning bridges and shaded curves can ice before the rest of the road.
Daylight
Earliest sunset 5:06 p.m. (November 30); latest 8:29 p.m. (June 21). Night hours are easiest to log from November through January, when the drive home after 5:12 p.m. is already in the dark.
How to practice in weather

Road data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Climate: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Longwood station (29 miles away). Sunset times computed for Myrtle Beach. Permit and road tests are run by South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV).

South Carolina requirements

  1. 1

    Driver’s ed in South Carolina

    Requirement
    Required for teens: 8 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of driving, documented on SCDMV Form PDLA from the driver training school or high school.

    Online driver’s ed for South Carolina

    Aceable offers state-certified online courses your teen can complete at home.

    DRVN may earn a referral fee if you enroll through this link.

    Find an online driver’s ed course
  2. 2

    Get a South Carolina learner’s permit

    Minimum age
    15
    The test
    Vision test and knowledge test at an SCDMV branch (knowledge test must be started before 4 p.m.).
    What to bring
    Government-issued birth certificate, Social Security number, proof of current SC physical address (two for REAL ID), and a qualified adult to sign consent at the branch (or a driver training school representative); fees are $2 for the knowledge test and $2.50 for the permit.
  3. 3

    Practice driving with a parent

    Supervised hours
    40 hours, including 10 at night, with a qualified licensed driver
    Time on the permit
    180 days

    Track every practice hour with DRVN

    Log hours and routes as you drive, follow lesson plans for each stage, and check off skills. Free.

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  4. 4

    Pass the road test near Myrtle Beach

    Minimum age
    15 years 6 months (conditional license); special restricted license at 16
    The road test
    Vision and road test at any SCDMV branch (walk-ins 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. except a later Wednesday opening; appointments for 2-4 p.m. via public.scscheduler.com); bring Form PDLA certifying school attendance, driver ed and practice hours.
  5. 5

    Know the rules for new drivers

    Restrictions
    Conditional and special restricted drivers may drive alone 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. during daylight saving time), only with a licensed driver 21+ from then until midnight, and only with a qualified individual from midnight to 6 a.m.; no more than two passengers under 21 unless a licensed adult 21+ is present (family and students going to/from school exempt).
  6. 6

    Add your teen to your car insurance

    When
    Call your insurer as soon as your teen gets a permit. Some policies cover permit drivers automatically and others need them listed; rates usually rise once your teen is licensed.
    Save money
    Ask about good-student and driver-training discounts, and compare quotes before your teen gets the first license.

Checked October 2026 against official South Carolina sources

Rules change. Confirm the details with South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) before you go.

Meeting the requirements is only the beginning.

Your state determines when your teen is legally eligible to drive. Readiness depends on the experience, judgment, and independence they demonstrate before they drive alone.

See how to evaluate readiness

Turn the required hours into useful practice.

DRVN helps parents plan practice, track driving experience, and see what their teen still needs to work on before driving alone.

See how DRVN works

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