South Carolina · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
South Carolina CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, South Carolina CDLs are issued by the SC Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) under the state's Uniform Commercial Driver License Act (S.C. Code Title 56, Ch. 1, Art. 5). Applicants pay a $15 nonrefundable application fee (waived for public school bus drivers), obtain a commercial learner's permit (valid up to 1 year) after vision and written tests, and take the three-part skills test, the first SCDMV-administered skills test is free, with $25 charged for each retest. The CDL itself costs $25 and is valid for eight years.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in South Carolina?
South Carolina licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022; DOT medical certificate; endorsements H (TSA fingerprints + clearance required before first issuance), N, T, P, S. Core facts here (application fee $15 per 56-1-2090(A)(10), first skills test free/$25 retests per 56-1-2080(A)(1), CLP issued to Class D holders after vision+written tests and valid max 1 year per 56-1-2080(C), classes per 56-1-2100, $25/8-year license per 56-1-140) were read directly from the official S.C. Code on scstatehouse.gov. South Carolina also offers a distinctive seasonal restricted CDL for farm-sector workers (56-1-2085). Application fee waived for public school bus drivers.
What licenses does South Carolina issue?
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) issues the credentials below for this trade. Boards often list further classes for specialties and business licenses; these are the ones this page covers.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class B CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class C CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Seasonal restricted CDL | not published | not published | No |
Source: South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) (scstatehouse.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does South Carolina require?
CDL knowledge (written) tests complying with 49 CFR Part 383 subparts F/G/H. Administered by SCDMV.
CDL skills test (three-part: vehicle/pre-trip inspection, off-road basic control, on-road driving); also available through SCDMV-authorized third-party testers. Administered by SCDMV or department-authorized third-party testers.
How much does a South Carolina CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in South Carolina costs $42 in board fees, before any training. That is the application fee, the exam fee and the initial license fee charged once, with renewal charged separately below. No board publishes this total, so it is added up here from the schedule it does publish.
- Application fee$15
- Exam fee$2
- Initial license fee$25
- Renewal fee (recurring)$25
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 8 years for a CDL with no hazmat endorsement ($25 license fee, S.C. Code 56-1-2100(E)); 5 years for a CDL carrying a hazardous materials endorsement ($15 license fee, measured from the date the applicant passed the TSA threat assessment)
Continuing education: No continuing education. At every renewal the applicant must pass a vision test (free at SCDMV branches, or waived with a Certificate of Vision Examination dated within the past 36 months) and, if the license has more than five points against it within two years of renewal, must also pass the general knowledge test ($2). Hazmat (H/X) holders must re-pass the hazmat knowledge test and complete a new TSA background check at every renewal to retain the endorsement (S.C. Code 56-1-2100(F)). DOT medical certification per federal rules; first-time hazmat endorsement requires fingerprints and TSA security clearance before issuance.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship requirement; ELDT via an FMCSA-registered provider applies to first-time Class A/B applicants (performance-based, no hour minimums). Statute also authorizes employer/third-party skills testing programs under SCDMV agreements.
How does South Carolina compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | not published | Statewide |
| Georgia | not published | Statewide |
| North Carolina | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 56, Chapter 1 (Uniform Commercial Driver License Act, Sections 56-1-2000 to 56-1-2260; also 56-1-140 license fee) - SC Legislature
- SCDMV - Commercial Driver's License Third-Party Testers Program Standards
- Getting Your First CDL - SCDMV ($15 application fee, $2 per knowledge test, $2.50 CLP with one-year expiration; 18 to drive within SC, 21 outside SC; 14-day CLP hold; ELDT after 2/7/2022; N/P/S endorsements only on a CLP) - read from Wayback capture 20251215175409
- Renew or Upgrade Your CDL - SCDMV (vision test required; $25 license fee plus $15 application fee; general knowledge test if more than five points in two years; 5-year hazmat license $15 plus $15 application plus $2 knowledge test; notice that SCDMV moves to dmv.sc.gov in 2026) - read from Wayback capture 20251215171802
Last verified July 2026, independently re-verified before publication. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to CDL truck drivers overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) before making decisions. Not legal advice.