Driver's license

2025-2026 Bill 5001: Driver's license - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5001
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Beach, Gibson, Cromer, D. Mitchell, Duncan, Bustos, McCravy, Hartz, Kilmartin, Wickensimer, Edgerton, Long, Pedalino, Terribile, Pace, Gilreath, M.M. Smith, Robbins, Yow, Harris, Oremus, Taylor, Frank, Magnuson, Lawson, Chumley, Morgan, Teeple, Calhoon, Gilliam, Hixon, Landing and Lowe
Document Path: LC-0436CM26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 22, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Education and Public Works
Summary: Driver's license
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/22/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 25
)

1/22/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 25
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/22/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
SECTION
56-1-130
, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF LICENSES AND LICENSE EXAMINATIONS
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DRIVER'S
LICENSE EXAMINATIONS MAY BE ADMINISTERED IN ENGLISH ONLY.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
56-1-130
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
56-1-130
.
(
A) The Department of
Motor Vehicles shall examine every applicant for a driver's license, except as
otherwise provided in this article.
All examinations
required by this section must be administered in the English language only.
The
examination shall include a test of the applicant's eyesight, his ability to
read and understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic,
and his knowledge of the traffic laws of this State and shall include an actual
demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the
operation of the type of motor vehicle, including motorcycles, for which a
license is sought. The department may require a further physical and mental
examination as it considers necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to
operate a motor vehicle upon the highways, the further examination to be at the
applicant's expense. The department shall make provisions for giving an
examination in the county where the applicant resides. The department shall
charge an appropriate fee for each complete examination or reexamination
required in this article.

(
B)
The department must require all persons obtaining an initial driver's license,
and who are required to complete a driver's education course as defined in
Section
56-1-175
or
56-1-180
, to take the work zone safety program course as
established in Section
56-1-219
.

(
C)
No persons, except those exempted under Section
56-1-30
and Section
56-1-50
(E),
or those holding beginners' permits under Section
56-1-50
, shall operate any
classification of motor vehicle without first being examined and duly licensed
by the driver examiner as a qualified driver of that classification of motor
vehicle.

(
D)
(
1) A basic driver's license authorizes
the licensee to operate motor vehicles, autocycles, motorcycle three-wheel
vehicles, excluding a motorcycle with a detachable side car, or combinations of
vehicles which do not exceed twenty-six thousand pounds gross vehicle weight
rating; provided, that the driver has successfully demonstrated the ability to
exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle in
this category. A basic driver's license also authorizes the licensee to operate
farm trucks provided for in Sections
56-3-670
,
56-3-211
, and
56-3-215
, which
are used exclusively by the owner for agricultural, horticultural, and dairying
operations or livestock and poultry raising. Notwithstanding another provision
of law, the holder of a conditional license, or special restricted license
operating a farm truck for the purposes provided in this subsection, may
operate the farm truck without an accompanying adult after six o'clock a.m. and
no later than nine o'clock p.m., but may not operate a farm truck on a freeway.
A person operating a farm truck while holding a conditional driver's license or
a special restricted license may not use the farm truck for ordinary domestic
purposes or general transportation.

(
2)
A classified driver's license shall authorize the licensee to operate a
motorcycle, motorcycle three-wheel vehicle, including a motorcycle with a
detachable side car, or those vehicles in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds
gross vehicle weight rating which are indicated by endorsement on the license.
The endorsement may include classifications such as: motorcycles, two-axle
trucks, three-or more axle trucks, combination of vehicles, motor buses, or
oversize or overweight vehicles. The department shall determine from the driving
demonstration the endorsements to be indicated on the license.

(
E) The department may not administer a
driver's license examination, or any portion of it, in a language other than
English. The department may not provide an interpreter or translation services
for any driver's license examination. This subsection does not prohibit the use
of American Sign Language for applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing,
provided that the examination content remains in English.

S
ECTION 2. If any section, subsection,
paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for
any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not
affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act,
the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and
each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause,
phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other
sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases,
or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise
ineffective.

S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 22, 2026 at 10:43 AM