Pass the Exam easily with Premium Practice Tests | Unlock All with 7 Days Plan 
Offer Ends in 
English 
Spanish 
Traffic Enforcement Penalties
- 1/14Accumulating twelve points on record causes
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend your license automatically if your record reaches 12 or more points. No prior notice is required before enforcement.
If a beginner driver accumulates six points
Restricted or beginner license holders face a mandatory 6 month suspension if they receive six or more points. Defensive driving cannot prevent this action.
If you fail the skills test three times
After three failed road tests, a 60 day wait is required before retesting. This encourages applicants to better prepare before another attempt.
If a driver refuses to take breath test
Refusing a chemical test under Implied Consent Law causes automatic license suspension, even without Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction. Penalties escalate with repeated refusals.
First Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction always results in
All Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses carry mandatory license suspension in South Carolina. The suspension length varies based on Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level and offense count.
Minors with six or more points
Drivers under 17 years old who accumulate six points face an automatic 6 month license suspension, regardless of how points were earned.
If you go one year without violations
After a year without additional violations, South Carolina cuts the original violation points in half. It encourages continued safe driving behavior.
Using a fake ID or license results in
South Carolina treats license fraud seriously. You may face revocation, fines, and criminal charges for using or lending false identification.
If a driver under twenty one is caught with alcohol in their system
Under zero tolerance laws, drivers under 21 with Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.02% or higher face license suspension, even if no accident or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) occurred.
Conviction for reckless driving
Reckless driving adds 6 points and may lead to jail time, especially when combined with other violations or property damage.
If a restricted license driver gets two or four points on their license record
Drivers under restricted licenses receive official warning notices once they reach 2 and 4 points, giving them a chance to change behavior before suspension.
Driving outside legal hours under restricted license results in
Teen drivers with nighttime driving limits face citations and license suspensions if they drive outside legal hours without supervision or exemption.
When having out of state traffic convictions
South Carolina accepts and enforces violation records from other states. These out of state points count toward your 12 point limit for suspension.
Driving during a suspension leads to
Operating a vehicle while suspended is a criminal offense. Penalties include jail, increased fines, and a longer suspension upon conviction.