The materials on the CHASE SC web site, CHASE SC resources, any posts, or communications in any form are for informational purposes only.
This material is not intended to be, and does not constitute the giving of legal advice.
For information about the laws and regulations in this state, please contact your own attorney.
 

I am writing you in response to your recent email to the department regarding the policies for applying for a beginner's permit and driver's license if you are a home schooled student.

To obtain a beginner's permit

* You must be at least 15 years old.
* You must bring your birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency and insurance information.
Proof of residency for a student that is home schooled can be in the form the parents' income tax statement listing the student as a dependent.
* If you are under 18 years of age, you must bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your application.
* You must pass the vision and knowledge tests.

If you are 15 years old and have held a beginner's permit for at least 180 days, you are eligible for a conditional license.

To get a Conditional License:

* Bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your application.
* Bring your birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency and insurance information.
* Submit Form PDLA that certifies you have:

* Completed a driver's education course
* Had satisfactory school attendance
* Practiced driving with your licensed parent or guardian for 40 hours, including 10 hours of driving practice at night.
* You must pass the vision and road skills tests.
If student is home schooled, in lieu of the Form PDLA, a letter from the SC Home School Association stating that the student is home schooled will suffice. Parent will have to sign a statement regarding satisfactory school attendance

If you are 16 years old and have held your beginner's permit for at least 180 days or have a conditional license, you are eligible for a special restricted license.

To get a Special Restricted License:

* To get a special restricted driver's license, you must bring your parent or legal guardian with you to sign your application.
* You must bring your birth certificate, social security card, proof of residency and insurance information.
* You must submit Form PDLA that certifies you have:

* Completed a driver's education course
* Had satisfactory school attendance
* Practiced driving with your licensed parent or guardian for 40 hours, including 10 hours of driving practice at night.
* You must pass the vision and road skills tests.
All DMV branch offices are aware of these requirements and of the requirements for a home schooled student.

United States Citizen

If you are a United States citizen applying for a first time beginner's permit, driver's license or identification card, you must provide documentation showing proof of your identity and citizenship, proof of your social security number and proof of residency in South Carolina. If you are applying for an ID or beginner’s permit, you do not need to provide proof of insurance. If you are applying for a driver’s license, you must provide automobile insurance information from an insurance company licensed to do business in South Carolina.

For a checklist of the US citizen requirements, click here for Form MV-93

If you are a new resident moving to South Carolina from another state, you also have to meet these same requirements.

Proof of Identity and Citizenship

To prove your identity and citizenship, you must provide one the following original documents:

• Birth Certificate with birth/file number and registrar signature issued by the county or Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Delayed birth certificate (if birth certificate was not issued at time of birth) from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Birth Certificate from US Territory (Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, US Samoa) translated if not in English.
• US Passport (current or expired no longer than 10 years)
• Original Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS Form N-550 or N-570)
• US government issued Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS Form N-560 or N-561)

If your name has changed and the new name is not reflected on your identification document, you must also provide court documents, your marriage certificate or adoption records indicating your legal name change.

If your birth certificate indicates that you were not born in the United States, you must also provide an additional document listed above proving US citizenship.

If you were born before 1918 and do not have a birth record, you must provide two documents from the following list:

• Social Security Check
• Social Security Card
• Military ID
• Marriage License
• Letter from the Social Security Administration
• Medicaid or Medicare Card
• Life insurance policy at least 5 years old
• Out of state driver license or identification card

If your original birth certificate is not in English, it must be translated. The translated version of the birth certificate must be an original document. Citizens from the United States Territories are US citizens. Citizens from the Protected Territories, while not US citizens are not required to have a visa and are treated as US citizens.

If you were born in the US and need to get a copy of your birth certificate, you may contact the National Center of Health Statistics to get contact information for your birth state.

You must provide proof of your Social Security number and, if possible, your original social security card. The name on your social security card must match the name on your identity documents. All Social Security Cards will be checked for authenticity under a black light in the DMV office. If you do not have your original social security card, you may substitute one of the following, provided that the document includes your social security number:

• Social Security Check
• Social Security Form SSA-1099, Survivor Benefit Form
• United States Military Identification Card (DOD, ID, DD-2)
• Current (non-expired) military dependent ID card
• US Uniform Services Identification and Privilege Card (DD1173) that contains a photograph and social security number
• Voter Registration card

The following documents will be accepted in lieu of a Social Security Card provided the information can be verified through an online social security check:

• Letter from the Social Security Administration
• Payroll stub with employer’s name, your name and your social security number
• Original W-2 Form with employer’s name and address and your name, address and social security number

Below is a list showing ways in which applicants can provide proof of residency. A proof of residency document is mandatory in order to obtain a permit, license or identification card.

To prove you are a resident of South Carolina, you must provide documentation that contains both your name and physical address. The following documents will be accepted by DMV:

• Current Employment records

• Letter on employer letterhead (records must be from SC employer or have SC address for applicant on records from an out of state employer)
• Pay stub showing SC withholding
• Letter on employer letterhead indicating intent to hire
• Current utility bill (no more than 30 days old)
  • Gas, water, electric, cable, landline telephone only. Cell phone bill not acceptable
• Current school records from a SC school
  • Student ID
  • Report Card
  • Letter of contract from home school association
  • Official letter from the student’s school or school district on school or district letterhead
  • Certified transcript
  • Diploma from SC school for student who graduated during the last school year
  • Record from an out of state school with student’s name and SC address
• SC Welfare/Social Services Card
• SC Medicaid cards
• Parolee Cards or letter from parole officer
• Mortgage documents
• SC Weapons Permit – not expired
• County tax notice or receipt for home ONLY
• State or Federal Tax records
  • Income tax returns for current or prior year are acceptable
  • If applicant is listed as dependent on SC tax return that is presented as proof of residency, proof applies to dependent also.
• Current Military Orders detailing active duty assignment in SC
• Current letter from Military Base Commander verifying duty station in SC
• Bank statement showing name of applicant and SC physical address
• Original social security check, showing name and SC physical address of applicant
• Insurance documentation
  • Letter (no more than 30 days old) from insurance company or agent licensed to do business in SC stating name of applicant and indicating SC address of applicant
  • Insurance policy, showing name of applicant and SC address.
• Letter from director of a South Carolina social welfare institution (homeless shelter, battered women’s shelter, halfway house, group home, orphanage, etc.) stating applicant is resident of facility.
  • Some residents from these facilities may have their ID card fees waived, provided the facility appears on the list approved by the DMV Executive Director, as distributed with Policy No. 97-104.
• Voter Registration (for US citizens only)
• Current Vehicle Insurance Card – if the customer’s name and physical address appears on the insurance card

1.  If the student is employed, employment records can be used as listed above.

2.  State or Federal Income Taxes as listed above are a common source for documentation of proof of residency, please make sure that the student is listed as a dependent.

3.  If your student does not have a bank account, perhaps it's time to open a savings account.

4.  A letter from your car insurance including all of the pertinent information above will also provide the proof of residency needed.  Most insurance companies will want your students added to your policy once they obtain their beginners permits anyway.

Before a license can be issued or renewed, you must furnish current insurance information. You must provide the company name, policy number and telephone number of your automobile insurance company. If you or any relative in your household does not own a vehicle, you must indicate that fact on your application.

Check with your auto insurance provider to find out if your student qualifies for the Good Student Driver discount.  Your own home school issued report card is all that should be required for the discount by your insurance company.

If you are under 18 years of age, you must have a parent or legal guardian sign your application to accept responsibility for you. If you are an emancipated minor, you must submit proof of emancipation with a court order, marriage certificate or active military orders and have a responsible adult sign for you. Only an original document or certified copy will be accepted.

In order to better assist CHASE SC Member families, CHASE SC has closed membership to current members only.

CHASE SC is not accepting applications.

CHASE SC Year End Completion, Update, and Renewal Form

This form is due on or before July 31st each school year (it must be mailed in - emailed and faxed copies are not accepted).